Aug. 5, 2021 The final phase of the restoration of the historical monument of Bank of Iran and England in Zabol, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, began, announced the southeastern city’s Cultural 5 Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department, CHTN reported.
Iranica Desk showed that this area was used seasonally in the Islamic Middle Ages. Mentioning that evidence of Seljuk-era architectural structures n excavation in the northwestern province of Ardebil led was discovered in the excavated trenches, he explained these archi- to finding evidence of Seljuk-era (990–1063) architectural tectural structures are in the form of slate with mud mortar and are Astructures in a historical site. built directly on the natural bed. According to an official from the province’s Cultural Heritage, Sattarnejad also referred to several graves belonging to the Islam- Tourism, and Handicrafts Department, the excavation in the histori- ic Era in the southern half of the area, which is famous among the cal site of Ojaq Artaville, which is within the area of Artaville Tire people as Ojaq, saying that the bones in them have been severely Company, led to this discovery, CHTN reported. damaged. In order to determine the layers and their range in this historical He concluded that in chronological studies of the Ardebil Plain, site, the first phase of the excavation was done by digging trenches, the results of the excavations in the historical site of Ojaq Artaville Saeid Sattarnejad said on Tuesday. are important in understanding the status of settlement patterns of The archaeologist added that the results of excavation of trenches the plain in the Islamic Middle Ages. CHTN
TRAVELERS’ STORIES
By Caroline* you risk offending the person in front of you without having a Day nine-ten in Iran: Lut Desert The ultimate two-week Iran travel guide clue what you did. So let’s break it down. To put Time to kick off your shoes and desert, and the various different for- peculiar village of this Iran Travel Shiraz is a city of poetry and let’s was the prayer hall, directly oppo- behind a salt sediment. Through very simplistically (and a bit enjoy nature’s finest with a tour mations (kaluts). As dusk started to Guide. … Well, there really is no not forget fabulous pink tiles! … site the entrance way. It contains natural processes this sediment crudely) Ta’arof is on exagger- in the desert. This was one of my set in, we found a spot to watch the place in the world like Meymand. There are never enough days to the night prayer hall (shabestan) turns pink. Usually this only lasts ated form of politeness. A concrete favorite places to visit in Iran. It Sun go down and from which we This village has remnants of explore the beauty of Shiraz. You which is made up of 48 perfectly for a couple of weeks, but be sure example would be when you are is not just any desert, oh no it’s could take some shots of the stars. civilization dating back 12.000 could easily spend two weeks geometrical pillars. The pillars are to check with locals what the sta- invited to someone’s house. As a UNESCO classified desert. There is nothing like watching the years. And if that does not convince here and still be left wanting for all carved by hand and depict a spi- tus is when you go. We went in custom dictates the host will pro- This desert has been classified stars in a place that is completely you, the 350 caves which were dug more. Walking around the streets ral motion. October and it had only just dried vide food and beverages. So far, based upon a few criteria: The quiet and void of all light. We got out by hand and where people live of Shiraz (both modern day and Tomb of Hafez: Hafez is to this up. nothing different versus the major- world’s hottest land surface tem- lucky, the sky cleared up and we might just do the trick. You will be old town) was an absolute plea- day the most famous poet of Iran. Persepolis: This UNESCO ity of the Western cultures. How- peratures were recorded here, a got a view of the elusive Milky hard pressed to find concrete or sure. The streets are clean, people From an outsiders’ perspective, it classified site is the ancient capital ever, the next part is a bit tricky: whopping 70,7 °C if you please. Way. It was pure magic. even brick buildings that serve as are friendly and the monuments almost feels empirical to read his of the Achaemenid Empire (6th-3e When you are offered food and Glad I bought sunscreen and homes. People are still living in the are worth every single penny. It poems to truly understand mod- century BC). It was burnt down by drink politely decline. I hear you went during the Autumn months. Our ride into the desert comfort of their caves, as was the was our last stop of the two-week ern day Iranian culture. His words Alexander the Great which sparked thinking “What? Now that is just During summer months the ex- case 3000 years ago. Granted, they trip through Iran and it felt bitter- permeate every layer of society and a fierce hatred for this historical rude!”