Cultural Tourism Archives - Iran News Daily

Islamic architecture? Sure, but Na’in’s old mosque offers so much more

reporter 1222 — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 08:21:38 +0000

A tour to the oasis city seems to be enjoyable and well worth if you are a fan of Islamic architecture. Na’in harbors one of the oldest mosques in the Islamic Republic.

Originally constructed in c. tenth century, Jameh Mosque of Na’in is was one of the first mosques built in Iran and is unusual in that it doesn’t conform to the usual four-iwan pattern of its time (for instance Jameh Mosque of Isfahan).

Though may seem very modest at the first sight, the exterior facade and minaret are austerely beautiful and many parts of the interior (including the mihrab) are decorated with finely detailed stucco work.

Mihrab is a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that points out the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying.

The mosque has a central rectangular courtyard that is surrounded with hypostyles on three sides. At one of these hypostyles the mihrab of the mosque is located.

Further interesting features include the exquisitely carved wooden minbar (a pulpit where the imam — prayer leader — stands to deliver sermons), which bears an inscription that identifies as being 700 years old.

There is also an underground prayer hall, designed to keep the faithful cool in summer and warm in winter. Alabaster casements have been set in the ceiling of this dug-out basement, which allows natural light to come through.

The terms “Jameh Mosque” or “Masjed-e Jameh” or “Friday Mosque” is used in Iran for a grand communal mosque where mandatory Friday prayers are performed: the phrase is used in other Muslim countries but only in Iran does it designate this purpose.

Na’in lies 170 km north of Yazd and 140 km east of Isfahan. Like much of the Iranian plateau, it has a desert climate, with a maximum temperature of 41 °C in summer, and a minimum of -9 °C in winter.

During the ancient times the city was at the junction of a desert road that connected Tabas and Mashhad, it used to be an important crossroad on converging trade routes since Sassanid times. Na’in was known for its ceramics and textiles; today it’s primarily known for fine hand-knotted carpets and for hand-loomed camel-wool cloaks, which are produced in the neighboring villages.

Under travelers’ eyes

Here is a select of comments that visitors to the mosque have posted to TripAdvisor, one of the most popular travel websites in the world:

“Great and different”

If you travel around Isfahan and Kerman and Yazd provinces defiantly you’ll see variety of mosques with almost the same design but this one is totally different .Different material different interior design. (Shervin1359 from Huntington Beach, California; Reviewed July 2019)

“At the third oldest mosque in Iran”

While travelling from Yazd to Isfahan, the old city of Na’in will be certainly on your way. A short stop and a visit to the “third” oldest mosque in Iran: the Jame Mosque of Na’in! This mosque dates probably from the 9th or 10th centuries and was built in the famous “Khorasani” architectural style, which combines perfectly Islamic and pre-Islamic influences. It is still used as a congregational mosque! Don’t miss the pulpit, the wood and stone carvings, the alabaster works, the central courtyard with beautiful porches, the fantastic brickworks and the 28m high minaret. Visit also its basement, with tunnels and water channels, which is believed to have housed – centuries ago – a Zoroastrian Fire Temple. Just amazing! But remember, the breathtaking mosques are way ahead, right at your next stop: the awesome city of Isfahan. Enjoy! (LuizDutraNeto from Rio de Janeiro, RJ; Reviewed February 2019)

“Historic aspect of Iran”

This is one of the oldest mosques of Iran and one of the oldest mosques in the world considering it is from the 8th century. It is filled with history. There are some ruins next to it, probably from the same era. No entrance fee. If you are going from Isfahan to Yazd, Na’in is on the way. (JeLundgren from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Reviewed October 2018)

“One of the oldest mosques in Iran”

Historically very interesting. It was originally built as a Sunni mosque and has no dome and (originally) no minarets. The main courtyard of the mosque features several half-meter squares of alabaster the purpose of which is only clear when one descends into the cool subterranean part of the mosque which it lit by the sun passing through the alabaster squares. (MikelMarshall from Valdemorillo, Spain; Reviewed August 2018)

Reporting by Afshin Majlesi

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Rasht city of silver rain

reporter 1222 — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 07:54:42 +0000

Location

Rasht is located 327 kilometers from Tehran. It is one of the metropolises of Iran, the center of Gilan province in northern Iran and also the largest and most populous city among the three Caspian Sea provinces; Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan.

