Afghans flock to Reg-e-Rawan for thrills and mountain views

KABUL: A steep sandy slope in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province is drawing hundreds of male visitors each weekend during spring, as people gather at Reg-e-Rawan to relax, take in the scenery and, for some, test themselves on the mountainside.

The site, whose name means the moving sands in Dari, has become a popular destination for men and boys who either roll down the honey-coloured sand or practice parkour on the incline. Among them is 16-year-old Imran Saeedi, who performs flips and jumps down the slope as onlookers watch and record videos on their phones.

“I feel afraid when I'm going for a flip or a jump, and of course I can get injured”, Saeedi said, while adding that he is drawn back by the excitement of the place.

“When the week starts, I'm just waiting for the weekend so I can come to Reg-e-Rawan to have fun again”, the high school student said.

Visitors who do not take part in the more daring activities spend time on rocks around the mountain, sharing picnics and looking out over the surrounding landscape. The climb to the top takes about an hour and offers views of green fields and villages below.

Women and girls are not allowed at the site. The area is off limits to them under restrictions imposed by the Taliban authorities, who have barred women from recreational places including parks. When AFP journalists visited, families accompanied by women were turned away, while officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice were patrolling the area.

Tourism official highlights site’s history

Mirwais Kamran, a 48-year-old businessman, said he travelled three hours north from Kabul with some of his 12 children to visit the site.

“I feel joy when I come here with my children and friends”, Kamran said. He climbed the slope but did not go on to roll down it.

Nusratullah Nusrat, the provincial head of tourism at the Kapisa Department of Information and Culture, said Reg-e-Rawan goes back thousands of years.

“The unique feature of this place is that the sand never decreases despite people climbing up and sliding down”,he told AFP.

Nusrat also said some people believe that rolling in the sand helps treat rheumatism.

Visitors describe relief from stress

For some visitors, the attraction is not only physical activity but also a sense of relief and calm. Nohzatullah Ahmadzai, a 22-year-old employee of a cargo company, travelled from Kabul with friends and said the visit improved his mood.

“I'm someone who gets depressed when I'm sad, so visiting such places erases that feeling”, Ahmadzai said.

“We humans need nature”, he said.

“When we feel stressed, we can visit natural places for relaxation or relief”, he added.

The site continues to attract large numbers of visitors seeking recreation, scenic views and, for some, the thrill of descending one of the country’s unusual natural landmarks.