Tawkhanas provide affordable warmth across rural Afghanistan

In rural areas of Maidan Wardak province, residents maintain the centuries-old tradition of building tawkhanas to heat multiple rooms simultaneously.

A tawkhana is an underground heating system, where heat from a tandoor or fireplace circulates beneath the floor, keeping rooms warm throughout the cold season.

These systems are low cost, long lasting, and widely trusted in local communities in Afghanistan.

"Tawkhanas are very common in our communities, and we have skilled people who know how to build them," Rahmanuddin, a resident of Jaghatu district, told TOLOnews.

"One room is used for living, where bricks are laid in channels up to 80 centimeters beneath the floor, with mountain stones placed on top. Behind this room, another chamber, known as the fire room, is built, where a tandoor is installed. A vent from the tandoor connects to the living room."

For many rural families, tawkhanas are more than a source of warmth, they are a cornerstone of daily life and an economical solution to harsh winter conditions.

"We bake bread in the tandoor, heat water, and keep rooms warm. The floor of the tawkhana retains heat very well. For mosques, we usually build fireplaces instead of tandoors," another local resident Nezamuddin said.

Economic and safety benefits

Villagers commonly use mountain shrubs and firewood in their fireplaces and tandoors, which allow them to cook food, bake bread, and heat rooms simultaneously.

"We cannot afford coal heaters. Our mountains have shrubs, and we use those plants and firewood," said Gul Habib, another resident of Jaghatu district

"Our rooms have tandoors and tawkhanas that produce good heat. When we light the fire in the morning, we cook our food and bread, and the room stays naturally warm for a full day and night."

While modern heaters are widely used in cities, rural areas continue to depend on tawkhanas.

Local residents report that these systems are not only economical but also safer than gas or coal heaters, which carry higher risks.

"Most people in this area have tawkhanas. They are useful and provide good warmth during winter. They are also economical and less dangerous than gas and coal heaters," Fazal Omar, a resident of Maidan Wardak, added.

Tradition persists despite modern alternatives

Despite the availability of modern heaters and electric systems, rural families in Maidan Wardak continue to build and use tawkhanas.

The tradition persists because it combines practicality, safety, and affordability, providing heat, cooking capability, and hot water in a single system.

Residents value its reliability in harsh winters, especially where electricity and gas are unavailable.

For many, the tawkhana is more than a heating method—it is a cultural practice passed down through generations.

Its continued use highlights how communities adapt traditional solutions to meet both economic and environmental challenges while maintaining daily life in cold, mountainous regions.