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The capital of Eastern Azerbaijan is Tabriz, an oasis city in an enclosed valley. In winter the city, which is 1360 meters above the sea level, is miserably cold and often thick with snow, while in summer it is often far too hot. Spring and autumn are somewhat pleasant. Tabriz has for many centuries lain on the main trade corridor between the northern part of Iran and the outside world, but its outlying position and vulnerability to foreign invasion, which makes its history interesting, also stunted its development. It has been particularly prone to earthquakes, which have all but destroyed the city more than once. Although the early history of Tabriz is shrouded in legend and mystery, the city’s origins are believed to date back to distant antiquity, perhaps even before the Sassanid era. It was the capital of Azerbaijan in the 3rd century AD and again under the Mongol Il-Khanid dynasty, although for some time Maragheh supplanted it. In 1932, after the end of Mongol rule, the city was sacked by Tamerlane. It was soon restored under the Turkmen tribe of the Ghara Ghoyunlu, who established a short-lived local dynasty. Under the Safavids it rose from regional to national capital for a short period, but the second of the Safavid kings, Shah Tahmasb, moved the capital to Ghazvin because of the vulnerability of Tabriz to Ottoman attacks. The city then went into a period of decline, fought over by Persians, Ottomans and Russians and stricken by earthquakes and disease. Tabriz was the residence of the crown prince under the Ghajar shahs, but the city did not return to prosperity until the second half of the 19th century. The greatest boost to Tabriz came with the opening up of Persia to the West at the turn of the 20th century, when it became the main staging post between the interior of Iran and the Black Sea and for a short time the economic capital. In 1908 it was the center of a revolt against Mohammad Ali Shah, which was only put down with the brutal intervention of the Russians. It was occupied by Russians several times in the first half of the century, including most of both world wars. The city fell even more rapidly into decline after the Russian Revolution, which all but closed its northwest corridor to Europe. Tabriz regained its commercial importance after WWII. As one of Tabriz’s tourist attractions, mention can be made of Arge-e Tabriz which is a huge crumbling brick citadel and a notable landmark that was built in the early 14th century on the site of a massive mosque which collapsed over 500 years ago and which must have been one of the largest ever constructed. In earlier times criminals would be hurled down for the peak of the citadel into a ditch below. The very large and labyrinthine 15th century covered bazaar of Tabriz is much diminished in its variety of goods but still a great place for getting lost amid it architectural splendors. Carpet making is still the main trade, but Tabriz is also renowned for its silverwork and jewelry. The spice bazaar, one of the most pungent and impressive in Iran is an excellent place to visit. Tabriz is the best place in Iran for the traditional Iranian stew known as dizi which is made of fatty meat, usually beef or mutton, thick chunks of potato and lentils, traditionally served in a pipkin and eaten in a bowl with a spoon. So it is a good idea to ask a local to take you to a traditional restaurant to try this triumph of Iranian cuisine. At one tine Jolfa was the major settlement of Armenians in Persia until Shah Abbas I moved them to new Jolfa outside Isfahan. The Church of St. Stephanos is a spectacular Armenian monastery in the hill about 18 km to the west north of Jolfa. The monastery is right on the Azerbaijan border at the point where two rivers, the Aras River and the Agh Chay Rivers meet. The earliest surviving part of the building dates back to the 14th century and the main part to the 16th. The stone building is remarkable for the very fine exterior reliefs, with Armenian crosses, angels and other Christian motifs. A city of great antiquity, Ardebil is best known for the Boghe-Sheikh Safioddin, the shrine of Sheikh Safioddin, forefather of the Safavid dynasty. A Sufi and a Shiite, his own religious beliefs were passed on by his decedent Shah Esmail I and became the orthodoxy of Iran. Moreover this fine early 14th century mausoleum, with its circular domed tower, contains the tombs of various other notables. The ancient city of Maragheh, on the east side of the Orumiyeh Lake, was for s short period the capital of the Mongol Il-Khani dynasty, which ruled from Azerbaijan. The name Maragheh means wallowing place for the beasts and it is said that the Mongols favored this site for the pasture it afforded their horses. Maragheh is still a fertile city and the area around it is known for the excellence of its seedless grapes. Although almost nothing remains of the famous observatory of Maragheh that Hulagu Khan established in a cave outside Maragheh in the 13th century, there are four interesting brick towers surviving in the city. The earliest and probably the most important of these towers is the Red Dome, which is noted for the glazed tiling, used to decorate its exterior walls one of the earliest known examples of this in Iran. KermanshahKermanshah
Province has an area of some 23700 sq km and hosts a population of
around 1.5 million. The province has some of the most interesting and
famous archeological sites in Western Iran dating back to before Mad,
Achaemenid, Part and Sassanid eras. The climate in Kermanshah province
is pleasant for most of the year, the mountainous scenery is stunning
and the soil fertile. The
center of Kermanshah is a city by the same name in an attitude of 1630
meters above sea level, located 550 km southwest of Tehran. Being
a populous city of 630000 inhabitants, mainly Kurds, Kermanshah was
first built in the 4th century AD. It’s vulnerable position
has always rendered it liable to incursion and it was in turn captured
by the Arabs in 649 AD, the Buyids in the 10th century and
soon afterward by the Seljuqs and then sacked by Mongols in the early 13th
century. Throughout
its history, the city has usually been known as Kermanshah or
Kermanshahan that is the city of the king or kings of Kerman. Because
its founder had been governor of Kerman Province. Modern
Kermanshah is an important agricultural and a great industrial center.
