Kapisa Province
|
Kapisa کاپیسا |
|
|---|---|
| Province | |
 Map of Afghanistan with Kapisa highlighted |
|
| Coordinates (Capital): 35°00′N 69°42′E / 35.0°N 69.7°ECoordinates: 35°00′N 69°42′E / 35.0°N 69.7°E | |
| Country |
 Afghanistan
|
| Capital | Mahmud-i-Raqi |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Syed Mohammad Khalid Hashimi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,842.1 km2 (711.2 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 441,010 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (620/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 |
| ISO 3166 code | AF-KAP |
| Main languages | Pashto, Persian and Pashayi |
Kapisa (Pashto/Persian: کاپيسا) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Located in the north-east of the country. Its capital is Mahmud-i-Raqi, and other districts include Kohistan, Nijrab and Tagab. The population of Kapisa is estimated to be 364,900, although there has never been an official estimate. The province covers an area of 1,842 km² making it the smallest province in the country, however it is the most densely populated province apart from Kabul Province.
The earliest references to Kapisa appear in the writings of fifth century BCE Indian scholar Pāṇini. Pāṇini refers to the city of Kapiśi, a city of the Kapisa kingdom, modern Bagram. Pāṇini also refers to Kapiśayana, a famous wine from Kapisa. The city of Kapiśi also appeared as Kaviśiye on Graeco-Indian coins of Apollodotus I and Eucratides.
Archeological discoveries in 1939 confirmed that the city of Kapisa was an emporium for Kapiśayana wine, bringing to light numerous glass flasks, fish-shaped wine jars, and drinking cups typical of the wine trade of the era. The grapes (Kapiśayani Draksha) and wine (Kapiśayani Madhu) of the area are referred to in several works of ancient Indian literature. The epic Mahabharata also mentions the common practice of slavery in the city.
Based on the account of the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, who visited in AD 644, it seems that in later times Kapisa was part of a kingdom ruled by a Buddhist kshatriya king holding sway over ten neighboring states, including Lampaka, Nagarahara, Gandhara, and Banu. Xuanzang notes the Shen breed of horses from the area, and also notes the production of many types of cereals and fruits, as well as a scented root called Yu-kin.
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