Balkh, today only small town, is very famous for its glorious past. Zoroaster preached here sometimes between 1000 and 600. Rites celebrated at the shrine to Anahita, Godess of the Oxus, attracted thousands during the 5th Century and Alexander the Great chose it for his base in the 4th Century B.B. under the Kushans, when Buddhism was practised throughout Afghanistan, many holy temples flourished in Balkh. The Arabs called Balkh the mother of cities. By the 9th Century, during the rule of the Samanid Dynasty, about 40 Friday Mosques stood within the city.

Major Places Of Interest:
The Madressa (College) of Sayed Subhan Quli Khan.
The ruins of the ancient city including the old city walls.
The Shrine and Mosque of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa.
The tomb of Rabia Balkhi.
The Masjide No Gumbad (Mosque of the nine Domes). This exquisitely ornamented mosque, also refered to Haji Piyada, is the earliest Islamic monument yet identified in Afghanistan.

Balkh is the home of Rabia Balkhi, the first woman poet of Islam period and of Mauwlana Jalaluddin Balkhi (Rumi), perhaps the most distingueshed Sufi poet. His Masnawi is considerd as the greatest poem ever written in persian language.