In the city, fruits of many kinds are grown and among the important
agricultural products of the region, we can name sugar beet. The city is
also famous for its hand-woven carpets and Giveh that is a traditional
canvas covered footwear. Although you may not find many interesting
sites in the center of province, there are some very ancient remains in
the city’s neighborhood, which are enough to attract the attention of
every tourist. As
we said, Kermanshah is famous for its Giveh footwear. Giveh is a sort of
traditional footwear made from strong, coarse cotton cloth in Iran. The
cotton made upper is sewn to a leather sole to make one of the coolest
and the most comfortable and sturdy traditional shoes that could exist
in the world. When
it comes to making these traditional shoes for women, the Giveh makers
spend more time particularly when they deicide to decorate the upper
surface with beautiful designs. The upper cloth may be made either of
cotton or silk and the quality of the material used for the sole depends
on the income and social status of the people for whom the Givehs are
made. Kermanshah
Museum is inside a famous building called Takyeh Mo’aven olMolk, which
is one of the historical monuments of the Qajar era. The building
consists of three sections: Husseiniyeh, Zeinabiyeh and Abbasiyeh. The
latter section with its beautiful painted walls is in two floors of
which the second one is allocated to the display of archeological
exhibits of ethnological articles. For centuries, the building acted as
a popular court with religious significance. Parts of the building that
have been damaged during the Constitutional Revolution were repaired and
renovated in 1912-1913 by Mo’aven ol Molk, the last private owner of
the building. The
Bisotun or Behistun Mountain stands some 30 km to the northeast of
Kermanshah. Long before the Achaemenids, even prehistoric man inhabited
Bisotun. The
famous bas-relief of Bisotun overlooks the main Hamedan road. The fact
that the big piece of rock was also on the ancient royal road between
Iran and Iraq made it an ideal location for the tablets carved on it. On
the roadside, there are Achaemenid inscriptions and relief engraved high
up on the Bisotun Cliff, which attract the attention of tourists and
travelers. Member of the British Army, Henry Rawlinson copied he
trilingual inscriptions in 1833 and eventually began the process of
deciphering the Akkadian script, which at that time had baffled many
scholars. Again,
in 1948, Dr. G Cameron of Chicago University could correct Rawlinson. Altogether
1200 lines of inscriptions tell the story of the battles Darious had to
wage in 520 BC against the governors who were trying to dismantle the
Empire founded by Cyrus. A
bas-relief portrays the king’s victory; unfortunately, the scene
showing him with his nine rebel governors enchained is some 50 m above
ground level and is hardly visible without the use of binoculars. The
tablet of Daruis I is high up on the side of the cliff over the village
of Bisotun. Below the tablet is a staircase up to the platform from
which you can see a shallow relief containing an inscription in Greek
and a rather worn mid-second century BC sculpture of Hercules on the
back of a lion. These
sculpture inscriptions and tablets of considerable dimensions, comprise
the figure of Daruis I, tall and with attractive features while Ahura
Mazda, symbolic celestial figure can be seen hovering above his head. Daruis
has stretched his right hand toward this deity and with his left foot,
he is trampling upon the rebel Gaumata. Two persons are standing behind
Daruis, while nine governors from different nations are seen before him
with their hands tied behind their backs and a cord running around their
necks. The
three languages used in the inscriptions are Babylonian, Elamite and Old
Persian. The sculptures seem to have been intended to give a true
picture of those represented. The Achaemenid sovereign for instance
wears a garment with folds at the waist. One
of the two prisoners standing behind the king bears the royal bow and
arrow while the other is holding the king’s spear. The figure of Ahura
Mazda is seen above the heads of the prisoners with a winged sun-disc
that is the symbol of eternity, encircling him. The
bas-reliefs at Taq-e-Bostan that is the Arch of the Garden, 6 km
northeast of Kermanshah are the only Sassanid rock carvings outside Fars
Province. The Sassanids carved majestic sculptures out of rocks to exalt
their kings and perpetuate their fame. The reliefs of Tag-e-Bostan
decorate two grottoes, large and small, which have been cut out of a
rock cliff rising high above a pool of clear water. The
first one you come to is a majestic bas-relief depicting the investiture
of Arataxeres I, celebrating victory over the Romans by the deity Ahura
Mazda to the right and Mitra holding symbolic sacred bunch of twigs to
the left. The next is a small arched recess carved out of the cliff in
the 4th century AD, showing Shapur II and his grandson. There
are several interesting if rather primitive rock carvings dating from
around 3000 BC to the Median period in the grottoes in and around
Ghasr-e-Shirin (meaning Shirin place) as well as the ruins of several
palaces and other structures. Ghasr-e-Shririn is the nearest Iranian
city to the Khosravi border post with Iraq 20 km to the southwest. Recent excavations of the famous Parthian Temple of Anahita (Artemis) at Kangavar have revealed two staircases and a number of massive columns of what must once have been a truly colossal monument to this ancient goddess of the waters. The columns are now restored to their correct vertical positions. These impressive remains are believed to date from about 200 BC. Gilan
province covers an area of 14700 sq km and hosts a population of 2.1
million. This large province has its own distinctive dialect. In the
province you can find great scenic attractions, both natural and man
made. Gilan
Province extends from the borders of Caucasus northeast of Iran to the
western edge of Mazandaran and is bordered on the west by East
Azerbaijan and on the south by Zanjan Province. The coastal strip is the
widest in the center, where it is more densely populated. Gilan’s central
city is Rash. The most important river in the region is Sefid
Roud, or the White River, which flows from a dam by the same name on the
border with Zanjan Province into the Caspian Sea. This is the most humid
part of Iran where rice, silk and tea, the major agricultural
specialty of Gilani people are produced. Iran
is especially prone to earthquakes, but there has never been such a
devastating one recorded so far north as that, which occurred in Gilan
in 1990. Early in the morning of June 21, a series of tremors measuring
7.7 on the Richter scale rocked just north of south. The scale of the
devastation surprised seismologists. Unfortunately,
more than 40000 people were killed and many more were injured or made
homeless. Rasht
is the largest settlement of the Southern Caspian region and a
significant industrial center. Here the climate is fairly humid. Only
324km north of Tehran along a good motorway, Rasht is a very popular
weekend or holiday destination for the residents of Tehran. Rasht
grew into a city around 14th century, soon becoming the major
settlement of Gilan. The city was occupied by the Russians several times
the past, most ruinously in 1668 when almost the majority of the
population was massacred by the rebel forces of the Cossack brigand
Stenka Razin who has already destroyed the Persian Navy in the Caspian
Sea. During the World War II the city was again occupied by Russians and
in 1920 Bolsheviks destroyed much of the bazaar, driving most of the
inhabitants into temporary exile. The
Rasht Museum holds a small collection of archeological exhibits. The
small city of Astara is in the far north of Gilan, on the border, which
divides it from a city by the same name in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Due to its proximity to the Azeri border here you can find a variety of
Russian-made goods at a very reasonable price. There
are a lot of traditional and unspoiled highland villages in Mazandaran
and Gilan but for sure the most breathtaking of all is Masouleh Village,
56 km southwest of Rasht and 1050 meters above sea level. Approached
from Fuman by a dramatic mountain pass and completely surrounded by
forest, this perfectly preserved village appears to have grown out of
its surroundings like a limpet clinging to a rock. It’s formed of
several irregular levels of terraced, pale cream houses with gray slate
roofs, interspersed with evergreen trees. So steep is the slope that the
familiar Iranian network of narrow alleys is entirely absent and instead
the flat roof of each level of houses forms a pathway for the level
above. The
village is very cold in wintertime with snow sometimes three meters
deep, but the climate in summer is extremely pleasant and bracing. The
Russian influence over Anzali port and city has been strong and the city
today bears a remarkable physical likeness to the Azeri port of Baku.
