Kabul (BNA) With a background to the era of Alexander the Great, the historical province of Takhar located 400 km north of Kabul enjoys every beautiful natural scenes and virgin monuments.
In an interview with The Kabul Times reporter, the head of Takhar provincial department of Information and culture Aqebatullah Azizyar said, as a secondary unit with an organization of 24 employees, our activities include the main branches of youth, tourism, publication and art according to our prevailing Standing Operational Procedure.
Takhar province includes 16 rural districts most of them with historical monuments and touristic sites. For example there are two historical monuments in Rostaque district with approximately 800-900 years background history and include shrine of Hazrat-e-Waqef and Sultan Mohammad Balkhi plus Kafer Qala and shrines of Sayed Khalilullah, Khawja Bahauddin, Khawja Kheder, Khawja Changal, Pir Farkhar and Qala-i-Zobeen.
He added, the ancient site of Amu River Alexanderayah located in a small village known as Aikhanom in which the two rivers of Amu and Kokkha confluence in Dashte Qala district. Aikhanom was a queen of Greeco-Bactarian era who ruled that place.
Talking on the rebuilding of Takhar historical monuments, Azizyar said, only the two earlier mentioned shrines were rebuilt 20 percent, the rest have not been rebuilt due to lack of resources.
Aikhanum ancient site was stolen during the devastating civil wars but its not precisely clear how many works have been pillaged.
Touching local and foreign tourists, Azizyar said, although Takhar has historical monuments but its lovely nature and touristic sites attract tourists. During decades long wars and conflicts presence of tourists has been fading but during spring season a lot of local tourists visit it.
Talking on activity of media in Takhar province, Azizyar said, in recent years after 2002, several cultural societies including Kokcha, Bester-e-Daryacha, Association of Takharistan youth,weeklies, monthlies and magazines have been available to people.
Beside that many printing media including Taswir, Toloy-e- Aftab, Ayeena-e- Nab, Khorshid, Jawan daily, Lemar weekly and many other audiovisual media are operating. In 1357 Takharistan weekly was established and currently it comes out as a biweekly.
Beside that several libraries, and private English, painting computer and calligraphy, musical instruments including Damboora, Ghechak, Tabla, Rubab courses have been set up and used by locals.
But due to return of many repatriates from foreign countries, the western music has overshadowed local music.
Karima-Malikzada