Climate

It is one of the greenest provinces of Iran and most of its popularity is due to its unique climate. The weather in Rasht is moderate and semi-Mediterranean, with warm and sultry summer and humid and cold winters. It has the first rate of rainfall in Iran and is known as City of Rain.

Rasht has been also named the city of silver rain due to rate of rainfall. Lowest precipitation is in the summer months especially in August, and most of it is in September and November.

The continuous rains in Rasht and Guilan have forced the people of these areas to use appropriate coverings in their roofs. The best and most appropriate cover for their roofs was the use of pottery.

The minimum temperature is 11° C and the maximum 20° C in Rasht.

Culture

Although Gilan is one of the smallest provinces in Iran but it is a province with ethnic and dialectal diversity. Different ethnic groups in Rasht and other areas of Gilan have peaceful coexistence which has created a common culture.

People of Rasht has different and various rituals which have caused the city’s reputation and cultural excellence among different ethnic groups in Iran.

Rasht has been playing a major role in Iranian history. It was Iran’s gateway to Russia and Europe; therefore it was influenced by western architecture. Iran’s first public library was built here and it was the first city in Iran where girls were allowed to go to school.

Iran has designated January 2 as Rasht Day to commemorate the historic city of Rasht.

Language

The people of Rasht speak Gileki; it is a Caspian language and a member of the northwestern Iranian language branch, however Persian is the official national language.

Traditional Foods

Rasht has got UNESCO’s recognition as one of the best places in the world for its gastronomy. Its gastronomy sector benefits from a rich variety of natural resources and rely on the exploitation of local resources, especially various species of fish and in-season products. Rashti cuisine has not only carried on ancient recipes, but also unique cooking utensils and methods.

Rasht is full of traditional and local foods. Sour Kebab (Kabab Torsh in Persian) and Mirza Ghasemi (a vegetarian eggplant, tomatoes and egg dish) are two of the well-known foods in Rasht. Baghali ghatogh is also quite popular which is a stew made of vegetables, garlic, beans and eggs.

Souvenir

The most common souvenirs from Rasht areolives, olive oil, fish, pomegranate molasses, Lavashak (sour fruit rolls) and handicrafts.

Rasht city of the first

– The first branch of Bank Sepah of Iran was established in Rasht in 1925

– The First Girl’s School in Iran was established in Rasht

– The first day & night pharmacy in Iran was established in Rasht

– The first sanatorium for the elderly and disabled in Iran was established in Rasht

– The first National Hospital of Iran was established in Rasht

– The first National Library of Iran was established in Rasht in 1920

– The first Iranian Theatre hall was established in Rasht

– The first city in which the sewage system was established

– Iran’s first railway was in Rasht

– The first bus arrived in Rasht

– The first city in which the Russian, British, French, and Ottoman governments opened their consulates and had political representatives.

Rasht Tourist Attractions

Rasht has a lot of monuments due to its long history. Unlike many smaller Iranian cities, Rasht has great nightlife and you’ll see tons of people hanging out in the big squares by night time.

Rasht is known for its famous building of municipality located in a square called the ‘Square of Municipality’ which was constructed about 1900. It is Rasht’s most identifiable landmark, its colonial style tempered by a token mini-dome topping a distinctive whitewashed tower. It looks great when floodlit at night. This historical square dates back to Pahlavi dynasty and is one of the modern places of Iran from the past up to now. Today, some historical parts like Telegraph Museum, Old hotel, Clock Tower and other buildings can be seen here. Existence of markets and stores in this square has made here one of the destinations of people for walking and disporting.

‘Rasht Bazaar’ is one of the attractions in Rasht. It is hypaethral place and the variety of products, their quality and their freshness is one of the most important reasons for the popularity of this bazaar among people and tourists. It is the largest open roof bazaar in the country.

‘Tomb of Mirza Kuchak Khan’, reputedly known as Sardar-e-Jangal is located in the south of Rasht. This simple and at the same time beautiful monument enjoys high respect of all who visit the vicinity.

‘Gilan Rural Heritage Museum’ is located 18 km south of Rasht; an open air museum which is devoted to the rural and ancestral life, is the first one in Iran and remains so far the unique museum of this type in Iran and beyond in the Middle-East and the Central Asia.

