Travel Guide Le Panjshir

The arrival in the valley is breathtaking. A yaw road winds along the Panjshir River, surrounded by narrow gorges and steep slopes. We gently enter the valley. The Panjshir River is probably the most beautiful of Afghanistan. In spring, water is flowing and the valley is crystal-clear green. Some fishermen try to catch trout. After these tortuous roads, there are vast fertile plains and, on the sides, Tajik villages attached to the mountains, overhanging wheat, corn or sesame fields. Suspended bridges connect villages to the road. The land is irrigated by the river through a terraces system. The vegetation is lush. There is always a little fresh air and wind in the Panjshir, which makes it one of the most pleasant places in Afghanistan. The fruits of this region are famous, including grapes, blackberries and nuts. You will surely be offered dried blackberries, which are eaten mainly in winter for their sugar intake.Declared province in 2003, the valley has always kept its independence, whether under the Taliban or under the Soviets. The administrative capital of the province is Rokha, with a police station. Many Tajik political leaders are from this village. Its proximity to Kabul has made the Panjshir Valley a popular tourist destination. Its main interest is its splendour. Apart from the mausoleum of Massoud, there are no special sites to visit, but the place is very favourable to the promenade and, as soon as you arrive in Kabul, it is very restful.History of the valley: Through its situation, the Panjshir Valley is highly strategic. Narrows, it is a real lock. It is 100 km long and is a voice of access to northern Afghanistan. The Col pass, at 4 430 m above sea level, marks the end. The Panjshir Valley, which has always been able to defend itself from various invaders, was the scene of the most violent clashes in the 1980 s between Soviet soldiers and Afghan Resistance. The Russians were back there on thirteen occasions. The leader of resistance to communism and the Taliban, Ahmad Shah Massoud, controlled the whole Panjshir. This valley is said to be sublime. To see its geography, we are tempted to believe it. Armed columns could easily be attacked at heights. The title of Christophe de Ponfilly's film, A valley against an empire, sums up perfectly the history of Du, whose inhabitants succeeded in turning back the Soviet invasion. When you arrive in the valley, you can see the tank carcasses on the road or in the river. In the twentieth century, at the bottom of a crater created by the Soviet bomb, we began to find emeralds. The village of Khenj, in particular, located next to the mines, is famous for these stones.