Ghazni

Ghazni, historically known as Ghaznayn or Ghazna, also transliterated as Ghuznee, and anciently known as Alexandria in Opiana, is a city in southeastern Afghanistan, serving as the capital of Ghazni Province. It is within the jurisdiction of Ghazni District and has an estimated population of 205,965 people. Mawlawi Muhammad Nabi Hamzah is the current mayor of the city.

Ghazni is a thriving city with a number of factories, bazaars, business centers, banks, historical sites, public parks, hotels, restaurants, mosques, hospitals, universities, and places to play sports or just walk around. In 2015 there were 15,931 dwelling units in the city. Many tourists visit the city for leisure and pleasure purposes.

Ghazni is strategically located along the Kabul–Kandahar Highway, which follows the paths that have served as the main roads between Kabul, Kandahar and Gardez for thousands of years. Situated on a plateau at around 2,219 m (7,280 ft) above sea level, the city has a land area of 57 km² (22 sq mi). It is about 150 km (93 mi) to the southwest of Kabul. The name Ghazni derives from the Persian word ganj, meaning "treasure."

Ghazni Citadel, the Minarets of Ghazni, the Palace of Sultan Mas'ud III, and several other cultural heritage sites have brought travelers and archeologists to the city for centuries. During the pre-Islamic period, the area was inhabited by various tribes who practiced different religions including Buddhism, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. Arab Muslims introduced Islam to Ghazni in the 7th century. The Saffarids made it the official religion in the 9th century. Sabuktigin turned Ghazni into the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire in the 10th century. The city was destroyed by one of the Ghurid rulers but later rebuilt. It fell to several regional powers, including the Timurids and the Delhi Sultanate until it became part of the Hotak dynasty, which was followed by the Durrani Empire or modern Afghanistan. During the First Anglo-Afghan War in the 19th century, the fortifications of Ghazni were partially demolished by British Indian forces.