Archive for category: Travel Blog

Have you ever thought how would heaven look like? You would probably think of someplace full of flowers and blossoms, with enormous fountains and green gigantic trees. Then you are probably thinking of a place like Shiraz.

This amazing city has embraced many historical and natural attractions that no visitor thinking of a dreamy trip in one of the gorgeous and ancient paradises of Iran, would tend to miss. This article introduces Things to do in Shiraz; some of which have a global reputation.

Persepolis

Persepolis was the capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. This monument has so many historical stories to offer; as some locals may say it is “History in front of your eyes”. In 518 BC Darius the Great built Persepolis as a modern city which was impressive due to its luxury and opulence. The architecture of Persepolis shows us how grand and fascinating the place was in 500 BC. Persepolis is one of the historical monuments that is inscribed in UNESCO. So, as a representative of Iran’s history and glory, you wouldn’t want to miss it. To reach Persepolis, taking a taxi seems the best way. There are also mini-buses departing from Karandish terminus in Shiraz every morning.

 Opening hours: 8 am – 5:30

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

At first glance, visitors may not realize the colorful secret hidden inside this mosque. Nasir al-mulk mosque, also as some tourist might like to call it, Pink Mosque turns into a magnificent masterpiece by the reflection of the colorful windows on the Iranian carpets. Due to this incredible artwork of Iran’s culture, a heaven has been created for photographers to take stunning pictures. Today, this mosque which was built by Qajar dynasty is one of the must-see attractions of Shiraz that no visitor would like to miss.

To arrive here, you can take Valiasr-Namazi buses and get off the bus at Chahar Rah Moshir (Moshir Crossroad) Station.

Opening hours: 7 am – 5 pm

Shah Cheragh shrine

Near pink mosque, you can also visit Shah Cheragh shrine. Shah Cheragh is a tomb of two brothers named Ahmad and Muhammad who are sons of Musa-al-kazim, seventh Shia Imam. This shrine is covered with mirror shards and tilework and welcomes you with an enormous fountain.

If you are going on foot, from Shohada Square, enter Piroozi Street. Then get on Dastgheibi Blvd. and after that get to 9th of Dey Street. And in case of using a car, in Sibooye Blvd. at Shahzade Ghasem Square, turn to the right to Hazrati Street. Then turn to the left to 9th of Dey Street.

Opening hours: 24/7

Vakil Complex

Named after the founder of the Zandiyeh dynasty, Vakil complex was constructed in this period when Shiraz was the capital of Iran. The complex consists of Vakil Bath, Vakil Bazaar, and Vakil mosque, all of which have been built for the public interest.

Vakil Bazaar

Looking to buy a souvenir in Shiraz? Vakil bazaar offers everything you’re looking for. Inside the bazaar you will find yourself surrounded by all Iranians’ handicrafts and spice stalls. You can find all sort of handcrafts; such as rugs and carpets, copper handicrafts and antiques. There is also some type of sweet called Masqati including pistachio, rose and saffron which are mostly known as a famous souvenir from Shiraz. To reach vakil bazaar you can use bus; get off at Shahrdari Station and take a walk southward on Piroozi Street, turn left on Farhang Avenue, go past by Taleqani Street and find Vakil Bazaar on the left side. On the way to Vakil bazaar you can also visit other parts of Vakil complex including the bath and the mosque.

Opening hours: 8 am – 9 pm

Vakil bath

Vakil bath was originally a public bath dating back to Zandiyeh dynasty. The arches and the tilework of the bath show the history of Iranian architecture and culture.

Getting to Shohada Square, you can walk an 8-minute distance eastward on Zand underpass and then turn right on Taleqani Street to get to Vakil Bath.

Opening hours: 9 am – 9 pm

Vakil mosque

Vakil mosque is a fascinating mosque near Vakil bath with 48 columns which is an interesting place for photographers to take special photos. A large courtyard and stunning facade, blue tileworks of the arches and porches, the ceiling with its spectacular designs surrounded by well-designed walls are quite impressive and eye-catching. Vakil mosque is named after the founder of the Zandiyeh dynasty just like the bath and bazaar.

