In The Valley Of Lions

A road trip to the beautiful Panjshir province of Afghanistan

By: Dinesh Narayanan

Published:
20/10/2011 12:00 AM

Image by : Dinesh Narayanan

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The road North. This road from Kabul goes all the way to Panjshir and Mazar-e-sharief, the stronghold of the erstwhile Northern Alliance

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A graveyard of Soviet war machines in Panjshir

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In a Kabul vegetable market. Onions and potatoes come from the Bamyan province. Most other vegetables are imported from Pakistan

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A kilo each of onions and potatoes cost about 120 Afghanis that is equivalent to the same in Indian rupees. The veggies are so big that often for 120 Afghanis, you would get two or three

Image by : Dinesh Narayan

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A boy selling boiled eggs at a fuel station. He has coloured them to make them look appetising. BTW, petrol, most of which is imported, costs about 55 Afghanis (INR 55)

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Boys at a vegetable and fruits market. The carton in the picture has pomegranates. Afghan pomegranates, grown predominantly in the southern part of the country, are considered the world's best. The Mughals of India are known to have been very fond of them and the thriving trade of the times ensured that the emperors' fruit bowls were never short of them

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Kabli palao and kofta. This is a staple here

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Slain commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, the national hero of Afghanistan, is a constant presence. He is deeply revered and his pictures are everywhere

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Commander Massoud also made famous pakhol, the woollen cap with a rolled up band. Originally from Chitral, it is today a style statement that has found its way to ramps

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The lion of Panjshir, commander Massoud's tomb in Panjshir. The tomb complex also has an amphitheatre, museum and library

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A fuel tanker. There are few tankers that do not sport such artwork. Black seems to be the preferred colour

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