YAZD

Yazd is a city with fantastic examples of historic architecture and the centre of Zoroastrian culture in Iran. The city is located 270 km (170 mi) southeast of Isfahan. Yazd has a history of over 5,000 years, dating back to the time of the Median Empire. It is also known in Iran for the high quality of its handicrafts, especially silk weaving, and its confectionary. Yazd is an important centre of Persian architecture. Because of its climate, it has one of the largest networks of qanats in the world, and Yazdi qanat makers are considered the most skilled in Iran. To deal with the extremely hot summers, many old buildings in Yazd have magnificent windcatchers, and large underground areas. Yazd is also one of the largest cities built almost entirely out of adobe.

A fire temple in Zoroastrianism is the place of worship for Zoroastrians. The fire temple is said to be Iran’s only temple housing Atash Bahram. This is an opportunity to learn about Zoroastrianism which had been the Persian religion until Arabs brought Islam to Iran. The latter defines the grade of consecrated fire in the temple, more than it does the temple.  The main building of fire temple sits in the middle of a large garden and is surrounded by pine, cedar and cypress trees. The Farvahar above the main entrance of the temple and the adorned stone columns magnify the venue’s glory. Designs on the columns, walls and Farvahar are the work of craftsmen from Isfahan who completed the work in their hometown and then transported the finished stones to Yazd. The fire is inside a bronze vessel and visible only from behind a glass wall which has been kept alight continuously since 470 AD. Read more

Fahadan neighborhood is one of the most authentic and oldest neighborhoods in Yazd, where the affluent and the aristocracies once lived. Historical buildings such as mosques, cisterns, workshops, affluent houses, Alexander’s Prison and etc were located in this neighborhood.

Jame Mosque of Yazd with its magnificent tiled entrance, tall minarets and amazing ceramic work, which was built in 12th century, is an example of the finest Persian mosaics and excellent architecture. Its minarets are the highest in the country. It is the grand, congregational mosque within the Yazd Province depicted on the obverse of the Iranian 200 rials banknote.  In the west of the mosque courtyard, there are steps leading under the ground. If you get the chance to go down there you will see the Qanat canals (the traditional Iranian water system in arid areas) through which water passes under the mosque and goes to other parts of the city. Read more

Alexander’s Prison or Ziyaeieh Theological School located in the old Fahadan neighborhood is a notable Islamic monument in Yazd, which is believed to have been built at the time of Alexander’s attack on the Persian Empire. It is said that this structure was used as a prison and that it later was changed to a school. This mud brick structure has a 2-meter deep well in its courtyard which leads to a 5-meter deep basement. There is a fountain, remaining from the original building, in the center of the basement. Alexander’s Prison has mostly Mongolian architectural elements and therefore lacks any tile work.

Dowlatabad Garden with an 18th century feudal hexagonal house is a UNESCO world heritage site and a Persian architecture jewels. The Garden is an authentic Iranian garden that annually attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists. This is a complex built according to the original Iranian architectural style and consists of a large garden and some buildings. Dowlatabad Garden complex includes the southern frontispiece building, the vestibule building and the wind catcher (bad-gir), the summer building or Harem, Behesht building, the mirror hall building, Tehrani building, the main frontispiece building and a double-spanned water cistern. Dowlatabad garden is regarded as one of the sites worth visiting due to verdant gardening skill in landscape architecture, irrigation method, and in the richness of architectural design. Read More

The Amir Chakhmaq Complex is a prominent structure in Yazd, noted for its symmetrical sunken alcoves. This stunning three-storey facade is a mosque located on a square of the same name. It also contains a caravanserai, a tekyeh, a bathhouse, a cold water well, and a confectionery. At night, the building is lit up after twilight hours after sun set with orange lighting in the arched alcoves which makes it a spectacle. Amir Chaghmaq square was built in the 15th century by Jalal-al-Din Amir-Chakhmaq, the governor of Yazd in the Timurid era. This square was established on the north side of an important mosque called the Old Mosque, known today as Amir-Chakhmaq Mosque. Read more

Meybod is a remarkable example of viability and transmission of collective thoughts from different generations into an anatomy and spatial structure. Meybod is a major desert city in Yazd Province. It is an ancient city that goes back to pre-Islamic arena and, hence, is the home to many ancient points of interests. The Historical City of Meybod is part of the Tentative List in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List. One of the oldest castles in Iran is Narin ghaleh in Meybod, which dates back from the Sasanid. Chaparkhaneh and Abbasi caravanserai are some other examples of the historical buildings from Safavid era.

Ancient dovecote, a touristic attraction in Meybod was a circular structure intended to house pigeons or doves. In some culture the possession of a dovecote was a symbol of status and power. It was regulated by law that only noble had this special privilege. This dovecote could contain up to 40000 birds.

