Chihil Sutun was developed in the late 18th century by Zaman Shah, one of rulers of the
Durrani Empire. The current palace and pavilion were originally built at the same location by then-Emir
Abdur Rahman Khan at the end of the 19th century. Historic maps also refer to both the palace and area as
Hendaki. The palace's commemorative plaque was set in 1888. It was expanded with paved walkways and marble fountains by his successor
Habibullah Khan. It had been used at times as a state guesthouse during the 20th century, notably being the visiting residence of U.S. President
Dwight Eisenhower and Soviet leader
Nikita Khrushchev, and during the
communist era, was used as a government media hub. The site was heavily damaged by the 1990s
civil war and laid in ruins for years, before it was fully rebuilt in 2018. Chihil Sutun Palace is located in the Chihilsitoon neighborhood in the southern part of the city, just east from the
Kabul River. The Chihilsitoon Road links it towards central Kabul to the north and
Darulaman to the west. Like other places of District 7, it is an unplanned area and generally poor. == See also ==