There is a provincial Russian air about the city, from its shop displays
to its architecture and fair-skinned visitors. Anzali has also a major caviar-processing factory. Lahijan
on the road between Ramsar and Rasht is another beautiful and exotic
city in Gilan Province. Here there are plenty of old traditional Caspian
houses with sloping channeled brick roofs and walls of pastel shades
including violet. Most of these old houses are rivaled by neighboring
modern houses of metal, plastic and cement. Lahijan
was at one time the only settlement of any size in Gilan, but it fell
somewhat into decline after the 14th century when Rasht grew
into a city and eclipsed it. The city is mostly famous for its tea
factories and tasty cookies. A
short distance from Lahijan is another historic mausoleum called Bogheye
Sheikh Zahedeh. The square building has a tiled roof surmounted by a
sculptured pyramid-shaped painted dome, supported by white pillars on
three sides. The inner vault is covered with colorfully tiled plaster
moldings and contains the tomb of Sheikh Zahed and two other religious
figures. Mazandaran Covering
an area of 46645 sq kms, Mazandaran province is the 11th
largest province of Iran. The famous towns of the province include,
Sari, Behshahr, Ghaemshahr, Babol, Babolsar, Noor, Nowshahr, Tonekabon,
Ramsar, Mahmoud abad, Neka, Jouybar, Chaloos and Pol Sefid. The province
hosts a population of around 4 million. The
Mazandaran province is located south of the Caspian Sea. Geographically
Mazandaran is a combination of two distinct features that are mountains
and fertile plain. The Alborz Mountain range to the south traps the
moisture created by the Caspian Sea, resulting in a lot of rain. This
part of Iran, similar to Gilan province has a much higher average
rainfall than the rest of the country. In fact, the weather is very
similar to that of Europe, only a bit warmer. There is a variety of
wildlife in the region and the heavenly mixture of green slopes having
tall mountains, as their background is both outstanding and
inspirational. Mazandaran
was called Tabarestan in old Persia and has always been an integral part
of the Iranian society and culture. Some of the greatest and most
prominent figures in the history of Iran were born in this region. For
example, Maziar was a revolutionary who fought the Abbasid Empire for
many years. Nima Yushij, on the other hand, was a legendary poet admired
by everyone. The city of Sari, the center of the province is also
attributed to Espahbod Saruyeh, from the Bavand dynasty, and Aboo Jafar
Mohammad Ben Jarir Tbari author of the famous history beginning with
ancient times till the early Islamic area. Suitable
environment, pleasant and moderate climate, beautiful natural landscapes
and closeness to Tehran have caused the province to be one of the main
recreational and tourist attractions of Iran. From
natural attractions point of view, Mazandaran province is one of the
places worth a visit in Iran. The Caspian Sea, rivers, waterfalls,
springs and hydrotherapy centers, luxuriant forests and lush
vegetations, protected regions; lofty mountains and caves are among the
many attractions of the region. There
have remained less historical monuments due to the humid climate of the
province, but yet considerable historical and religious sites annually
attract uncountable number of people. Well,
its’ better to start our tour with the center of the province that is
the city of Sari. Sari located just 277 km off Tehran and enjoys a
moderate and humid climate. The city has been founded in the pre-Islamic
era by Toos-Ibn-Nowzar. Sari’s Grand Mosque is the first building that
was constructed by the Muslims in 140 AH. In 298 the city was set on
fire during an assault launched by the tribes living near the Caspian
Sea. In the early 4th century the city was again damaged,
this time by flood. Sari
was also ruined during the rein of Sultan Mohammad Kharazmshah and
afterwards by the Mongols. In 769 AH a wall was constructed around the
city to protect it. Most
of the city’s important buildings were built during the Safavid era
and the reign of Shah Abbas I. Of course Mazandaran became the capital
of the country during Aghah Mohammad Khan Ghajar’s rule.
The important natural, historical and religious attractions of
Sari are: -Sarandoon
and Balandoon wetlands 25 kms from Sari -
Darab-Kola waterfall -
Hildo Cave, near Shoor-ab village -
Forest Park of Mirza Kouchak Khan -
Dasht-e-Naz wildlife refuge in the northeast of Sari -
Safavid complex 28 kms north of Sari -
Mirza Mahdi water storage -
Imamzadeh Abbas, Yahya and Ghasem shrines Behshahr
is another city in Mazandaran province located at the slopes of Alborz
mountain range enjoying a rather warm and humid climate. In
the past, Behshahr region was called “ Khargooran” and several
thousands of Georgian immigrants lived in the city. Here you encounter a
variety of people including the immigrant Georgians, Taleshis and Tats.
There are several places worth a visit in Behshahr such as: -
Abbas-abad lake -
Zangat waterfall -
Hutoo cave -
Bagh-e-Shah (the king’s garden) palace, a Safavid monument -
Abbas-Abad palace just 8 km southeast of Behshahr -
Cheshmeh-Emarat palace Ghaemshahr
is a small city, only 257 kms from Tehran and is located in a verdant
plain. At the time of construction, the city was named Ali-Abad after a
mausoleum existed there which was a place of pilgrimage among the
locals. In 1935, the name of the city changed to Shahi. Of course, the
antiquity of the city dates back to the time of Tabarestan Espahbodan.
