Minar-i Chakri

Minar-i Chakri[2] was located at 34°25'10.4"N 69°17'33.7"E, at an elevation of 2500m on the northern slope of the Shakh Baranta ridge overlooking the plain of Kabul, 700m below.

The pillar lays widely on an old trade and tour route, the closest connection to the regional capital of the Greek-Bactrian empire of Alexandria on the Caucasus.

Under the rule of the Kushanas, the Greek province (satrapy) Paropanisadai was renamed Kabulistan and the provincial administration was moved to Kabul.

During the reign of King Vima Kadphises, from around 100 AD, the empire began to expand into India and the economic had a magnificent growth, which was reflected in the construction of Buddhist monuments and monasteries around the capital.

This also included the construction of two Buddhist pillars (Sanskrit Stambha) in the south of the city: the 19 meter high Surkh Minar ("red tower"), which collapsed in an earthquake in spring 1965, and the Minareh Syah ("black tower"), which is closer to the foot of the mountain, which was named Minar-i Chakri[3] in the 19th century.