Bagh-e Jehan Nama Palace complex (Kholm)

 palace, garden, interesting place

Former Soviet military base
During the beginning of the seventies of the 20th century the Bagh-e Jahan Nama Palace has been restored and renovated and plans were developed to turn the palace into a museum. An earthquake in 1976, resulting in serious damages, prevented this idea from being implemented. Combined with the plans for the reconstruction of the historic centre of Tashqurghan and its potential to become a major tourist attraction, the option of revitalizing the plan for establishing an ethnographic museum in the Bagh-e Jahan Nama Palace was reconsidered. This idea was further discussed with the Afghan stakeholders.

The location of the palace complex is close to where the highway from Kabul to Mazar-e Sharif enters the northern plains; a location which can’t be overlooked by anybody travelling in either direction.

For many people passing, a stop at the Bagh-e Jahan Nama Palace complex would be attractive. Moreover, rearranging the palace garden would turn the park into an economic asset (fruit trees) as well as a highly attractive picnic ground for the local population and travellers.

The ethnographic museum, apart from covering the history and culture of the northern plains from Tashqurghan to Andkhui, would act as a site museum paying special attention to the historic urban centre of Tashqurghan as it existed into the nineteen eighties. A museum of this kind –with the adjacent garden- will add an extra tourist attraction to Khulm.