Aybak, Samangan
Aybak
ایبک | |
|---|---|
Overview of Aybak valley | |
Location of Aybak. Click to see. | |
Aybak Location in Afghanistan | |
| Coordinates: 36°15′55″N 68°1′0″E / 36.26528°N 68.01667°E | |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Province | Samangan |
| District | Aybak |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Land | 32 km2 (12 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 959 m (3,146 ft) |
| Population (2025) | |
| 130,409 | |
| • Urban | 38,174 |
| • Rural | 92,235 |
| Time zone | UTC+04:30 (Afghanistan Time) |
Aybak or Aibak (Pashto, Dari: ایبک), known in ancient times as Eukratidia (Ancient Greek: Εὐκρατιδία), is a city in northern Afghanistan, serving as the capital of Samangan Province. It is within the jurisdiction of Aybak District and has an estimated population of 130,409 people.
As an ancient town and major Buddhist center during the 4th and 5th centuries under the then Kushan rulers, it has the ruins of that period at a place known now as Takht-e Rostam, which is located on a hill above the town.
Due to its location, Aibak has been influenced by Persian, Buddhist, Islamic and Turkic peoples. In the past, it was significant because of its position on the main line of communication between Kabul and Afghan Turkestan.