Malan Bridge

Malan Bridge

د مالان پل
پل مالان
Picture of Malan Bridge
Malan Bridge in 1975
Coordinates34°17′10.4″N 62°11′28.8″E / 34.286222°N 62.191333°E / 34.286222; 62.191333
CrossesHari River
LocaleHerat
Other name(s)Da Malan Pal
Pul-i Malan
Preceded by
Da Pushtu Pal
Pul-i Pushtu
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialConcrete, baked bricks
Total length230 m (750 ft)
Width8 m (26 ft)
Height10 m (33 ft)
History
Opened1110–1112
Rebuilt1995
Location
Interactive map of Malan Bridge

Malan Bridge is a two-lane arched bridge over the Hari River, connecting Injil District with Guzara District, both in the Herat Province of Afghanistan. It was built around 1110 AD. The bridge is located 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Herat's old city and downstream or west from the Pushtu Bridge. It currently consists of 22 arches and has survived several floods that have washed away other bridges across the Hari. It is 230 m (750 ft) long, 8 m (26 ft) wide, and 10 m (33 ft) high.

History

The Malan Bridge at the outskirt of Herat, Afghanistan, 2025

A common legend about its creation says the mythical princesses Bibi Nur and Bibi Hur built the bridge around AD 900. They were followers of Zoroastrianism. The sisters had poultry, so they mixed eggshells with clay and, with much effort, constructed a bridge stronger than steel.

The bridge was built during the reign of Seljuk Sultan Ahmad Sanjar in 1110–1112 AD. The Mughal emperor Babur included it in his visit to the city in 1506. A tourist, Alexander Hamilton wrote that the bridge had 17 arches in the late 19th century; the bridge currently has 22. The bridge was also reported to be neglected and falling into decay in the late 19th century. By 1972, part of the bridge had been washed out and was impassable.

A modern bridge was built upstream in 1961–62 (SH 1340). Before that construction, the Malan Bridge was the only bridge connecting Herat and Kandahar and was considered important for that reason. The bridge was partially destroyed during the Soviet–Afghan War, with two guard towers crumbled and 5 arches demolished. The Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees rebuilt the bridge using concrete and baked bricks, strengthening the foundation and roadway in the process. The bridge reopened for crossing in 1995.

Notes

  1. ↑ Pashto: د مالان پل
    Dari: پل مالان

References

  1. ↑ "Pul-i Malan (Herat)". Structurae. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 "«مالان» پلی 900 ساله در هرات - FarsNews Agency". af.farsnews.ir (in Persian). 16 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 Bordewich, Fergus M. (14 May 1972). "The Center of an Ancient Trade Route, Herat Lives in the Ruins of Its Past". New York Times.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1977). Historical guide to Afghanistan (PDF). University of Arizona Libraries. doi:10.2458/azu_acku_ds351_d87_1977. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Tirard-Collet, Olivier (1998). "After the War. The Condition of Historical Buildings and Monuments in Herat, Afghanistan". Iran. 36: 123–138. doi:10.2307/4299980. ISSN 0578-6967. JSTOR 4299980. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 اویس توخیروزنامه نگار در هرات (18 June 2008). "BBCPersian.com | فرهنگ و هنر | سرگذشت شگفت انگیز پل تاریخی مالان در هرات". www.bbc.com (in Persian). Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 "بازسازی پل تاریخی". آوا پرس | اخبار لحظه ای افغانستان (in Persian). 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Goldsmid, F. J. (31 January 1985). "On journeys between Herat and Khiva: lecture, Friday, January 31, 1875". Journal of the Royal United Service Institution. JSTOR 60234476. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.