| Chihil Sutun | |
|---|---|
چهلستون | |
 | |
 | |
| Former names | Hendaki |
| Alternative names | Chihilsitoon |
| Etymology | Forty Columns |
| General information | |
| Type | Palace |
| Town or city | Kabul |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Estimated completion | 1796[1] |
Chihil Sutun (Persian:چهلستون, meaning "Forty Columns"), also spelledChehel Sutoon,Chelsutoon,Chehelseton orChihilsitoon, is a historicpalace withgardens located about 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) east ofDarulaman neighborhood inKabul,Afghanistan. It was built in 1796 byEmperorZaman Shah Durrani.[1] The palace and neighborhood are part of District 7 of the city.
Chihil Sutun was developed in the late 18th century by Zaman Shah, one of rulers of theDurrani Empire.[1] The current palace andpavilion were originally built at the same location by then-EmirAbdur Rahman Khan at the end of the 19th century. Historic maps also refer to both the palace and area asHendaki.[2]
The palace's commemorative plaque was set in 1888. It was expanded with paved walkways and marble fountains by his successorHabibullah Khan. It had been used at times as a state guesthouse during the 20th century, notably being the visiting residence of U.S. PresidentDwight Eisenhower and Soviet leaderNikita Khrushchev, and during thecommunist era, was used as a government media hub.[3] The site was heavily damaged bycivil war and laid in ruins for years, before it was fully rebuilt and reopened in 2019.[4]
Chihilsitoon is located on the outskirts of the city's urban area, just east from theKabul River that streams south towardsChar Asiab. The Chihilsitoon Road links it towards central Kabul to the north andDarulaman to the west. Like other places of District 7, it is an unplanned area and generally poor.[5]
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34°28′N69°10′E / 34.467°N 69.167°E /34.467; 69.167
