Darulaman Palace, West Kabul
From
The Survival Guide to Kabul:
DARULAMAN PALACE
The palace built by King Amannullah in the 1920s is set into a small hill in front of the Kabul museum with the once impressive four-mile avenue (once lined with poplars) past the former Soviet embassy, schools and ministries leading to it. Fighting from 1992 onwards destroyed the building but it remains one of the most impressive, albeit shattered structures in Kabul. The palace was used by King Amannullah and was later used as the Justice ministry and Defence ministry. The equally striking former Defence Ministry is on the hills behind.
WEST KABUL
The whole of West Kabul sums up the wanton destruction the city has seen. West Kabul used to be a huge residential area with the grand avenue leading to the Darulaman Palace and Kabul museum. Thousands of people were forced to flee, however, as the rival Mujaheddin factions rained shells at each other across the avenues and villas from their strategic positions in the surround hills. As a result of that sustained shelling, the area was reduced to rubble and dust. Today it’s a haunting reminder of Kabul’s recent history with the palace and the museum being the most striking evidence of the bitter legacy of war. Just beyond Kabul Zoo is a roundabout with the Maiwand Memorial Column in the middle. The completely destroyed surrounding buildings are what most TV crews have filmed over the years to emphasize the destruction of Kabul.