Some of the significant historical and cultural places of Ghaemshahr
include: -
Gol-paba lake with an area of 2.5 hectares -
Tappeh Kati which is a historical hill -
Mourning place of Kurdkola 28 km northeast of the city -
Imamzadeh Yousef, a place of pilgrimage Another
town in Mazandaran, namely Savadkouh enjoys a moderate climate and dense
vegetation cover. The region includes both rural and mountainous areas
with eye-catching valleys and is one of the tourist attractions of the
province. Here we advise you to visit the region’s wonderful forests,
mountainous valleys, Kangloo castle, Lajim tower in Lajim village,
Veresk Bridge across Veresk valley, the old quarter of Alasht and
Imamzadeh Abdollah’s shrine in Zirab town. Babol
is a city 268 km off Tehran. The climate of plain areas of the city in
the south is mild and humid while the mountainous parts in the north are
rather cold. The first name of the city was Mamtir, which was later
changed to Barforoush. The city of Babol was built in the 10th
century AH. It was thriving in the Safavid era as a commercial center
and during the reign of Fathali Khan Ghajar it gained considerable
importance. At present Babol is one of the beautiful cities of
Mazadndaran province. It has many tourist attractions such as Babol
palace, historical hills of Yarim Hill, its old bazaar, mausoleum of
Sultan Mohammad Taher, Imamzadeh Ghasem shrine, mausoleum of Dervish
Fakhreddin and Babol Treasury. Amol
city is located 240 KM off Tehran. As almost every other city in the
region, Amol enjoys a relatively warm and humid climate. In the south it
is surrounded by the Alborz Mountains. The city is one of the oldest in
Iran and even some historians attribute its antiquity to the Pishdadiyan
era. According to archeological excavations and discovered coins and
objects, the inhabitants of the city embraced Islam in the reign of
Mahdi, the Abbasi Caliph. In the 7th century, Hesammoddin
Ardeshir changed the center of the province from Sari to Amol and
constructed a splendid palace over there. In
the year 795 AH, Amir Taymour Goorkani plundered Sari and Amol and Amol
fell into decline. The city was of course the birthplace of many
scientific and religious figures. Historical and natural attractions of
Amol, which are of course worth a trip, are as follows: -The
Saboon Lake with an area of over 1000 hectares -
Ab-e- Ahan or Ab-e-Farangi thermal spring in the upper part of a
village known as Ab-e- Ask and several other thermal springs -
Espahbodan Khorshid cave in Doab intersection, Haraz road -
Ashraf public bath -
Davazdah Pelleh that is 12 steps bridge across Haraz road -
The old bazaar of Amol Now
let’s go to Noor city located in the coastal plain with a mild
climate. The city was known as Sooldeh in the past and presently is one
of the most attractive cities in the West of Mazandaran. Noor River with
limpid and clear water crosses the city, which adds to its beauty. Due
to its natural and strategic characteristics, Noor had a considerable
importance in the past and the castles and fortifications are indicative
of the same fact. The important monuments of the city include: -
Safsareh waterfall in Baladeh -
Pizan Khani cave in Kojour -
Baladeh mountainous valley -
Forest parks of Noor and Sisangan -
Tamishan palace -
Baladeh castle -
The residence of Nima Youshij, the pioneer of Iran’s modern
poetry, in Yoush village Ramsar
is amongst the oldest cities of Mazanadran and according to some valid
historical documents, its antiquity is estimated more than 10 centuries.
Some large families and clans have lived in Ramsar. The city is one of
the most attractive recreational and tourist areas of the Caspian Sea
coast. The places worth a visit in Ramsar are: -
Azarak, Rishboraz and Chardar waterfalls -
Ramsar luxuriant forests -
Mountainous valleys The
province of Mazandaran is the habitat of various species of flora and
fauna and is of a great significance from the ecological point of view.
There are several protected areas in the province. To name a few of
these areas mention can be made of: -
Jahan-Nama Wildlife Refuge in the east with a special scientific,
recreational and natural importance -
Miyankaleh Wildlife Refuge with an area of 7000 hectares -
Semeskandeh Wildlife Refuge with an area of 1000 hectares -
Dasht-e-Naaz Wildlife Refuge with an area of 55 hectares -
Dodangeh and Chardangeh protected areas with an area of 6000
hectares Pleasant
and specific climatic and geographical conditions as well as abundance
of man made ecosystems or water reservoirs have caused Mazandaran to
attract annually a huge number of endemic and migrating birds including
prey birds, pelicans, partridges, turtledoves, grouses, ringdoves,
vultures, owls, dull-yellow partridges, spoonbills, kingfishers, herons,
gooses, cranes, ducks and eagles. Moreover
locating in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea that is the largest
land-locked water body in the world, the water resources of Mazandaran
are home to diverse species of aquatic life. Fishing plays a very
important role in this region. The most important fishes of the region
are: sturgeon, whitefish, salmon, anchovy, pike and trout. Sistan
and Balouchestan Sistan
and Balouchestan province covers an area of some 181600 sq kms and host
a population of around 1.7 million. It is located in Southeastern Iran
and stretches from the southern border of Khorasan to the Oman Sea,
bounded to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan and to the west by the
provinces of Kerman and Hormozgan. The
historical monuments of this province have global fame. Handicrafts of
this province are also worth a visit. Here in Sistan and Balouchestn you
can find several wildlife habitats of which Sarbaz River, home to
Iranian crocodiles is famous. Sistan
the northeastern pocket of the province jutting into Afghanistan was
once the seat of many ancient kingdoms. It is covered with swamps and
salt lakes and permanently experiences fierce blizzards, which bend
every tree. Balouchestan, which actually encompasses the main part of
the province, is abundant in banana, date and lime. The region of Sistan
is rich in ancient and prehistoric sites. The province offers many
wonderful experiences not found elsewhere in Iran. The locals, most of
them Blouchis in the south of the province are friendly sociable and
peaceful people. Zahedan
is the central city of Sistan and Baluchestan Province. It has a
population of 282000 and is the nearest city to the crossing point into
Pakistan. Surely it will be interesting for any visitor to have a look
at the mud-brick huts with their wind towers, which are typical of this
region in the outskirts of the city, especially in the eastern quarter.
There is a colorful mixture of people living or passing through this
area, Baluchis, Persians, Afghans, Pakistanis and naturalized Sikhs. In
Zahedan city you find the atmosphere fairly relaxed and pleasant. Camel
races are a traditional Baluchi events. There is usually at least one
such event in Zahedan each
year, but the best way to get information is asking the locals. The
famous Kouhe-Khajeh, or Khajeh Mountain is a small hilly island with a
number of ancient remains on its peak, rising out of a seasonal lake
thick with reeds, the Hamoon Lake. It is especially beautiful between
early spring and early autumn when the water level of the lake rises and
the causeway to the island becomes impassable; in winter and late
autumn, it is usually possible to walk across, but at other times you
will probably have to take a tiny wickerwork punt. When
you reach the peak, you will come first to the remains of a square
Arsacid an early Sassanid complex containing a large square palace and a
Zoroastrian fire temple both built of mud-brick. At
the south and southeast of the peak are two fairly well preserved forts
overlooking the lake, and there are also the ruins of several other less
important structures scattered around. The new village also known as
Kuhe Khajeh is 1.5 km east of the island. One
of the most wonderful archeological finds in Iran, Shar-e-Soukhteh(
Burnt City) is the remnants of an ancient civilization going back some
3000-4000 years ago. The startling appearance and the quick
disappearance of this city has baffled many experts of the world.
