Lashkari Bazar
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Archeological site
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![Ruins of the Ghaznavid Palace of Lashkari Bazar, in Lashkargah (the South Palace, seen from the north).[1]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ghaznavid_ruins_of_Lashkari_Bazar_%28northern_view%2C_composite%29.jpg)
Ruins of the Ghaznavid Palace of Lashkari Bazar, in Lashkargah (the South Palace, seen from the north).[1]
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  Lashkari Bazar Location in Afghanistan Show map of Afghanistan Lashkari Bazar Lashkari Bazar (Continental Asia) Show map of Continental Asia | |
| Coordinates: 31°33′57″N 64°21′03″E / 31.565961°N 64.350822°E / 31.565961; 64.350822 | |
| Country |  Afghanistan |
| Province | Helmand |
Lashkari Bazar (Persian: لشگری بازار "Military market", locally known as Persian: کھنه قلعه Qala-e-Kohna "Old castle") was a palatial residence of rulers of the Ghaznavid Empire, located in LashkargahinAfghanistan. The original name was probably al-'Askar.[2]
Some structural elements of the site date to the Parthian period.[2] The Center palace (32x52 meters) is thought to be dating from the Samanid period (819-999 CE).[2] The area had been conquered by the Arabs as early as 661 CE, and developed to become a large and wealthy city.[3]
The very large South Palace (170x100 meters) was probably founded by Mahmud of Ghazni (998-1030 CE), and expanded by his son Masud I (1030-41 CE).[2][4][5][3] The palaces in Lashkari Bazar were the winter retreat of the Ghaznavid rulers, whose capital was in Ghazni.[3] The South Palace was richly decorated with stucco, paintings, frescoes and carved marble panels.[2] A large market street about 100 meters long, a bazaar, joins the palace structure.[2]
The Northern palace was constructed by later rulers.[3][2]
The later Ghurid dynasty sacked the palaces in 1151 CE, but later restored them, and some portions of the architecture are attributed to them.[3][2] They built the fortress of Qala-e-Bost about 7 kilometers to the south, together with an architectural arch.
Recently the ruins have been inhabited by Afghan refugees fleeing Taliban violence.[6]
![Portrait from the Palace courtroom, Southern Palace, Lashkari Bazar.[7]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_from_the_Palace_courtroom%2C_Lashkari_Bazar.jpg)
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