Iranviva (2024)

16/05/2021

is a Botanical Garden in Tehran, Iran. Its area is about 150 hectares and is planned to be the main center for horticulture and plant taxonomy in Iran. A herbarium of Iranian plants (TARI) is gradually being built up and now consists of some 160,000 numbers. Also there are gardens of non-Iranian plants such as Himalayan, American, Japanese, African, and Australian.

The garden also contains an arboretum, Six lakes, hills (to represent the Alborz and Zagros mountains and Himalayas), a rock garden, a waterfall, a wetland, desert plants areas, a salt lake and a wadi, a river about 1 km long, systematic area, fruit garden, picnic area with some pavilions and other facilities. The botanical and horticultural library has more than 11,000 volumes.

12/05/2021

The Naryn Castle or Narin Castle is a mud-brick fort or castle in the town of Meybod, Iran. Structures like these constituted the government stronghold in some of the older towns of central Iran. Some of these castles incorporate mud bricks of the Medes period and of the Achaemenid and Sassanid dynasties. The ruins of the structure stands 40 meters high from its base. Although built some 2,000 years ago, it contains what seems to be a type of plumbing system which was built into its massive walls. 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. The structure also has a large underground chamber, possibly a prison. Four towers surround the entire compound, and a large gate furnishes access to a large courtyard. The structure seems to have been the victim of numerous earthquakes throughout the ages. Some believe that the Narin castles are descendants of ancient fire-temples; some of the castles in Narin and Meybod, in Yazd province, are also called nareng castles, possibly by folk etymology. The castle at Meybod is currently under study.

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11/05/2021

The Fire Temple of Isfahan is a Sassanid-era archaeological complex located on a hill of the same name about eight kilometers west of city center of Isfahan, Iran. The hill, which rises about 210 meters above the surrounding plain, was previously called Maras or Marabin after a village near there, and it is by that name that the site is referred to by Arab historians.

10/05/2021

Tehran, the capital city, is full of attractions and hosts many of these tourists. Tehran Waterfall Park in the west side of the city is one of these attractions. Tehran waterfall Park includes many beautiful ways in the mountains that led to a fantastic artificial waterfall, do not worry you do not need to climb the mountain as the pedestrian facilities are made available so everyone could enjoy the park. The construction of Tehran Waterfall Park was inspired by the architecture of The Persian Gardens and was built in different levels like floors; each level owns a green area, cottage and small ponds. It can remind you of the historical architecture of gardens in old Iran.

08/05/2021

The Naryn Castle or Narin Castle is a mud-brick fort or castle in the town of Meybod, Iran. Structures like these constituted the government stronghold in some of the older towns of central Iran. Some of these castles incorporate mud bricks of the Medes period and of the Achaemenid and Sassanid dynasties. The ruins of the structure stand 40 meters high from its base. Although built some 2,000 years ago, it contains what seems to be a type of plumbing system which was built into its massive walls.

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03/05/2021

Qazvin was the location of a former capital of the Persian Empire and contains over 2000 architectural and archeological sites.

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02/05/2021

The Endangered Hawksbill Turtle

Of the oldest animal species still roaming the planet, the Hawksbill turtle has transcended over 200 million years to be with us today. These deep water dwellers have been known to reach a size of over 1 meter in length and weight of 60kg!

Evolution has given them mesmerizing multi-colored shells and turned their claws into big swimming fins. Although they’ve managed to survive for such an epically long time, their population has been on a steep decline since the 1800’s.

For reasons none other than habitat degradation, wildlife trade, poaching and incidental capture these magnificent creatures are fighting to stay alive. Lucky for them, their frequent visiting of the safe and peaceful coasts of Kish Island has been a big help in their survival.

01/05/2021

The architecture of Stephen Gregory Church
The Gregorian Church of Hamedan has three entrances. The main entrance is under the Bell Tower and the other two are on the north and south angel of the building. The south door leads to the backyard and the north door leads to the main courtyard of the church. The building has a rectangular plan consisting of the main hall and a library. The building’s façade is of brick but the interior part is very simple and doesn’t have any architectural decoration. However, the paintings of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Vardan Mamikonian, Armenian military leader, have decorated the interior walls. In addition, many numerous narrow windows around the building provide the light of St. Gregory Stephen Church.

