InterContinental Hotel, Kabul

The InterContinental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, has spent more time in the public eye than most of the Intercontinental stable. During the Russian occupancy of Afghanistan it was used as officers quarters and was used extensively by Western journalists during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 as it was the only hotel still operating in the capital at the time. The hotel has been renovated with US 25 million dollars by a Dubai based company and is currently in operation. It is also the landmark used at the start of the Hash House Harriers weekly events.

While originally developed by the InterContinental Hotels chain and built by Taylor Woodrow Construction (U.K), The InterContinental Hotel Kabul has no direct or indirect association with the InterContinental Hotels Group.

In 2003 the Hotel pool had no water and the gym was missing all of its furniture. The Hotel had several power cuts per day. There were still bullet holes throughout the hotel including the windows of the restaurant on the first floor. The furniture in the rooms was simple but clean. The rooms are equipped with TV. English, German and French TV Channels are available. The internet cafe is located in the basement. The telephone system is still operated by its original old manual switchboard, which was manufactured by Siemens. During the month of February 2003 a British intelligence agent Colin Berry who had been involved in the recovery of 'Surface to Air Missiles' and other Covert operations was involved in a gun battle in the hotel, as a result two Afghans were killed.

External links

* [http://www.intercontinentalkabul.com Intercontinental Hotel: Official Site]
* [http://www.kabulguide.net/kbl-photostory-intercontinental.htm The Survival Guide to Kabul photographs]