Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan

Panjshir Valley is a valley in north-central Afghanistan. The name means "Valley of Five Lions". It is today located in the heart of Panjshir Province. The Panjshir River flows through the valley, dividing it into two.

Panjshir Valley is located near the Hindu Kush Mountains. It is about 150 km to the north of Kabul. The valley has the highest concentration of ethnic Tajiks living in Afghanistan, numbering some 300,000 people.

Sheep in Panjshir Valley




The name Panjshir, which means "five lions" refer to the five Wali, or spiritual brothers, who protected the valley during the reign of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, in the early 11th century. The brothers built a dam whose foundation is still being used today on a modern reservoir.

Panjshir Valley is rich in natural resources. It is a major producer of emeralds and silver. The emeralds of Panjshir Valley has been described by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD.

Young shepherd in Panjshir Valley

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