Located south of the city of Zabol, the city’s proximity to the Hamoon
Lake can be explained easily. But this is a notoriously hot region, it
is vulnerable to raids and there doesn’t seem to be any other
civilization anywhere near it. So why a city has been built in such a
place? Still a mystery! However,
Italian researchers have judged by the artifacts found in the area the
inhabitants seem to have been a race of intelligent people who were both
farmers and builders of various crafts. So far, no military ware has
been discovered in the Burnt City, suggesting the peaceful nature of its
residents. Now
let’s move to the Oman Sea port city of Chabhar which is predominantly
Balouchi in population and character. Chabahar is a friendly place. The
relaxed pace of life and the friendliness of the locals may well
persuade you to spend some time here happily. It is interesting to note
that a surprising number of people here speak good English, although
with a Pakistani accent because the city borders Pakistani province of
Balouchesatan only 90 km to the east. The
weather in Chabahar is very pleasant in winter, but too warm in summer. As
for places worth a visit in Chabahar, we can advise you to visit the
beach located east of the city, with its charming fishermen’ huts of
timber frames and walls of woven reeds. Apart from the fishing
activities, most of the shipping here is carried out between Iran and
Pakistan. Tis is a small Oasis village about 9 km north of Chabahar
along the coastal road. Here you can see the remains of a Portuguese
castle on top of a small hill. The village of Tis is well irrigated and
even boasts a modest arboretum known as the Garden of Tis with a canopy
of tamarind and pine trees. Fars
is the region where the Persians first settled and in fact, it derives
its name from them. The Achaemenids had their origins here and from
Perspolis they established their large empire, which was overthrown by
the Greek armies of Alexander the Macedonian in 327 BC. A few centuries
later, the Sassanid dynasty also rose from Pars but shifted its capital
to Tisfoun near what is now Baghdad in Mesopotamia. During Achaemenid
times, starting from the 6th century BC, Perspolis was the
greatest city of the Fars region and today its ruins are among the
principle attraction for many tourists. Perspolis was destroyed by
Alexander in the 4th century BC and never recovered again.
With the advent of Islam in the 7th century CE, Shiraz rose
to significance as the provincial center and in the subsequent centuries
reached its own glory as a capital of several Islamic dynasties. Perhaps
more importantly as an artistic center and a hub of poets, famous among
whom are Sheikh Sa’di and Khajah Hafez. Fars Province has an area of
133,300 sq km and a population of around four million. It has the
largest number of nomads in Iran, most of whom belong to the Qashqayi
tribe. Undoubtedly once you visit Shiraz, you will experience abundant pleasure. The city’s natural beauties are breathtaking. Its inhabitants are among the most ingenious and exuberant people who speak Persian with a very pure and melodious accent. Shiraz
was one of the most important cities of the Mediaeval Islamic world and
briefly served as the Iranian capital during the Zand Dynasty from 1753
to 1794. Today many of the city’s beautiful buildings date from that
period, although one can find structures as old as a thousand years
dating from the early Islamic era. For many Shiraz is simply the most
pleasant of the large Iranian cities with a friendly, generous, warm and
cultivated people. The city’s charm is of course more poetic and less
visual. Shiraz lies at an altitude of 1491 meters above sea level in a
fertile valley and has one of the most agreeable climates in Iran. We
recommend you to visit Shiraz between February and May or between
October and November. Although,
early settlements in Shiraz have been traced to the early Achamenied era
in the 6th century BC and Shiraz had grown into a major
regional center under the Sassanids beginning from the 3rd
century CE, the city did not become an important center until about 693
CE with the advent of Islam and the fall of the Sassanid regional canter
of Estakhr. As Estakhr fell into decline Shiraz grew in size and
significance under Arab rule and later under a succession of local
dynasties. The
city became more significant under its Turkish Atabeks during Seljuqid
rule in the 12th century CE that saw the emergence of the
famous poet Shaikh Mosleheddin Sa’di, the compiler of the immortal
Persian works, Golestan and Boustan. Shiraz was spared destruction by
the invading Mongols when the province’s last Atabek offered tribute
and submission to Genghis Khan’s marauding hordes. It soon regained
its glory under the Muzzafarid dynasty and during the period of Shah
Shuja, it attained world fame because of the poetical talents of Khajah
Shamseddin Hafez, the immortal lyrical poet whose Persian poems have a
mystical appeal. In 1382 CE, Shiraz fell to the Central Asian conqueror
Amir Taimour, or Tamerlane, as medieval European historians corrupted
his name. The Timurid period marks the peak of Shiraz’s glory. Till
the 15th century it was known in the Islamic world as a
leading center of calligraphy, painting, architecture and literature. With
the establishment of Safavid rule and the religious and national
identity it bestowed to Iran, Shiraz was a major provincial capital that
began attracting a number of European travelers and traders. Later it
fell into decline as a result of several earthquakes. The Afghan raids
of the early 18th century worsened the situation. In 1744
when its governor revolted, Nader Shah besieged Shiraz and put down the
rebellion with heavy loss of life. In 1747, at the time of Nader
Shah’s murder in Khorasan, most of Shiraz’s historical buildings
were in the state of damage or ruin. However, the city soon regained its
prosperity under Karim Khan Zand, who ruled Iran in the name of a
Safavid prince, and himself took the title of Vakeel or-Riyaya or Regent
of the People. He was determined to turn Shiraz into a worthy capital
and was one of greatest patrons of arts in Iranian history. Employing
more than 12000 workers, he founded the citadel, which is known today as
Arg-e- Karim Khan and commissioned many fine buildings including the
Vakeel Mosque, the Vakeel Bath and Bazaar-e Vakeel. Karim Khan’s
short-lived dynasty was called Zandiyeh, but after him, his heirs failed
to maintain the glory of Shiraz, largely because of the tussle for
supremacy over Iran with the rising power of the Qajarid chieftan, Agha
Mohammad Khan. As
for Shiraz’s tourist attractions, let us begin with the Arg-e-Karim
Khani citadel. This well-preserved fortress with four circular towers
was in the time of the Zand dynasty part of a royal courtyard, which
Karim Khan had intended to rival that of the city of Isfahan. Opposite
the citadel, Karim Khan laid down the Bagh-e Nazar, a garden, which
presently is only half its original size. It has an octagonal pavilion,
which was originally used for official receptions. The pavilion is known
as Pars Museum today and contains items relating to the life of Karim
Khan. However much of the interest lies in the building itself, with its
charming tiled panels outside and its painted roof and an exquisitely
carved marble pool inside. Now
let’s go to the famous bazaar of Shiraz, the Bazaar-e-Vakeel, which
means the Regent’s Bazaar and was built by Karim Khan as part of his
plan to make Shiraz into a great trading center. The finely laid brick
ceiling of the covered Bazaar ensures that the interior is cool in
summer and warm in winter. As in so many old Iranian bazaars the
interest lies mainly in the architecture and the whole atmosphere rather
than the merchandise on sale. Near the Bazaar is the grand Bathhouse
dating from Karim Khan’s time. Masjid-e Vakeel or the Regent’s
Mosque, built in 1773 by Karim Khan at one of the entrances to the
Bazaar, is worth a visit. The mosque has two vast rectangular halls
leading into a yard surrounded by beautifully tiled alcoves and porches.