‘Saqalaksar Dam Lake and Village’ is located 15 kilometers south of Rasht behind an embankment dam in Saqalaksar Village. Saqalaksar Village is a picturesque area where tourists can see villagers work hard in rice paddies.

‘Qadiri House’ in Rasht is one of the historical buildings of the province that is related to late Qajar period and early Pahlavid period.

‘National Library’ the first public library of Iran is another places in Rasht which attracts visitors.

‘Saravan Natural park’ is one of the oldest forest fields of Gilan which for its various plant species is rare across the country and even across the world. There is a small pond at the entrance of Saravan forest park which is incredibly beautiful. This pond has a wooden platform and two swan shaped boats for wandering on the water.

Eynak lagoon (glasses lagoon) is located in the west of Rasht, it is considered as the second largest pond of Gilan province. This pond is called Eynak (glasses) as it is seen as one in aerial photos.

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Katale Khor cave, hidden paradise in Zanjan’s mountains

reporter 1222 — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:50:47 +0000

Iran has many caves, some of which are unique and special. There are many natural wonders in these caves; including magnificent stalactite and many million-year-old fossils. One of these beautiful caves in Zanjan city is katale khor cave. It is 150km south of Zanjan, off the Soltaniyeh–Hamadan road near Garmab.

The cave dates back to Jurassic period (120 million years ago) and it had a lot of natural and artificial changes during this period. It was discovered about 67 years ago by a group of Iranian cavers. One of the Zanjani members of the group named Seyyed Asadullah Jamali has registered this cave.

In some western parts of Iran, “Katale” is reffered to low altitude mountains and the appellation of this cave is probably due to its existence in one of these mountains. Khor has Avestan root which means Sun. Therefore, Katale Khor means “mount of Sun”.

At first, cavers had to crawl to enter the cave 700 meters. This cave was residence of ancient people so that bones of about 80 people are still preserved. Then the region was excavated and a route was created for walking. Researchers found a strange route in this cave which shows Katale Khor is connected to Ali Sadr Cave in Hamedan Province, at distance of 100km.

Katale Khor and Ali Sadr Cave are roughly homogeneous and created at the same time, but there are two main differences: the Ali Sadr Cave is water cave where you sit in a boat and watch the view but Katale Khor is almost dry. The second distinction of this cave with Ali Sadr Cave is that Katale Khor’s limes are purer which makes it more transparent. Lime stalactites and stalagmites, as well as huge halls and corridors which are mainly dry have added to the beauty of the cave.

One of the features that made this cave one of the unique caves in the world is that the cave has 7 floors but so far only 3 floors have been discovered and there are waterfalls on its different floors. The stalactites in this cave are beautifully shaped and some of them are named after those shapes. Some of the most famous parts in this cave are bride and groom, marriage cloth, sleeping lion, hound, lion paw and elephant’s foot.

There are two visiting routes inside the cave; 3km open to the public and another 4km available only for experienced cavers. Tourists can visit 2850 meters of the cave in the first floor and visitor are asked to stop touching the stalactites and stalagmites to avoid and devastating.

The best season to visit Katale Khor cave is in spring and summer. Visiting this cave will take half a day.

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The top 10 unexpected experiences for travelers in Iran

reporter 1222 — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 11:33:19 +0000

Forget about Persepolis and Isfahan’s blue mosques! These places are must-see in Iran, however, the country is far from being limited to these famous monuments. Few people know how diverse and surprising the country is. Some developing tourism companies in Iran, such as TasteIran, try to change this by introducing visitors to unexpected experiences in Iran.

1. Embrace the Zoroastrian traditions of the Persian New Year

Everybody knows that Iran is a Muslim country, as reminded by its breathtaking mosques. Yet, it is also the birthplace of one of the world’s oldest monotheist religion: Zoroastrianism. Persian culture reflects these old beliefs and customs. The brightest example is “Nowruz”, the Persian New Year, with its bonfires and “Haft Sin Table”. You can join celebrating Nowruz everywhere in Iran on April 21.

