Jalalabad: The Afghan winter capital that once hosted Buddhist monks and Mughal emperors.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Located at the confluence of the Kabul and Kunar rivers, Jalalabad has served as a strategic crossroads for centuries. From its origins as a center of Greco-Buddhist culture to its role as a favored winter retreat for Afghan royalty, this city remains a vital hub of trade and Pashtun culture.

Known historically as Nagarahara or Adinapur, Jalalabad’s roots stretch back to the late 1st millennium BCE as a significant site for Greco-Buddhist culture. By the early 1st millennium CE, Chinese monks like Faxian and Xuan Zang documented their visits to the area’s sacred Buddhist sites. The region’s religious landscape shifted during the late 1st millennium as Muslim forces arrived, though the transition was gradual; as late as 982 CE, records indicate local rulers maintained diverse households, including Buddhist and Hindu wives.

The city as it is known today was named in the late 16th century to honor the Mughal ruler Jalal-uddin Mohammad Akbar, though his grandfather, Babur, originally selected the site. Its warm climate, which can reach 120 °F (49 °C) in summer, made it a preferred winter capital for Afghan kings seeking refuge from the freezing temperatures of Kabul. This strategic location at the junction of major rivers and near the Torkham border crossing has made it a perennial center for trade, agriculture, and military activity throughout the Durrani Empire and beyond.

Modern Jalalabad is a bustling city of over 318,000 people, serving as the capital of Nangarhar Province. While it has endured decades of conflict, including the 1989 Battle of Jalalabad and various insurgent attacks, it remains a cultural pillar. It is home to Nangarhar University and the Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium, the first of its kind in the country. Today, the city’s economy relies on agriculture, including date farms and citrus orchards, alongside industrial parks that process everything from snacks to steel.

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