. Actually, it’s not, it would cursions take place very early The night just got better after a made a few upgrades like electric- sweet. … glue together both young and old. character, which can be felt to this be rude to accept according to in the morning, to avoid getting wonderful dinner of grilled skew- ity, running water and Wi-Fi but the Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque: The …His tomb is one of those places day. the principle of ta’arof. Your host stuck in the desert at midday. ers over a homemade fire, and a overall structure is the same. This is award for the prettiest mosque you cannot miss out when visiting one of the reasons why Meymand (probably in the world) very clearly Iran. ... is classified as a World Heritage goes to Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque. It Eram Garden: The garden is Site. has 50 shades of pink and yellow an example of a perfect Persian Though we spent little time here tiles not to mention a winter prayer Garden: It has many water ele- (we arrived late and left early), I hall which will take your breath ments running through it and is can easily imagine spending two away. The light coming through built to geometrical perfection. It is days here and just relaxing. There the stained-glass windows slowly rumored to contain over 45 species are a variety of different walking spreads a rainbows worth of color of plants! …. routes which take you around the across the floor and walls of the Qavam House: Of all the Per- village and to the plateaus with prayer hall. The effect is at its high- sian Gardens we saw in Iran, this great viewpoints. ... We had a re- est during winter months when the one was my absolute favorite. ally great time sleeping with a local reflection covers all of the floor and Smaller in size, but still containing family that run an Eco Lodge. They bounces back off the opposite wall. all the elements that make up a Per- provided us with a delicious dinner It will feel like you have stepped sian Garden. It is locally known as and an equally fantastic breakfast into a kaleidoscope. … Narenjestan because the garden is and were stellar to just talk to and Vakil Mosque: While the en- filled with sour orange trees, which hear their story. The owners de- trance is ornately decorated with are beautifully fragrant in spring cided to leave their careers and life vibrant pink tiles, the inside is a lot time! The house was built in the behind in Tehran to set up shop in more minimalist compared to the Qajar Dynasty (19th century) and this tiny little village. And what a vast majority of mosques in Iran. It until recently privately-owned. … fantastic job they did, honestly one was built during the Zand Dynasty of the best night’s sleep I had on the (18th century) and extensively Sites outside Shiraz trip and a pretty cool overall experi- renovated during the Qajar Era ence. ... (19th century) which explains the The Pink Lake (Maharloo many floral tiles. Floral motifs on Lake): The lake is part of a sea- Day twelve-thirteen-fourteen in the tiles were the height of fashion sonal river which dries up around Iran: Shiraz during Qajar rule! My favorite part the end of the summer and leaves
veggiewayfarer.com veggiewayfarer.com Chasing the stars in Lut Desert Gate of All Nations in Persepolis, Fars Province The second reason why this des- cup of hot black tea. We looked up Naqsh-e Rostam: A necropolis will ask again, and you decline ert has been classified is because and were met by millions of stars dating back to Achaemenid Em- again. Go through these motions the wide variety of landforms and a red Moon. A phenomenon pire. The burial sites were dug out for about three times and then fi- that can be found in the desert: which takes place for only a few of a cliff and are very impressive to nally you can accept the offer gra- Salt flats, active dunes as high as weeks a year in this region of the witness. ciously. [the author’s experience 475meters, kaluts [yardangs] (the world. of ta’arof] peeks that are entirely made out of We slept like babies and woke Practical details to think about Most likely you will also feel sand stuck together) that reach up up bright and early to catch sunrise. when traveling to Iran ta’arof when going shopping, to 155m high and span for a good A few months earlier, this region taking a taxi or eating out in res- 40km. had seen an unusual amount of [The author has written about taurants when you are told the You get the point, even me – a rain (certain parts of the road in the veggiewayfarer.com the practical information includ- items are “free of charge”. In fact, person with a strong aversion to desert were completely flooded) Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque in Shiraz, Fars Province ing the payment inside the country, they are not, the person in front of sand – was a fan of this particu- and traces of the flood could still visa requirements, women dress you is being polite, Iranian polite lar desert. We did a two-day tour, be found. We camped next to re- codes, and other details.] Read part that is. You will need to pay for starting with a pickup in Kerman. manence of the flood, a small lake. of the details here: whatever services you have used; … We drove to the outskirts of the It felt so surreal, to be watching the you might just have to insist a desert, and stopped in a little vil- sunrise reflect of the water in a des- Concept of ta’arof couple of times before they ac- lage. We met up with our driver and ert with the hottest temperatures on cept. all four of us piled into his 4×4 – Earth…. Ta’arof is the Persian (Ira- which had been packed with tents, After breakfast we cruised nian) art of etiquette. In no Currency food and supplies for two days in around the dunes and the various way do I pretend to understand the desert. parts of the desert. Up and down the depths of this concept but I The official Iranian currency The first thought that went the dunes we went, giggling and can provide you with a very top is Iranian Rials. However, locals through my head was ‘What would screaming like little girls. line description, seen from an much prefer to use the word To- my mother say, to me getting in a You will need a tour to go into outsider (foreign perspective). man. Keep in mind that 1 Toman is car with two random men and liter- the desert…. Ta’arof will be felt in pretty 10 Rial. ary driving off into the unknown?’. much any conversation with an … Day eleven in Iran: Meymand Iranian and it can be downright *Caroline is a travel blogger. Our guide spoke fluent English confusing if you do not know veggiewayfarer.com and explained the origins of the This is the smallest and most Life in Meymand Village in Kerman Province what is going on and worse Source: veggiewayfarer.com