Charikar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Imam Abu Hanifa امام ابو حنیفه Charikar Imam Azam
City
A street in Charikar during the War in Afghanistan, 2007
Charikar Location in Afghanistan
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Parwan Province
District	Charikar District
Elevation	1,600 m (5,200 ft)
Population  (2015)
• City	96,093
• Urban	96,039
Time zone	UTC+4:30

Aerial view of the city

Imam Abu Hanifa, also known as Charikar or Imam Azam, is an important city in Afghanistan. It is the capital of Parwan Province and the main town in the Koh Daman Valley. The city's name was officially changed in December 2022. It was renamed to honor Abu Hanifa, a famous Sunni Muslim scholar. He is sometimes called Imam Azam, meaning "The Great Imam."

This city is located on the Afghan Ring Road. It is about 69 kilometers (43 miles) from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Travelers going to northern provinces like Mazar-i-Sharif or Kunduz often pass through Imam Abu Hanifa. The city sits at the entrance to the Panjshir Valley, where flat plains meet the Hindu Kush mountains. It is well-known for its beautiful pottery and delicious grapes.

As of 2015, the city had about 96,039 people living in 10,671 homes. Most of the people living here are Tajik. The city is divided into four police areas.

History of Imam Abu Hanifa

Early Battles and British Presence

In 1221, a big battle called the Battle of Parwan happened near Charikar. In this battle, an army led by Jalal ud-Din defeated a part of the invading Mongol army. This victory helped some of his soldiers escape to another area.

Later, in the early 1800s, Charikar became a busy trading town. It was also the site of a major battle during the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1841. During this time, a British military group was attacked by Afghans.

Modern Conflicts and Name Change

During the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989), the area around Charikar saw a lot of fighting. It was a key location for different groups. Later, Charikar was on the front line between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban in the 1990s. Control of the city changed hands several times between these groups.

In August 2020, the city experienced severe floods. These floods sadly caused many deaths.

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the city's name was changed in December 2022. It was renamed Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Azam. This change was made to honor a respected Islamic scholar.

Climate

A street in Charikar (2008)

Imam Abu Hanifa has a climate with hot summers and cold winters. The winter months usually get much more rain than the summer months.

The warmest month of the year is July. The average temperature then is about 25.0 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). January is the coldest month. The average temperature in January is around -2.9 degrees Celsius (26.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

See also

In Spanish: Charikar para niños