The Underground City of Nushabad

The Underground City of Nushabad

The Underground City of Nushabad (or Nooshabad or Noushabad) is located about 5 kilometers north of Kashan, in the central district of Aran va Bidgol County, Isfahan Province, Iran. Nushabad means the city of cold tasty water. It is well-known for its underground man-made city, called Ouee (or Ouyi), used as a shelter by inhabitants against invasions and attacks. It was dug up 4 floors underground 1500 years ago during Sassanid and pre-Islamic period. It was still in use during Seljuk and Safavid periods until Qajar era. It is a labyrinth of corridors, chambers and wells. The floors were related by vertical channels. The height of entrances (except the main one) is 170-180 centimeters (nearly the same as normal human height). Some channels (like qanat) that connect the first floor to the ground surface worked as air conditioners and entrances. It is registered on Iran National Heritage list. It’s the largest underground city in the world with an area of 4 square kilometers in depth of 4 to 18 meters. As people took refuge in this underground city while being attacked, there have been considered some places and spaces for both family live (like the air conditioning, the toilets, water and food supplies) and ambush against enemies. Each family had its own space. There were fat burning lamps at one meter intervals. Some of these lamps date back to more than 700 years ago.