Although the structure of the mosque dates from 1773, most of the tiles
with its predominantly floral motifs were added during Qajarid era. The
columns of the mosque that support the arched roof are carved out of
single blocks of stone. Shiraz
has a famous site of pilgrimage in the center of city, known in Persian
as “ Boghe-ye- Shah Gheragh” It is the tomb of Seyed Ahmad, brother
of the eighth infallible Imam Reza (PBUH) who was martyred in Shiraz in
835. A mausoleum was first built over the grave in the mid- 14th
century and ever since this has been an important place of pilgrimage. The
multicolor reflections from the vast numbers of minute mirror tiles
inside the shrine are quite dazzling. At the main entrance to the
courtyard, there is a small but interesting museum with a display of
fine china and glassware, exquisitely inscribing old and modern Qurans
and some old coins. Another
mosque worth a visit in Shiraz is Jame Atigh Mosque. Virtually all the
original structure disappeared as a result of several earthquakes, and
most of the building dates from the Safavid era or later. The mosque is
of interest for a very unusual, rectangular turreted building in the
center of its courtyard. The
Church of St. Simon the Zealot is an Anglican church although the old
building itself is very Iranian in character. It is known for its very
valuable stained glass windows. The
tomb of the celebrated poet Hafez is located in Shiraz in a small
garden. The marble tombstone, engraved with a long verse from the
poet’s works was placed inside a small shrine by Karim Khan in 1773.
In 1935, an octagonal pavilion was put up over it, supported by eight
stone columns beneath a tiled dome. The garden with its two pools is
very pleasant and restful, especially in the warmer months when the
flowers are in full bloom. There is also a wonderful atmospheric
teahouse in a private walled garden. Hafez
was a 7th century poet known for his lyrics almost all around
the world. The
tomb of Sadi is also set in a tranquil garden with a natural spring in a
valley at the foot of a hill. The marble tomb-box itself, which dates
from the 1860’s, is in an octagonal stone colonnade inscribed with
various verses from sadi and supporting a tiled dome, while a metal
chandelier hangs over it. Sadi
known as master of eloquence composed many pleasant pieces both in verse
and prose. His two famous collections are Boustan and Golestan. Shiraz
has been always famous for its many large parks thick with cypress
trees. The best of such parks today is Bagh-e-Eram or Garden of
Paradise. There is a charming 19th century Ghajar palace in
the garden as well. Now let’s go to the suburbs of Shiraz. The earlier capital of the Achaemeids was at Pasargadae, north of Shiraz, but in about 512 BC. Daruis I started the construction of a massive and magnificent palace complex. In Persian the site is known as Takhte Jamshid or Throne of Jamshid, after one of the mythical kings of Persia, although the original name was Parsa , the first kwon reference to it by its Greek name Perspolis. The
only entrance to the palace was by the four flights of steps of the
grand stairway. At the top, they led to Xerxes’ Gateway with three
entrances flanked on the east and west by two seven-meter high stone
bulls. The
Southern door leads to the immense Apadana where the kings once held
audiences and received visitors. The roof was supported by 36 stone
columns each 20 meters high, but the main interest today is in the
superb reliefs that decorate the stairways. The
Parade of Nations shows people and animals bearing tribute to the
Persian King. Other reliefs show the 10000-man palace guard, called the
Immortals. Because as soon as one man fell he would immediately be
replaced by another from an apparently limitless reserve. About
4 kms north of Perspolis the four toms of Naghshe-Rostam are believed to
be those of Daruis I , Xerxes, Artaxerxes and Daruis II. There are also
eight reliefs from far later in the Sassanid dynasty cut into the stone
below the facade of the Achamenian tombs. The
capital of Cyrus the Great is 130 km from Shiraz, called Pasargadae. The
first structure you come to is the tomb of Cyrus itself, constructed on
a stone platform Cyrus’s impressive stone cenotaph was originally much
taller than its present height. After about 1200 meters, you come to the
insubstantial remains of three Achamenid palaces. About a km to the
northwest are two stone plinths, which originally formed part of a pair
of altars within a sacred precinct. Kerman The
province of Kerman is the third largest in Iran with an area of 180000
sq km and hosts a population of 1.6 million. Most of the province is
covered by steppe or sandy desert, although there are some oases where
dates, oranges, pistachios, cereals and arable crops are cultivated. Thanks
to the altitude of 1749 meters above sea level Kerman’s climate is
not too hot in summer. The residents of Kerman are all Iranians and
speak in Persian language with a Kermani dialect. Kerman
has a long history. The city is said to have been founded in the early 3rd
century AD by Ardeshir I, founder of the Sassanid dynasty. From the 7th
century, Kerman was ruled in turn by the Arabs, the Buyids, the Seljuks,
the Turkmen and the Mongols and then until the Ghajar dynasty by other
invaders and local dynasties. Kerman enjoyed peace under a central
government in the last century. Ok,
we are not going to make you wait any longer and immediately head for
Kerman’s tourist attractions. Visiting Kerman, it will be a pity if
you miss the Ganj-Ali-Khan anthropology museum. The museum is an
interesting exhibition of unique waxworks of men in various poses and
costumes placed in a traditional bathhouse. The public bath is no longer
operational. The statutes are so skillfully made that you cannot
distinguish them from a real human being, until you closely look at
them. Next
to Ganj-Ali-Khan anthropology museum is Ebrahim-Khan public bathhouse,
which is not used any longer, and today it has turned into a traditional
teahouse and restaurant. Here the tastiest Iranian traditional ice
creams are served! Now
let’s go to Kerman’s Grand Mosque which is a well-preserved and
well-restored movement. This large mosque with its four lofty porches
and gleaming blue tiles was founded in the 14th century,
although much of the present structure dates from the Safavid era or
later. Just
beyond the eastern edge of Kerman, you find a small unadorned octagonal
double-domed structure, known as Gonbad-e-Jabaliyeh. It appears to
belong the 2nd millennium AD and may have been a Zoroastrian building. It is remarkable because it is constructed of stone rather
than the much more usual brick. Around
Kerman, you come across a pleasant tree-lined town famous for its dates,
almost all around the world. The town is also known for its remarkably
well-preserved remains of a medieval town, which sits on a small hill at
the northern edge of Bam city. The
castle and ancient town of Bam, which were perhaps founded in the
Sassanid era, is similar to a large medieval European fortress, except
that the material used in them is not stone but brick. Of course some of
the surviving structures must have been built before the 12th
century, but the greater part of what remains dates from the Safavid
era. The
high walls around the citadel are still intact and even today there is
no entrance to the citadel except through the small gatehouse to the
south. As
you enter, you walk up a deep lane through the old bazaar, from where
lanes lead past the remains of mosques, mansions, squares and military
bases all in sand-colored mud brick. The inner citadel dominating the
