Lashkari Bazar, Archaeological site in Lashkargah, Afghanistan.
Lashkari Bazar is a palace complex stretching several kilometers along the Helmand River, comprising three distinct palaces connected by various structures. The site contains residential areas, administrative buildings, and connecting passages that formed an integrated royal center.
A Ghaznavid ruler founded the complex in the early 11th century as a royal winter residence and administrative center. The site thrived for several centuries before its destruction in the 13th century.
The South Palace displays Persian artistic techniques through stucco work, wall paintings, and frescoes showing scenes of court life. These decorations reveal the tastes and lifestyle of the rulers who once lived here.
The location receives minimal rainfall, which has helped preserve the mud brick structures across the site. The dry conditions mean most buildings remain exposed and can be explored relatively easily.
The site contains a 100-meter-long bazaar that connected the palaces to the surrounding community. This marketplace shows how royal and public spaces were linked together in the same complex.
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