28/04/2021

Makhmal Kuh has a sedimentary texture and most of it is covered by moss and lichen. With the start of the rainy season, these grow on parts of the mountains where there is less sunshine and multiply into a green and black velvety texture.

27/04/2021

The Sa'd al-Saltaneh Caravanserai is a large Caravanserai located in the city of Qazvin in Qazvin Province of Iran.

Built during the Qajar era, the caravanserai is one of Persia's best-preserved urban caravanserais. The builder (patron) of this large caravanserai was a person by the name Sa'd al-Saltaneh Isfahani, for whom the caravanserai is named.

The caravanserai is built on a square plan, has 4 iwans facing a courtyard. The interiors are decorated with Muqarnas and Rasmi bandi.

The Hujrehs, or the rooms for the travelers, are situated one meter above the courtyard ground level. The Hashti behind the southern iwan has the largest gonbad, with 4 semi-domes adjacent to it.

The eastern-western axis of the Hashti is called Dalan-i Qeisariyeh or "Caesar's Hall", and the north-south axis of the Caravanserai's Hashti is named Dalan-i Ghahremani or "Ghahremani Hall". The former is connected to the "Bazaar of Vizir" of the city.

There are also two smaller courtyards in the east and west of the Caravanserai.

26/04/2021

The mountain has a good ski run and the Sahand environment itself is unique for mountain climbing lovers and nature lovers.

Sahand peak is located outside of Tabriz, nearly around 40min away by car, it has a ski resort but it is gonna be close if there is heavy snow.

The ski resort is closed in the summer and you can only use this area for sightseeing and camping if you wish.

24/04/2021

This caravansary is one of the most valuable buildings in the Safavid period. The caravansary is located on the Silk Road. Caravanserai of Shah Abbasi Karaj used as a place to rest their caravans and their horses during the Safavid period. It also used as a caravansary during Afsharid and Zand periods. But, at the beginning of the Qajar period, this building changed into a military fort, and also, at the end of the era, it was converted into a school. After the collapse of Qajar, around 1911 AD, this place used as the agricultural barn that caused the vastest damage to the building at that time.

21/04/2021

Sheikh Safi al-Din (a famous poet and theosophist) Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble is the largest, most complete, and prominent monastery inspired by Islamic theosophical philosophy and constructed using the Iranian traditional architectural elements of the previous periods (e.g. Ilkhanid & Timurid).

Sheikh Safi al-Din (the ancestor of Safavid kings) Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble, is an artistic and architectural masterpiece that was built commissioned by Sadr-al-din Musa, Sheikh's son, in 735 AH and the other parts of the complex were added in the early Safavid dynasty.

20/04/2021

Ganjali Khan Bathhouse, which is located on the southern side of Ganjali Khan Square and in the middle of the Kerman Grand Bazaar, was built in 1611. The bathhouse spans a 1,300-square-meter area and includes a façade, entrance hall, changing room, Hashti (vestibule), Garm Khaneh (hot chamber), pool, private bath, and boiler room. The bathhouse has wall paintings as well as muqarnas, tilework, and stucco relief decorations. Ganjali Khan Bathhouse was in use until nearly 60 years ago.

19/04/2021

Meybod is a city in and capital of Meybod County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 58,295, in 15,703 families. Meybod is a major desert city in Yazd Province, Iran with a population of about 75,000 making it the second major city in Yazd.

18/04/2021

The Desert of Darre-Anjir is located 10 kilometers north of Bafgh city. About 40 percent of it is clay soil and the other 60 percent is salt; due to its high salinity, plants do not grow in this area.

17/04/2021

Qur’an Gate is a historic gate in the north of Shiraz, Iran.
The Gate was first built during the reign of ‘Adud ad-Dawla. By the time of the Zand dynasty, it had sustained a lot of damage, so it was restored and a small room on top was added, in which were kept hand-written Qur’āns by Sultan Ibrahim Bin Shahrukh Gurekani. The two Qur’āns are known as Hifdah-Man. Travelers passing underneath the gates were believed to receive the blessing of the Holy Book as they began their trip or journey from Shiraz.
Qur’an gate is a historical monument in Shiraz. The name is chosen , cause the Qur’an book ( Muslims Holy Book) on top of the gate.

14/04/2021

Sufi Chay river is in north-west Iran, rising at Mt Sahand and flowing south to reach Maragheh and then Lake Urmia. It has turned the city into one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Iran. The river passes through the city and gives it clean and fresh air. Walking along the river appeals to most people living in or visiting Margheh old town. It also helps improve the agriculture industry by providing farmers with enough amount of water.

