Gardens of Babur (Bagh-e Babur)

The Gardens of Babur, known locally as Bagh-e Babur, climb the slope of Kuh-e Sher Darwaza southwest of Kabul's Old City and are among the city's most loved public spaces. The garden was laid out in the sixteenth century for Emperor Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty, who asked to be buried here after his death in 1530. His tomb lies on an upper terrace, and the grave is marked in a simple style in keeping with his wishes. The garden is built as a sequence of terraces linked by a central water channel, planted with plane and cypress trees, roses and lawns, and framed by views across the city towards the mountains. A white marble mosque added in the seventeenth century by Shah Jahan sits on one terrace, and the restored Queen's Palace, now used for exhibitions and events, stands on another. The site was badly damaged during the conflicts of the late twentieth century and was restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which rebuilt walls, replanted trees and repaired the pavilions. A visit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, allowing time to walk the terraces, see the tomb and mosque, and rest in the shade. Opening hours are reported to be daily from roughly 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with an entrance fee of about 100 to 300 AFN (approx $1.50-4.50). Fridays are very busy with local families picnicking, which makes the garden lively but crowded; weekday mornings are calmer and best for photography. Spring, when the blossoms and roses are out, is the finest season. A taxi from the city centre takes about 15 minutes and costs roughly 100 to 200 AFN (approx $1.50-3).