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DAY 8
The central square of Mazar-i-Sharif is dominated by the mosque and shrine for which the city is named. According to local lore, this is the burial place of Hazrat Ali, and it is visited throughout the year by countless pilgrims. The shrine, constructed in 1481, is decorated in blue tile and is the most beautiful building in Afghanistan. As well as being an important religious centre, Mazar is famous for its rugs and carpets, which are sold in the shops around the shrine.
A short distance from Mazar is the city of Balkh, which some authorities claim is the oldest city on earth. Zoroaster preached here some time between 1000-600 BC and Alexander the Great used it as the base for his operations between 329-327 BC. Under the Kushans, Buddhism flourished here, and when the Arabs arrived, bringing Islam with them, they called Balkh the “Mother of Cities”. The city was sacked by Genghis Khan but enjoyed a revival under the Timurids. The ancient city walls are still intact. One building of note is the Masjid-i-No Gumbad (“Mosque of the Nine Domes”), constructed early in the 9th century. Only a few examples of mosque architecture from this early period exist anywhere in the world. Return to Mazar in the evening.