13/04/2021

Stone Gate of Khoy was constructed in order to protect the city from the enemies' invasion and acted as a traffic controller as well. In the past, people departed to the cities of Salman and Orumieh through the Stone Gate, but today, the monument is located in the new texture of the city due to the urban expansion planning.

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12/04/2021

Shams-i-Tabrīzī or Shams al-Din Mohammad (died ca.1248) was a Persian Muslim, who is credited as the spiritual instructor of Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhi, also known as Rumi and is referenced with great reverence in Rumi’s poetic collection, in particular, "Diwan-i Shams-i Tabrīzī” (The Works of Shams of Tabriz).

Tradition holds that Shams taught Rumi in seclusion in Konya for a period of forty days, before fleeing for Damascus. The tomb of Shams-i Tabrīzī has recently nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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11/04/2021

It is one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world. Interestingly enough, no river flows into the lake. Its water comes from a number of fountains and seasonal rains. The water on the surface of the lake is frozen on most days of winter.

Located in the Zagros Mountains within Kurdistan Province, Zrebar is 1,285 meters above sea level. It has a length of 5km, a maximum width of 1.6km, and a maximum depth of 6 meters.

The lake is surrounded by mountains covered by forests of oaks. There are also trees of wild pears, hawthorn, and almond.

10/04/2021

This mosque is located in of Ziaratgah District of Abyaneh and beside of the old cemetery. Its history backs to 400 years ago. The exterior design of the mosque is composed of reticulated windows and bricks. Also an abandoned mosque is connected to hajatgah Mosque. theer is room in the top floor of the mosque which had been used for temporary keeping of the dead masters bodies. This mosque was built exactly built in 953 Hijri at the same time with kingship of First Shah Tahmasb. The local people believe that the mosque could grant a person’s request (Hajat)

06/04/2021

Gorgan Specific Palace or Gorgan Palace Museum or Gorgan Royal Palace is related to the first Pahlavid era and is located in City Park (previously a library). Gorgan Palace has been one of the 12 palaces of Pahlavid family and their living place in the area.

After being repaired, the place was turned into Gorgan Palace Museum. This Palace Museum was the first museum in the north f Iran and is considered the specific archaeological museum and the twenty fourth museum in the country. Two major parts of the museum are: Introduction of famous people in Golestan and royal objects sections.

This monument was registered in the list of Iran’s national monuments on 26th of Azar 1336 with registration number 1538. It was repaired and reconstructed on 24th of Ordibehesht and opened in 1388.

05/04/2021

The village has a long history which dates back to more than 2,000 years ago and been registered on Iran’s National Heritage List since 1975. The word Abyaneh, has been derived from the word “viona” meaning a willow grove. It’s been known an entrance to Iranian history as the locals are deeply committed to honoring their traditions. The language spoken by the literate people of Abyaneh is Parthian Pahlavi. The local clothing for example is in a style of great antiquity. The women’s traditional costume typically consists of a white long scarf (covering the shoulders and upper trunk) which has a colorful or floral pattern and an under-knee skirt or pleated pants. Almost all of the women in the village wear this costume, just like their ancestors. And this tradition makes Abyaneh even more special. When you go visit Abyaneh, you would notice that most of the population are rather old. It’s because the young generations prefer to migrate to bigger cities to have a better opportunity to make a life.

04/04/2021

The Golestan province has both pristine and beautiful nature like the Golestan forests, as well as historic cities such as Gonbad and Gorgan. Gorgan, the capital of the province, is an ancient city. Excavations at the Torang Teppe indicate that the city dates back to about 6,000 BC. Also, the discovery of the remains of the "Wall of Gorgan", which researchers have compared to the Chinese wall, proves that the city is old.

Jame Mosque of Gorgan is located in the old neighborhood near the Nalabandan market in Pai Sarv - one of the central and historic districts of the city.

Buildings in Gorgan are destroyed more rapidly than other cities due to temperate and humid climates. So, there found fewer historical monuments and structures in the northern provinces than in arid and desert regions. The Gorgan Mosque is no exception. Its first construction dates back to the Seljuq dynasty, but it was damaged by years and centuries of humid weather, and finally, it was restored. There remains just one minaret from the Seljuq era and the rest of the mosque either goes back to the time of the Kara Koyunlu of the Safavid era or the Timurid.

