Overview
Welcome to the Ancient City of Herat
You can easily find your way to the middle of this city because of its famous landmark, the Musalla Minarets. The five huge ruined minaret towers are found in the Musalla Complex, a former religious complex of the 15th century, along with two mausoleums and the remains of a mosque and an Islamic school. A visit to the Citadel of Alexander the Great which dates back to 330 BC is a must for any tourist. It is the oldest building in Herat and today houses the National Museum. While in the old city, you can also explore many of the Caravanserais, the old water storage constructions, and the old Bazaar (Char Suq). The shrine of Khaja Abdullah Ansari who was a poet, a sofi, and a philosopher 1000 years ago is also well worth a visit.
Jame Masjid, the fifth largest Mosque in the world, which has the capacity to hold 100,000 people at any one time, is found in Herat. It was originally a small Temple before the coming of Islam 1400 years ago. The mosque is covered in handmade tiles and the tile factory is still active today inside the Mosque. It is here that the tourists can observe how Muslims pray and do their ablutions before praying. At the Islamic religious school found inside the Mosque, they are able to learn how to touch and read the Holy Quran, the main text of Islam.
You will leave this ancient city by crossing over the old bridge of Malan which, the locals say, was built with egg shells and egg whites in 1100AD.
