Fayzabad (also spelled Feyzabad, Fazelabad or Faizabad) is the provincial capital and largest city in the Badakhshan province, in northern Afghanistan, with around 50,000 people. The city houses mostly merchants and farmers. The city is at an altitude of 1,200 m. (3,937 ft.)[1] The village is located on [show location on an interactive map] 36°49?11?N 66°27?39?E? / ?36.8197, 66.4608 at 315 m altitude. It is the center of Fayzabad District. The main road Sheberghan-Mazari Sharif is a few kilometers South from the village. It is located in the northeast of Afghanistan, on the river Kokcha. It is the main commercial and administrative center of the Pamir region, the city having mills, flour and rice. Many NGO's who work in the Badakhshan province have placed their headquarters in the new part of the city. Near the city Germany is leading the Provincial Reconstruction Team, along with Danish and Czech military observation teams, which has its base at an old Russian air strip.

Geography

The city is located on the right bank of the Kokcha River, near where the gorge of the river is said by some to end. There is a large open plain downstream of the city, causing some to wonder why the city was built in the location it was.

Economy

The city has historically been relatively isolated because of the lack of paved roads. There have historically been two active bazaars in the city, where items as diverse as cotton, cotton cloth and goods, salt, sugar, tea, indigo, and cutlery were traded. [2]

Several varieties of cash crops are grown here. These include barley, wheat, and rice. A salt mine is also located in the immediate vicinity. The city also has a number of gardens and orchards of fruit trees. There is also some success in panning for gold in the vicinity. Beryl can also be found in the area. The city also hosts a handicraft industry producing woolen goods. There is a working power station in the city, and the potential for expansion of hydroelectric power from the river is considerable

Demographics

Most of the inhabitants are Tajiks and Uzbeks. There is still a Pashtun and Turkmen minority.

Seven languages are spoken in the city, including Dari, Munjani, Wakhi, Ishkashimi, Yezgalami, Sur Quli, Shughni, and Roshani.

History

The city was called Jauz Gun until 1680 because of the number of nuts ("jauz"), grown in the area. The name was changed to Faizabad, which can be roughly translated as "abode of divine bounty, blessing, and charity", when the robe of Muhammed was delivered to the city. Tradition states that it was brought here by Muhammad Shaykh Ziya and Shaykh Niyaz after another man, Wais Quran, brought it to Balkh. [2]

At that time, the city replaced Munjan as the capital of Badakhstan. Later, in 1768, Ahmad Durrani took the robe to Kandahar, and established the Mosque of the Cloak of the Prophet Mohammed there.[2]

There are seven historical forts in the immediate vicinity of the city, several of which are in ruins. These forts were built in some cases to help defend the city, and in other cases the roads into and out of the city.[2]

In 1979 the town became a hotbed of guerrilla groups of Afghans seeking to reject the Soviet invasion. Fayzabad was taken by Soviet forces in 1980 and became a city for the Soviet garrison.

Culture

There are a number of mosques and shrines of historical import in the city.[2]

 Public services

The city has several schools including an all-girls school. There is also a hospital which is considered the best in the province, and a police station. There is a guest house called Lapis Lazuli which is good for expatriates.