This mosque is built on an area of two thousand and four hundred twenty square meters. Many years ago, there was a cemetery around this mosque that became a part of the city due to the development of urbanization. Jame Mosque of Gorgan is a mosque with a two-iwans plan. It has a courtyard with an area of seven hundred fifty square meters and four L-shaped prayer halls which have five doors that open to the courtyard. When there is a large congregation of worshipers or attendees, three wide doors in the shabistan open to the conference hall on the ground floor(that is a library), to make the ceremony easier.

One of the iwans, the western one, is more used, perhaps because of its good light. There are also celebrations such as the semi-Sha'ban in this Iwan, in addition, there are minbar (a pulpit in the mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons or in the Hussainia where the speaker sits and lectures the congregation), the double door and its long-standing frame, steering stones, deeds of endowment, and iron ornaments. Among nineteen stone inscriptions on the inner wall of the west Iwan, the oldest one dates back to the time of the Kara Koyunlu, when Jahan Shah ibn Yusuf (the leader of the Kara Koyunlu Oghuz Turks dynasty in Azerbaijan and Arran who reigned c. 1438 – 1467) was the ruler.

The mosque has a low-rise minaret, which is one of the oldest parts of the mosque and it dates back to the Seljuq period. This cylindrical minaret has a Kufic script and decorations in the style of brickwork belongs to Seljuq-era with a sloping roof at the end and a wooden structure that reflect that the mosque is old. Another ancient part of mosque is a beautiful wooden minbar which is carved by flowers and Prophet's Hadith (Ḥadīth in Islam refers to the record of the words, actions, and the silent approval of the Islamic prophet Muhammad), which dates back to Timurid; it was repaired two times in Safavid and Afsharid dynasty. The other piece is the door and its frame (Mentioned above) that belongs to the Timurid Empire and it is in the western Iwan.

It is not clear that who and when this monument has been constructed. Sahmi Gorgani wrote in his book, the history of Gorgan, that Mohammad ibn Khaled Hanzali Razi was its architect. In Az Astara ta Astar Abad (from Astara to Astar Abad), Dr. Sotoudeh said that it was Gawhar Shad (wife of Shah Rukh the Emperor of the Timurid Empire of Herat) who has ordered to build it. Moqadasi believed that it belongs to Umavid and Iʻtimād al-Salṭanah, in Mer’at al-Boldan (the mirror of cities) attributed this mosque to Sunnis.

In the structure of this monument wooden beams are used to strengthen it, these woods, from oak and yew trees, are highly resistant to humid weather and are native but they are almost extinct due to Indisputable harvest. The mosque was repaired many times after the Seljuqs in Timurid, Safavid, Afsharid dynasty because it was destroyed many times due to different reasons: earthquake in 1225 AH, fire, or high humidity. This building has been registered in the Iranian National Heritage list in 1311.

03/04/2021

One of the extraordinary tourism destinations in northern Iran, Alangdareh Park lies 5 km southwest of Gorgan, Golestan Province.
Encompassing an area of 185 hectares, it is laid out on densely forested slopes. The national heritage site, designated in 2004, is a brilliant destination for sightseers and nature enthusiasts. With many options for recreation, the park stands on top of the list for both experienced and novice tourists.

Inside the park lies a road which is a nice opportunity for biking and hiking. Offering copious outstanding landscapes all the way through, the road is an endless enjoyment for travelers. It’s lined with soaring trees, which seem to embrace nature lovers.

The forests there contain many trees and rich vegetation; maples, willows, alders, and oak trees are most remarkable. A little further along the road, you will hear the pleasing sounds of waters from a nearby river and a chain of cool springs amid the forests.

17/03/2021

What is Nowruz and why do we celebrate it?
The word Nowruz (Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, Nauryz), means new day; its spelling and pronunciation may vary by country.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on 21 March. It is celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people all around the world and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.

Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. Its traditions and rituals reflect the cultural and ancient customs of the civilizations of the East and West, which influenced those civilizations through the interchange of human values.

Celebrating Nowruz means the affirmation of life in harmony with nature, awareness of the inseparable link between constructive labour and natural cycles of renewal and a solicitous and respectful attitude towards natural sources of life.