town contains a fortified residence known as Chahr-Fasl meaning Four
Seasons that is an artillery yard and another yard with stables. Another
city worth a visit in Kerman province is Mahan. The city is situated 35
km from Kerman on the road southeast of Bam. It attracts visitors from
all around the world for its fine mausoleum and attractive historical
garden from the Ghajar era. The combination of delightful landscape and
the allure of its mausoleum make Mahan a very restful place. The tomb of
Shah Nemtallah Vali, a well-known Sufi dervish of the 15th
century is also in Mahan. Many of the structures in the small complex of
religious buildings which surrounds the tomb were built during the reign
of Shah Abbas I or later. One
can climb up a stairway to the roof level for a better view of the two
lean Ghajar minarets and the vast Safavid cupola. Another
city in Kerman province is Rafsanjan, which is famous for its
pistachios. There is also an interesting archeological site around city
on the southern border of the Dasht-e-Lout Desert called Shahdad. This
prehistoric mound, known as Tappe-ye-Kohne meaning the Old Hill has
revealed many fascinating metal implements with animal motifs and clay
human figurines from the third millennium BC. The
city of Sirjan also is located in Kerman province. There is an
interesting 13th century brick monument in Sirjan. Also, on
the outskirts of the city on the northern and eastern flanks of a small
hill, there rest the remains of a walled town called Stone Fortress. You
can see fragments of pottery in the very brittle mud-brick walls of the
town. This settlement was in the early Islamic period the provisional
capital occupying a strategic position. The fortress was captured after
a long siege by the Timurids at the end of the 15th century. Hill
of Yahya is another ancient mound in a valley southeast of Sirjan. It
has been of great interest to archeologists. Yazd Province with an area of 70011 sq kms hosts a population of 230900 people. The whole province is almost unrelieved desert except for the provincial center and a few other towns where most of the population lives. Yazd is particularly interesting for its relationship with the desert surrounding it. It is situated on the border between the northern salt desert, Dasht-e-Kavir and the southern sand desert, Dashte-e-Lout. At an altitude of 1230 meters, Yazd is quite cold in wintertime and very hot in summer. The center of the province bears the same name as the province itself, that is Yazd. The province was once an important religious center for pre-Islamic Zoroastrianism. Yazd has been always a weaving center, known for its silk products and other fabrics even before Marco Polo passed through on the Silk Road in the late 13th century. Even today, you can still see some traditional textile and carpet workshops in the city. Yazd is mostly
known to the world for its tall wind-towers on rooftops, designed by
smart Iranians to catch even the lightest breezes and direct them down
into the underground living rooms to make the extreme heat of the region
tolerable. In the hot summer days, one finds these wind-towers really
precious and far healthier than modern air-conditioners. The adobe architecture in Yazd is of great interest. The building styles are simple, traditional and quite exotic compared with the uniformity of most of the other large Iranian cities. The whole city is the color of clay. Although Yazd
dates from Sassanid era, its history is fairly undistinguished. The city
was conquered by Arabs in about 642 AH and became an important station
on the caravan routes to Central Asia and India, exporting its silk,
carpets and rugs far and wide. Yazd fell into decline after the end of
the Safavid era. Now let’s take a
look at the tourist attractions of Yazd. We begin our tour with
Atashkadeh that is the Zoroastrian fire-temple. According to the
Zoroastrians, the sacred flame behind a glass case visible from the
small museum inside has been burning since about 470AH. This fire
attracts the Zoroastrians from around the world every year. Here you
will also see a couple of paintings including one of Zoroastar. In the far northeast of Yazd is a more recent Zoroastrian building called Fortress of Lions. It houses a Zoroastrian eternal flame moved there since 20 years ago. There are plenty of other Zoroastrian sites around Yazd of which the most important is Chak Chak. This important Zoroastrian fire-temple is on a hill 52 km to the northwest of Yazd. It attracts thousands of pilgrims annually for an annual festival, which lasts for 10 days. Dakhme-e-Zartoshti,
this revealing Zoroastrian site is about 15 km southwest of Yazd. You
can see the odd broken human bone on the very top of the hill, where in
the past the dead were exposed to the attention of passing vultures. The
custom of exposing dead bodies in a tower of silence totally disappeared
throughout the Zoroastrian world around 50 years ago, at about the same
time that the eternal flame was transferred to the newly constructed
fire-temple in Yazd. Another place worth a visit in Yazd is “ Alexander’s Prison” which is hidden in a network of allies. This prison resembles the medieval European dungeons. It is simply a deep, circular, brick-lined pit about 10 meters in diameter with a domed roof that lets in almost no light. The early 11th century “ Tomb of the 12 Imams” is almost next to the Alexander’s Prison. It has a fine Seljuk inscription inside with the names of each of the Shiite Imams, although none of them are buried there. Although a small mausoleum, it is a well-preserved building. There are also some interesting plaster moldings and the brick dome is a good early example of its kind. The Grand mosque
of Yazd is a well-preserved 14th century structure built at
the site of an earlier building, probably from the 12th
century. The mosque has a remarkably high, tiled entrance portal,
flanked with two minarets and adorned with an inscription of the 15th
century. The beautiful mosaics on the dome are also interesting. The
interior of the mosque is cleverly ventilated and well lit and hosts a
large bird colony. The Museum of Mirror Castle in Yazd is a curious ragbag of various objects including items of furniture, a matchbox collection, tea-services guns and pistols, stamp albums, calligraphy, various tatty banknotes and coins. Yazd’s bazaars are probably the best places for buying silk, gold and cloth in Iran. The city is also famous for its traditional sweets and cakes. Ardakan, Maybod and Taft are some major cities of Yazd. Iran’s
holiest city, Mashhad is situated 850 KMs north east of Tehran. It is a
tourist destination with many hotels and a great number of guesthouses
for the pilgrims who visit the city from other parts of the world. The
city’s climatic condition varies with very cold winters and usually
mild summers. The
name of the city, Mashhad has an interesting story. Back in the 9th
century, Imam Reza the Now
let’s take a look at the history of the construction of Imam Reza’s
shrine that attracts millions of pilgrims annually. Entering
Mashhad, the very first things that fascinate every tourist are the two
golden minarets of Imam Reza’s shrine, which have been specially
architectured. Usually the minarets are built on the two sides of the
dome or near it. But here the minarets are quite far from each other.
Although lack of symmetry can be easily felt, it has been done on
purpose so that when pilgrims enter the site, they can see the minarets
and the dome in the middle. The
whole site includes several basts or places of refuge. In the past these
places of refuge served the people under persecution as safe havens.