Using bus seems to be quite easy to access the mosque, you can get to Shohada Square and walk an 8-minute distance eastward on Zand underpass and then turn right on the first alley to get to Vakil Mosque.

Opening hours: 8:30 am – 8:30 pm

Karim khan Citadel

Karim khan Citadel known also as Arg of Karim khan, is also a part of Vakil complex but used to be a royal palace for Karim khan, himself who was the founder and the first king of Zandiyeh dynasty. However, during Qajar dynasty the castle turned into a prison and each room turned into a cell. Despite all of the damages occurred to the castle, it is still considered as an intricate and detailed brickwork. Inside of the citadel, is a courtyard with hundreds of citrus trees with great smell of oranges’ blossom in spring. To keep a memory of your trip to Shiraz, you can take a selfie right next to the sign of Shiraz behind the castle.

You may either take a bus or taxi. Use the buses to Shohada Square and get off the bus in the square, you will see the great Karim Khan Citadel.

Opening hours: 9 am – 10 pm

Near the citadel, you can also pay a visit to Pars or Nazar museum which is the oldest museum of Fars providence. It is an old house near the citidel, full of amazing and dazzling paintings on its roof. Although It is a small museum but the fact that Karim Khan, one of the of Iran’s most moralistic kings has been buried there, makes it special. You can find precious and valuable objects such as boxes, mirror frames and an ancient hand written Quran with a spectacular font. You will be amazed by the fascinating atmosphere and the vast variety of items which is definitely worth visiting.

To use the bus, Shahrdari Bus Stop in Shohada Square is the closest station, after 5 minutes of walking you will reach the museum.

Opening hours: 8 am – 6 pm

Shapouri Pavilion and Garden

Shapouri House was owned by one of the greatest merchants of Shiraz. The idea of its architecture originated from two periods in Iran’s history, Qajar and Achaemenid architecture. Entering the house, you will see a garden full of Mediterranean cypress, plane and maple trees and a huge fountain surrounded by roses and pelargoniums. The first floor is used as a café and the second floor is a restaurant; so, after visiting the garden around the mansion you can sit in the yard or at balcony, order drink or food and enjoy your stay. Photographers will specially be impressed by this elegant house and its beautiful garden.

Accessing the Garden is possible either through walking from Kari Khan Zand Street and also taking a taxi which is quite affordable in shiraz.

Opening hours: Every day at 9 am – 12 am

Eram Garden

The beautiful and colorful blossoms at Eram Garden especially during the spring has made this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site an attractive place for visitors. Being a botanical garden, different kinds of plants and trees, such as palm and cypress trees are planted and raised here. By just looking at the garden and the beautiful mansion inside designed with traditional tiles and unique architectural patterns, you will truly believe you’re in heaven. Women will appear in traditional colorful costumes, and walk around the pool while people go and visit the building.

To use subway, Find Namazi metro station, after 10 minutes of walking, pass Daneshjoo Square and you will find Eram Garden. Having decided to go by bus, try to find Kolbeh Sq to Eram Sq. or Narenjestan Blvd. to Namadi Sq. buses.

Opening hours: 8 am – 8:30 pm

Tomb of Hafez

Hafez is one of the most prominent poets of Iran, his poems are engraved on Iranians’ heart. Tomb of Hafez is one of the most significant Shiraz tourist attractions that anyone with a sense of love for poetry would like to visit. The garden offers a peaceful atmosphere, with loads of flowers in various colors, there is usually a pleasant music in the background and it’s a wonderful place to relax and read some of Hafez poems.

For centuries, Iranians have widely believed in consulting Hafez when confronting a difficult situation or making challenging decisions. Opening the Hafez Book randomly, the poetry will reveal the answer to your intention and guide you to the right path.

To arrive here, you can either of these buses line: Dastgheib to Narenjestan or Golestan Sq. to Namazi.

Opening hours: 8:30 am – 10 pm

Tomb of Saadi

Saadi is one of the greatest poets of all time, not only in Iran but to all over the world. Saadi was both a traveler and a poet; having travelled to a lot of countries, he came back to Shiraz and started to write his poems. Tomb of Saadi offers a spiritual atmosphere with a beautiful garden; his poems are written all over the walls around his tomb. In front of the tomb there is a pond that people stop to make a wish and throw coins into it. Don’t forget to drop coins into the pond and make wishes!