16/03/2021

Chaharshanbe Suri – Ancient Persian Festival of fire
On the last Tuesday of March, the Festival of Fire takes place and sees bonfires sprouting up in various public areas, in alleys, in front of homes and sometimes parks. Chahar-Shanbeh means Wednesday and Suri means both ‘Red’ and ‘Celebration’. In this “red celebration”, people go out and make bush fires and keep them burning till the next morning. This is symbolic of burning all that was bad, pain, unhappiness, sickness and worry and looking forward to a new beginning. People jump over the burning cinders and shout, “Oh, Chahrshanbe Suri; Give me your red color (red face color is the symbol of healthiness) and take back sickly pallor,” which is a purification ritual. Some believe their ancestors’ spirits visit during the last few days of the year. Chaharshanbeh Suri.

Chaharshanbe Suri is the symbol of good health, cultivation, light, and purity to the Iranian. It is believed that the ritual guarantees the dissipation of the misfortunes and evils, and of course, the materialization of people’s hopes and desires for the next year.

15/03/2021

As the Noruz approaches, Iranians make attempt to renew their living environment. This is done by cleaning their houses s***k and span in what is called “khooneh tekooni”. Iranians spend the few weeks to the New Year doing this. They remove the carpets, wash them, mop the floor, the walls, furniture, and everything else.

Traditionally, Iranians would also break a clay vase as a symbol of leaving the old and going for the new in anticipation of the New Year. They would also rub their copper utensils white. By doing these things, the Iranians believed, they removed the old spirit and the bad phantoms and unrestful spirits from the house.

People in Iran start preparing for Noruz with a major spring-cleaning of their house and the purchase of new clothes to wear for the New Year, as well the purchase of flowers.

On the day of Noruz, they dress in their new and best clothes. They decorate the doors and windows with garlands of roses and jasmine. Flowers are known for their delicate nature and need of care where you can find only in a well-kept house.

The ancient Iranians believed that Satan and bad spirits resided in the dark corners of the house. That was a reason they cleaned the house before Noruz. They then attended to their own bodies, shaving, getting a haircut, doing their nails, and wearing new clothes.

13/03/2021

Located near Berkeh Khalaf Village, not far from the Town of Qeshm, the Star Valley is at present the most visited among all Geosites. The Star Valley is a unique example among all Geosites to study erosion. The local name for this area is “Estalah-kaftah” which means “the Fallen Star”. The reason for naming this area as such is that the locals believe that once upon a time a star (commit) (meteor) has hit the earth at this site and as a result of this collision, the stones and soil have been thrown in the air and been frozen, forming these geological structures. There are also local beliefs regarding the presence of Ghosts and “Jinns” in this Valley during the dark which may be due to the unusual geological forms and wind blowing into the Valley at night. The geological morphology of this site is the result of erosion by rainstorms, wind and gravity on various layers. In areas where the geological structures are more resistant to erosion, they have remained intact, however in areas with softer geological structures, erosion has altogether degraded and vanished those parts. In the walls of this Valley, one can observe two different types of layers: A thick and soft layer of light color (beige or light grey) underneath a thinner layer of harder nature, in white or dark grey. The bottom layer due to its soft structure usually gets eroded while the layer above because of having some kind of natural cement (limestone), is more resistant to erosion, protecting the whole structure. In areas where the upper layer is eroded, smaller canyon-like structures have been formed. In some areas within this Valley, geological structure in form of “Pillars” columns may be observed,some of which are needle-shaped. One of the factors which have caused these structures is rainstorm water that is in general seasonal, washing away in circles the soft parts of the geological structure, leaving the harder parts intact as pillars columns or needle shapes. The remnant of hard structures sometimes are “Hat-like” cap rock which almost protects the pillar column from further erosion, while the rest of the structure has been already eroded and disappeared. Various layers in this Valley are thus very vulnerable and fragile, some of them may not even tolerate the weight of a human being. Thus stepping on geological structures could be very dangerous as they might fall apart. Despite a harmonious strong appearance, some areas are critically soft and vulnerable as the bottom layers have already been emptied by erosion. Please note that although by stepping on these structures they do not fall apart right away, the upper layers may get thinner and more fragile by trembling and as a result of narrow cracks these geological structures may get degraded more easily in the future. Thus, avoiding to walk on top of the structures overlooking the Valley may help in protecting this geological heritage for future generations to observe.

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