Chihil Sutun
| Chihilsitoon Palace | |
|---|---|
چهلستون | |
 | |
| Former names | Hendaki |
| Alternative names | Chihil Sutun |
| Etymology | Forty Columns |
| General information | |
| Type | Palace |
| Town or city | Kabul |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Estimated completion | 1888 |
Chihilsitoon (Persian: چهلستون, meaning "Forty Columns"), also spelled Chehel Sutoon, Chelsutoon, Chihil Sutun or Chihilsutoon, is an area in southern Kabul, Afghanistan, part of District 7.
History[]
It is named after the Chihilsitoon Palace, a garden and pavilion that was originally built at the same location by then-Emir Abdur Rahman Khan at the end of the 19th century. Historic maps also refer to both the palace and area as Hendaki.[1]
The palace's commemorative plaque was set in 1888. It was expanded with paved walkways and marble fountains by his successor Habibullah Khan. It had been used at times as a state guesthouse during the 20th century, notably being the visiting residence of U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, and during the communist era, was used as a government media hub.[2] The site was heavily damaged by civil war and laid in ruins for years, before it was fully rebuilt and reopened in 2019.[3]
Chihilsitoon is located in the outskirts of the city's urban area, just east from the Kabul River that streams south towards Char Asiab. The Chihilsitoon Road links it towards central Kabul to the north and Darulaman to the west. Like other places of District 7, it is an unplanned area and generally poor.[4]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ electricpulp.com. "ČEHEL SOTŪN, KABUL – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org.
- ^ "Chihil Sutun Palace - Archnet". archnet.org.
- ^ "Kabul Gardens: Historic Afghan park restored to glory". Al Jazeera. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ Community Scorecard of Kabul Municipality 2016 Integrity Watch Afghanistan
External links[]
- Chihilsitoon Garden by Aga Khan Trust for Culture (video Feb. 14, 2019)
- Chihilsitoon Garden and Palace rehabilitation (video Sept. 19, 2018)
Coordinates: 34°28′N 69°10′E / 34.467°N 69.167°E
 | This Kabul Province, Afghanistan location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
- Neighborhoods of Kabul
- Palaces in Afghanistan
- Royal residences in Afghanistan
- Buildings and structures in Afghanistan
- Gardens in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan geography stubs