To reach the site, take a taxi or a bus by Haft Tanan Boulevard, enter Boostan Boulevard and after walking for 10 minutes you will get to Tomb of Saadi.

Opening hours: 8 am – 10 pm

If you are looking forward to pay a visit to Shiraz, spring is the best season to visit this breathtaking paradise because of the blooms and blossoms and also during fall due to the good atmosphere of the city.

Where you should go to visit while traveling to Iran? Shiraz and Isfahan are just some parts of this country. stay with us to find the most mysterious places in Iran you should go to.

Takht-e Soleyman Lake

Takht-e Soleyman is a spectacular area with lots of secrets, the most impressive area is Takht-e Soleyman Lake located in the center of the temple which is one of the most mysterious places to in Iran.
There are many myths and beliefs about the origin of this sacred lake, one of which dates back to Soleyman the prophet. According to this story, Prophet Soleyman is said to have kicked his cane in the water and made it boil and after that, he ordered the construction of the buildings around the lake. For this reason, due to the many names given by various groups of people to this site, today it is known only as of the name of Takht-e Soleyman or (the throne of Soleyman).
Many believe that a treasure trove of coins and golden plates belonged to Soleyman the prophet has been buried deep at the bottom of the lake which has attracted the attention of many people not only in Iran but around the world; While some Zoroastrians are of the opinion that these golds are the gifts that people used to offer to the goddess of water. The question is that why no one has dared to access this valuable treasure so far?
Well, there are extraordinary features about the lake; it is said that the lake formation started when springhead began to boil in the current location of the lake of Soleyman’s tomb, and during the very long time it gradually became the present lake with its calcareous sediments; with a length of 100 meters, a width of 80 meters and depth of approximately 60 meters.
Another astonishing fact about this lake is that despite being located in the cold region of Azerbaijan, the temperature of the lake is stable and does not exceeds or lowers 21 centigrade during summer and winter!
No living creature lives from the depth of 1 meter down the lake due to the presence of hard water elements. The water is not potable you should not drink water or even touch it! According to the Zoroastrianism, whoever touches this water, must hold special fasting for forty days.

Rig-e Jenn

This desert in the central part of Iran, is one of the most mysterious Iran deserts. Many people believe that it could not be crossed since many travelers never returned from this wide emptiness. According to the locals, the region is governed by devil spirits and so, it is cursed. For many years, no one dared to travel to the region and find out about its mystery! However, the scientific explanation for these strange disappearances is that the desert is full of salt marshes, especially the southern parts, and identifying these marshes is not easy. Tourists should travel with a guide to follow the right direction, otherwise they will put their life in danger. Strong whirlwind here causes the sandy hills to move in a way that in some areas driving would almost be impossible on these steep slopes. Special dune riding techniques with optional activities like sandboarding and skiing on dunes will pump adrenalin into the veins which is one of the main reasons why adventurers love to experience this scary zone.
If you are still interested in experiencing some adventure here, do not go alone, you must travel in a group and pack food, water, petrol and the highest level of equipment for at least 15 days! Do not forget your map. Wish you an awesome adventure (Rig-e Jenn safari tour)

Screaming Forest of Torqabeh

In the northeast of Iran, there is a mysterious forest that produces scary voices like screaming at night. As the locals were frightened, an expert team was deployed to the region find out the mystery. They reported that the sounds were attributed to a kind of grasshopper that attack the villages in large numbers especially during rainy seasons, their lifespan lasts during which for forty days keep screaming. However, the locals still relate these strange screams to jinn and Supernatural creatures, and their stories have attracted many tourists to the region every year; this streaming forest is ammong the mysterious places to visit in Iran.

