Lashkari Bazar, Archaeological site in Lashkargah, Afghanistan.
Lashkari Bazar is a palace complex on the bank of the Helmand River in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, made up of three palaces linked by passages and ancillary buildings. The structures are built mostly in mud brick, and the whole complex covers a long stretch of riverside land.
A Ghaznavid ruler ordered the construction of the complex in the early 11th century to serve as a winter residence. It was used by several successive rulers before being abandoned in the 13th century during the Mongol invasions.
The South Palace still holds fragments of wall paintings showing court scenes, made by craftsmen working in the Persian tradition. Visitors who look closely at the walls can still spot traces of stucco decoration that once lined the reception halls.
The site sits on the edge of Lashkargah and is best reached by vehicle, as walking from the city center takes a long time. Once there, the flat terrain and exposed structures make it easy to move around and get a sense of the layout.
A covered bazaar ran between the palaces and the surrounding area, linking royal spaces directly to commercial activity. This kind of layout, where a marketplace sits inside a royal compound, is rare among sites of this period.
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