Malan Bridge
bridge in Afghanistan
Malan Bridge, also called Pul-i-Malan (Dari: پل مالان), is a two-lane arched bridge over the Hari River, connecting Injil District with Guzara District, both in 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 Pul-i Pushtu. 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
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.
The public source identifies “Malan Bridge” as bridge in Afghanistan. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Malan, Bridge and bridge.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Malan Bridge”, the useful work is to connect “bridge in Afghanistan” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 6, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q63181121. Authority coordinates are 34.286, 62.191. None of the 2 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1110, 1112 and 1506.
Modern boundaries and familiar names can conceal earlier jurisdictions or structures that do not align with the present site. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
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Three-step research path
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This entry incorporates text from “Malan Bridge” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.