Arghandab is a river in Afghanistan, about in length. It rises in the Hazarajatcountrynorth-west of Ghazni, flows south-west passing near the city ofKandahar, and then falls into the Helmand below Girishk. In its lower course it is much used for irrigation, under the control of the Helmand and Arghandab Valley Authority, and the valley is cultivated and populous; yet the water is said to be somewhat brackish. It is doubtful whether the ancient Arachotus is to be identified with the Arghandab or with its chief confluent the Tarnak, which joins it on the left southwest of Kandahar. The Tarnak, which flows south of Kandahar, is much shorter and less copious.
Historical background
The river was known to the ancient Iranians as Haraxvaiti in Avestan and Harahuvati in Old Persian, which are cognate with RigvedicSarasvati. Greek Arachosia is believed to be a hellenisation of the name, meaning the land of Haraxvaiti. Rigveda's hymn VI.61.2 describes it with the words: Historian Asko Parpola states: "Arghandab descends from a height of nearly four kilometers down to about 700 meters, when it joins the Helmand River, which eventually forms shallow lakes." Sarasvatī- is interpreted to mean "full of lakes". Several Indian historians, however, state that the Avestan Haraxvaiti as well as the Rigvedic Sarasvatirefer to the Helmand River. The Rigvedic name of Arghandab is then believed to be Drishadvati. The ruins at Ulan Robat, supposed to represent the city Arachosia, are in its basin; and the lake known as Ab-i Istada, the most probable representative of Lake Arachotus, is near the head of the Tarnak, though not communicating with it. The Tarnak is dammed for irrigation at intervals, and in the hot season almost dries up.
Upper course
The upper course of the Arghandab river is relatively unexplored. The Historical and Political Gazetteer of Afghanistan cites the explorations of Major G. Lynch in 1841, according to whom the origin of the Arghandab is 20 to 30 miles north of Sang-e-Masha. This places the source in the mountains southwest of the Nawar basin. Lynch also described the upper course of the river as being a "mountain torrent, dashing over great granite rocks and about 3 feet deep where fordable".