Shahdad Kalout

Kalouts are unique geological formations which have been made by the extreme soil and water erosion through centuries. These natural attractions look like a mysterious city in Lut desert, a captivating beauty that fascinates every visitor and one of the must-see places to visit in Iran.
Here is simply the hottest place on the Earth surface that Nasa has ever registered; 71ºC! It is absolutely an abiotic zone; no living creature can endure here. So, if creatures like snake and scorpion deter you from visiting desert areas, Shahdad is the best place to visit.
This legendary city has been caused by strong winds of Semnan, which blow 120 days of the year, between June to October and has extended over 11 thousand kilometers. These strong winds are the principal reason of Kalout creation, the greatest geological phenomenon.
Given that this desert is one of the hottest places to visit in Iran, the best time to travel to shahdad is winter. You need legal permission to travel to this natural site and it would be best to travel in a group not to get lost.

Tallaght Wells

Thousands of years ago people of Qeshm island, one of the thirstiest parts of Iran close to the equator, dug 366 wells in the stone, representing the number of days in a leap year, in order to gather clean water from rainfall.
Each well has a name and people used one for each day. Water has always been the most valuable thing for people of the area, Laft, more valuable than gold. These wells are located out of the island and next to the historic Naderi Castle in a village called “Laft”. There are some old and huge trees rooted in the stones next to the Tallaght wells, which locals believe are guardians of the Tallaght wells. The liveliness of these trees shows that water is available in the wells. Since the wells are situated on a deeper area next to a coral hill, the rain water goes downhill and would be saved in the wells. The bottom of the wells is covered with plaster that helps water to stay clean and cool for a long time. Tallaght wells are just 25 kilometers from the airport, so It would be the last attraction in Qeshm island that travelers might visit. The south region of Iran has numerous historical and natural attractions and the best time of the year to book for a tour in Iran to visit these parts is from late September to April (things to do in Qeshm)

Fairy chimneys (Hoodoo)

These strange geological wonders are formed over many centuries by various physical and chemical natural forces; erosion through wind and acid rain has caused the formation of these badlands. However, the most powerful process that helps to form these sculptures is frost wedging. They are called fairy chimneys by the locals.
How these amazing geological forms are created? The melting snow, in the form of water, seeps into the cracks and freezes at night during winter. When water freezes it expands by almost 10 percent, little by little prying open cracks, making them ever wider, in the same way a pothole forms in a paved road.
One of the most well-known hoodoo-covered landscapes is Bryce Canyon in USA, but these formations made of either sedimentary or volcanic rock can be found all around the world such as Cappadocia, Taiwan, New Mexico, New Zealand, Italy, France and Canada.
Unfortunately, hoodoos don’t last a long time. The same processes that create hoodoos are equally aggressive and intent on their destruction.

Ghost canyon (Kul Khersan)

Dezful, an astonishingly beautiful city with a rich history on the hillside of Zagros mountains is considered a heaven for photographers due to the amazing landscapes of Shouy waterfall, Shayoon Lake, Dez river, downside flowers, Dez national park and other rivers and sceneries that surprise every visitor.
One of these fascinating places to visit in Iran is Ghost canyon or Kul khersan canyon which is among the unique natural attractions in the world.
Imagine a road that continues for several kilometers between walls with a height of more than 100 meters on either side, in some places the two walls meet each other in a way that allows the sunlight in, only through small holes. At the beginning of the road you will see beautiful grasslands, there is also a small palm garden and some cedar trees on the way. Welcome to Kul Khersan, a trulely amazing place to visit in Iran; water drops along the tall walls and in some places small waterfalls can be seen. The walls have various forms in different parts of the canyon, sometimes straight and sometimes so curved to narrow the way and let only one-person pass!
Why do local people have named here the ghost canyon? As you go further along the road, the walls get closer and taller so it gets dark inside and rarely little sunlight is allowed in.
One of the strange features about this canyon is its temperature; cool during summer and warm in winter.
The canyon will end in Dez river, there is about 4 kilometers of walking from the beginning of the road to reach the canyon and the canyon path continues for approximately 10 kilometers. Victors would better not to get close to the end of the road, since the water level rises and Dez river is dangerous to swim unless you are a professional swimmer!

The best time to visit Kul khersan is in June when the weather is turning warm and it hardly rains.

Hope you enjoy your tour visiting mysterious places in Iran!

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