Today basts are used as entrances to Imam Reza’s shrine. In
860 A.H when the son of King Shahrokh came to Mashhad from Herat in
present day Afghanistan to seek remedy from Imam Reza, kettledrums were
beaten to announce his presence. Since then this practice has been
performed every day before sunrise and sunset except for mourning
periods. One
of the most famous mosques of Iran, namely Goharshad Mosque is also
located adjacent to Imam Reza’s Holy shrine. It was built in the year
821 AH on the command of Gowharshad Khatun, King Shahrokh’s
wife. It includes a courtyard, four porches and seven large prayer
halls. There’s an inscription on the left, on the margin of the porch
written by Baisonqor, one of the best calligraphers of that time. Imam
Reza’s tomb is located beneath the Golden Dome and surrounded by
different porches each with a separate name. It is square in shape, the
walls are covered with marble and tiles carved with Quranic verses and religious
narrations. The
site of Imam Reza’s holy shrine includes a number of museums. The
richest and the most exquisite museum of Iran is located here. Some of
the objects displayed in this museum date back to the 6th
century AH. The collection of carpets, rugs and golden covers of the
tomb are all antique. Among other unique objects exhibited in this
museum mention can be made of the Imam’s first tombstone, the
inscription of which was carved in Kufi relief script belonging to 516
AH. The
museum of Quran contains precious Quranic manuscripts attributed to the
Holy Imams. The oldest manuscript is in Kufi script on deerskin and
dates back to the first century AH. The
biggest stamp museum of Iran is also located in the courtyard of Imam
Reza’s shrine. Some 50000 stamps from Iran and 18 other countries are
on display in this museum. Leaving
Imam Reza’s shrine, now let’s take a look at Nader Shah’s tomb and
museum, which is One
of the most interesting and best-preserved historical monuments in
Mashhad which is located outside Imam Reza’ shrine is the Green Dome.
It is actually a small quadrangular mausoleum used by dervishes and has
been originally built in the Safavid era. The dome is almost permanently
closed, but inside it is the tomb of Sheikh Mohammad Hakim Momen, author
of a famous book on medicine. Another
place worth a visit in Mashhad is Khajeh Rabee tomb with its famous 16th
century inscriptions by the best Persian calligraphers. The cemetery was
originally a park, and now the single monument to Khaje Rabee seems a
little extravagant in the midst of so many much simpler memorials. The
mausoleum is four KM north of Mashhad. Abul
Ghasem Ferdowsi is the greatest epic poet of Iran who composed Shahnameh,
the Tale of Kings, in 30 years. His shrine is located 22 KMs northwest
of Mashhad. The monument is The
Tale of the Kings is a distinct classical work in the world. It tells
tales of ancient Persia. Ferdowsi composed the verses in a way that they
take the reader back to the ancient times and make him feel the events
on the spot. An
important feature of this work is that at a time when Arabic language
was predominant as the language of science and literature, Ferdowsi used
only the sweet Persian language in his masterpiece. He, himself says:”
Persian language is revived by Shahnameh”. And
finally Mashhad farmlands supply most of the saffron of the world.
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It takes from almost
70000 to 250000 flowers to make one pound of saffron. Moreover the
flowers should be handpicked very carefully and one by one in the autumn
when they are full open, early in the morning. Hamedan Some
historians believe that Hamedan’s construction dates back to 3000 B.C. In Hamedan you can experience very very cold winters because the city is 3580 m above sea level. According to a 1992 survey, Hamedan hosts a population of 374541. Well, we are not going to make you wait anymore and jump right into the wonderful attractions of Hamedan, this Iranian tourist destination. The
very first place everyone advises you to visit in Hamedan, is Alisadr
lake-cave which is situated 120 KM to the north west of Hamedan near a
village by the same name, Ali Sadr. As a matter of fact it is one of the strangest natural features in Iran. It is an endless network of caves full of clean water. The
Alisadr lake-cave was discovered in the 70s and annually thousands of
local and foreign tourists visit the site on boat because there is no
other way you can walk into. In some sections, the caves are more than
100 meters wide. The
grave of Avecinna has been placed in the center of a 12 foundation tower
and next to it is the grave of Sheikh Abou Saeid Dakhdook, Avecinna’s
friend and host. On
the gigantic rocks of Alvand Mountain, the two Achaemenid kings namely
Daruis I and Xerxes have described their conquests in an inscription
carved in the stone, asking for help from Ahuramazda. The generations
that followed could not read the alphabets of the ancient Persia, so
they thought the inscription was a guide to a treasury and called it
Ganj Nameh, meaningtreasury guide. Similar to the majority of inscriptions by the Achaemenid kings, this inscription includes greetings to Ahuramazda and the fathers and forefathers of the Persian kings. Another tourist attraction of Hamedan is Gonbad-e-Alavian or Alavian Dome. Gonbad-e-Alavian was built in the 12th century A.D when Hamedan was a Seljuk capital. The site is believed to be the mausoleum of the powerful Alavian family who ruled Hamedan after the Seljuks. The interior walls of the main chamber are covered with natural adornments such as twining vines, leaves and flowers. Actually
this green decoration contrasts sharply with the harshness of the deep
tomb where several of the Alavian leaders have been buried. In
the South of Hamedan and in a vicinity by the name of Baba Taher is
located And great Islamic reformer of the East, Seyed Jamal-e-din Asadabadi’s memorial construction has been built in Asad Abad in Hamedan province. He was born in the year 1254 AH and poisoned to death in Turkey in 1314 AH. Hamedan Province is a strategic mid-western Iranian province that’s just 6 hours driving from Tehran and neighbors Kermanshah, Lorestan and Central provinces of Iran.
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eighth Imam of the Shiite Muslims was poisoned
and martyred in the city. His holy status made his tomb a sacred place
for pilgrims. After the martyrdom of Imam Reza the city was called
Mashhad that is the place of martyrdom. Before the incident, the city
was known as Sanabad. Because of Imam Reza’s shrine, Sanabad, which
was only a small village, grew in to a city, a very large one that is
just exceeded by Tehran.
located at the heart of Mashhad. King Nader was the
founder of Afshar dynasty and ruled from 1736-1747 AD. The museum and
garden have been built by National Monuments Association. Nader’s
statute riding a horse and holding an axe is on top of the museum. In
the museum one can find a variety of old weapons, helmets and armors. 
surrounded by a beautiful garden. There are
still some old walls at the end of the garden and there is a museum to
the west part of the monument. Among the items displayed in this museum
is a manuscript of Shahnameh weighing 73 kilograms. 
The city is divided into six main avenues with the Central Square, which
was designed by a German engineer in 1982 A.D. This square is considered
as the main part of the city.
the tomb of famous Iranian poet, Baba Taher Oryan. The tomb is
an ancient one with an octagonal structure and is surrounded with a
mesh-like railing. Babab Taher has composed verses in the Lori dialect.