2. Sleep in a remote troglodyte village

Throughout history, Iranians have demonstrated an ability to adjust to any kind of environment, from deserts to mountains. Several millennia ago, men have carved their houses directly into the rock, creating some of the world’s most beautiful troglodyte villages. In Kandovan, as well as the UNESCO listed village of Meymand, life still goes on in the earthen streets of these incredible habitats, unchanged for centuries.

3. Do not make a choice between desert and snow: have both

Iran is known for its pristine deserts, which cover 30% of the country. Fewer people guess that it’s also one of the best ski destinations in the world! Just think about it: there are more than a hundred peaks over 4000 meters, which means that one-third of the country is covered with snow in winter. In the south, you can experience both the thrill of mountain climbing under the snow and hiking in sand dunes, within barely 24 hours!

4. Daydream of a red sand coast in Hormuz Island

Have a break from the civilization on the Persian Gulf island of Hormuz. Here is a place like no other, the true definition of “natural wonder”. Imagine wild inhabited coasts, with shaped-cliffs diving into a deep blue sea, and large scarlet sand coast! Everywhere on the island, the soil displays marvelous shiny colors, from red to blue-grey. Locals have used it to create paintings and artworks, but not only: because the soil is edible, local people cook special fish sauces with it.

5. Travel with the nomads of Iran, a mix of ethnic diversity

If Persians is the largest ethnic group in Iran, the country also has a dozen of other ethnicities, many of them being nomads. The most famous tribes are the Bakhtiari and Qashqai. Along with their animals and all their belongings, nomads migrate every season to look for a more favorable climate. They carry with them their culture and traditions, from clothes to language, food, music, etc. A diversity that can still be observed, and is a treasure to preserve for the whole Iranian culture. Check this if you want to live with an Iranian nomad while you are in Iran.

6. Have a taste of voodoo on the southern coast of Iran

Iran has long been, and still remains, at the crossroad of many cultural influences. In the south, the wind recalls the tale of African descents, carrying in their blood ancestral customs from another continent. Afro-Iranians are a rather unknown minority, which perpetuates amazing rituals such as “Zar”, an exorcism ceremony from East Africa. Music, dances, rhythms, etc. There is a taste of Africa waiting to be discovered.

7. Immerse yourself into the spirituality of Islam and Catholicism

In northern Iran are two different spiritual hubs: In the east is the city of Bastam, a birthplace of Sufism in the world, the mystic branch of Islam. Pilgrims come here to get inspired by the atmosphere left by Persian Sufis in monasteries, school, and mosques. Close to Armenia is another pilgrimage center: Isolated in their natural scenery are three invaluable orthodox churches, which transport believers and atheists into the same contemplation.

8. Taste the aromas and benefits of the authentic Persian cuisine

If you think Persian dishes have anything to do with the typical Middle Eastern food, you cannot be more wrong. Iran has its own and very specific cuisine. What better way to get acquainted with Iranian food than to cook some in a workshop at the heart of the capital? You will experience a burst of flavors, while learning about the principles of Islamic medicine and herbal remedies, whose ingredients embellish the stalls of the bazaars.

9. Navigate through the lush forest of the Caspian Sea

It’s the mother of all forests, a “masterpiece of nature creative genius” according to UNESCO: the Hyrcanian forest, which spreads all around the Caspian Sea in the north of Iran, is a wonderland of lush lands, home to many endemic species of plants and birds. Humid, often foggy, sometimes chilly, these regions offer a paradise for hiking lovers and nature explorers.

10. Hang out with the youth of Iran in art galleries, trendy cafes, and sport resorts

Iran is a youth country, with 60% of its population under the age of 35. If you expect young Iranians them to follow an ancestral austere way of life, you’re gonna be disappointed! As they are so opened to the world, it’s easy to get in touch with them in the latest popular cafe, by attending to a contemporary art exhibition, or by pumping up your adrenaline at the skate park!

In sum, there is not one way to experience Iran, but endless opportunities to be surprised and amazed. Thanks to the growth of sustainable tourism, daring travelers from all over the world now have the opportunity to experience these gems. Few groups have started to dig up these local gems, as it’s the case for the team of TasteIran. Convinced that the future of tourism in Iran goes through a mutual benefit between travelers and local populations, their goal is to show to the world that Iran has much more to offer than the beauties of Shiraz and Isfahan.

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