Narenj (Narin) Castle This building, which in colloquial language is called Narenj Castle, is one of the most important relics of the province dating back to the period before the advent of Islam to Iran, and has been recorded as one of the national buildings. This ancient castle has been constructed on the top of Galeen hill and overlooks the city. It seems that upper floors of the building have been reconstructed and belong to the Islamic era. According to surveys and other evidence, this monument might belong to the Partiyan period. It is also peculiarly similar in design to Ali Qapu palace of Isfahan; it has a terrace high on top of the structure whose circulation is provided by two helical stairwells (whose walls have caved in, making it inaccessible). The structure also has a large underground chamber (filled now by rubble), possibly a prison. Four towers surround the entire compound, and a large gate furnishes access to a large courtyard. Read more

Chak Chak village in Yazd province to visit the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism. The village consists of a pir perched beneath a towering cliff face in the desert of central Iran. It is the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism. Chak Chak serves as a pilgrimage point for pious Zoroastrians. Each year from June 14–18 many thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India and other countries flock to the fire temple at Pir-e Sabz. Tradition has it that pilgrims are to stop the moment they see the sight of the temple and continue their journey on foot the rest of the way. In Zoroastrian belief, Chak Chak is where Nikbanou, second daughter of the last pre-Islamic Persian ruler, Yazdegerd III of the Sassanid Empire, was cornered by the invading Arab army in 640 CE. Fearing capture Nikbanou prayed to Ahura Mazda to protect her from her enemies. In response to Nikbanou's pleadings, the mountain miraculously opened up and sheltered her from the invaders. Notable features of Chak Chak include the ever-dripping spring located at the mountain. Legend has it that these drops are tears of grief that the mountain sheds in remembrance of Nikbanou. Growing beside the holy spring is an immense and ancient tree said to be Nikbanou's cane. Legend also has it that a petrified colorful cloth from Nikbanou was also visible in the rocks, although pilgrims have since removed it. The actual temple of Chak Chak is a man-made grotto sheltered by two large bronze doors. The shrine enclosure is floored with marble and its walls are darkened by fires kept eternally burning in the sanctuary. In the cliffs below the shrine are several roofed pavilions constructed to accommodate pilgrims. Read more

Lariha’s house is one of the best-preserved Qajar-era houses, located in the Fahadan neighborhood in Yazd, which belonged to Haj Muhammad Ibrahim Lari and was built in 1863 or 1864. According to the date on one of the painted decorations in the interior, the construction of this house was completed in 1869 or 1870. This building originally consisted of six houses, but only the main outer building has survived. The badgirs, traditional doors, stained-glass windows, elegant archways and alcoves mark it out as one of the city’s grandest homes. Read more

Abarkuh also known as Abarghoo is one of the ancient Iranian cities with desert architecture in Yazd Province. One of the most famous things in Abarkooh which attracts many tourists is the 4500 year old cypress tree. Among the symbols which the Iranians hold dear, none is as popular as the cypress tree. This ancient living cypress tree, the Sarv-e-Abarqu is protected by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran as a national natural monument with a height of 25 meters and circumference of 18 meters. It is estimated to be over four millennia old and is likely the second-oldest living thing in Asia. It is estimated to be over four millennia old and is likely the second-oldest living thing in Asia.

Kharanaq is a mud brick village in Rabatat Rural District, located 60 kilometers east of Ardakan and 85 kilometers northeast of Yazd. It has a historic citadel goes back to the Sassanid era which is a very old five towered citadel made of bricks dried in the sun. There are many little sights in this citadel: an old dilapidated hammam, a tiny mosque on two floors, a shaking minaret and a fascinating labyrinth of little lanes, streets, tunnels and passageways which offer great views over the surrounding landscape and farmed land.

Hamam-e-khan (bath) with arched ceilings and fine tilework which was converted to a traditional restaurant is located next to the Khan complex.

Gurab is a village in Taft County, Yazd Province and a secure platform for the propagation and breeding of Persian onager. The Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager), also called the Persian wild ass or Persian zebra, is a subspecies of onager (Asiatic wild ass) native to Iran. It is listed as "critically endangered" and "extremely rare" with no more than 600 individuals left in the wild and only 30 individuals living within North American institutions. Persian wild asses are known to inhabit mountain steppes, semi-desert or desert plains. They are usually found in desert steppes. Their largest population is found at in Khar Turan National Park.

Zeinoddin Caravanserai is a masterpiece located about 62 km south of Yazd which belongs to the Safavid era. Its circular architecture is a unique feature of this inn. Plus this is one of the most suitable places for the travelers who want to enjoy the old and traditional traveling style of the Persians and the caravans that were passing by.

Water Reservior of Six Wind Catchers is located in a neighborhood of the same name in Yazd city including water storage facilities that are dependent on subterranean water storage for use in winter and summer. One of the most distinctive features of Yazd is the windwards that capture even the softest of breezes and send them through the buildings below to cool them. The large water reservoir has over 2000 cubic meters capacity with two taps, six funnels and three windwards.