 |
 |
 |
City &
Highlight Sightseeing ::
Yazd ::
Highlights |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
YAZD
: |
 |
 |
ALL HOTELS &
GUESTHOUSES: |
|
   |
A desert
city reconverting commercially and industrially, as
well as a historical city, which regrets never
having been a national capital, Yazd commemorates by
unusual monuments the importance given it by scores
of scientists and scholars in the past centuries. In
the industrial fields, Yazdis practice carpet
weaving, silk weaving, shawl making, the manufacture
of the shoes known as giveh and the making of abasor
cloaks. Many are engaged in agriculture, the noblest
of all employment according to the Avesta, the holy
book of Zoroastrianism.
The architecture of Yazd is unique, combining a
proliferation of those graceful bad-girs
(wind-towers) seen in central and southern Iran: the
houses are surmounted by high turrets with openings
oriented toward the dominant winds; these insure the
ventilation of the lower parts of the house rather
like air-vents on a ship. Enormous domes starting at
ground level and also surmounted by air-vents act as
protective roofs for deep water-tanks six, eight or
ten meters below street level, which were reached by
stair-cases. Yazdis of the present Day retain their
sterling qualities of old. They are strongly
religious, whether their faith be Islam or the "Good
Religion" of ancient Iran.
The
center of Yazd is Shahid Dr Beheshti Square (former
Mojahedin Square). From here to the train station in
the south of Yazd, or the bus station almost next to
it, is about three-km. There are a couple of places
to stay within walking distance of the main square,
but most of them are some distance away and in
various directions. Most of the main sights can be
visited on foot, but it is very probable that one
may get lost in the dense network of alleys and
cul-de-sacs.
Annual
Temperature average:
January 7.5C
February 6.3C
March 14.8C |
April 17.4C
May 25.7C
June 31.4C |
July 33.2C
August 31.8C
September 27.6C |
October 18.5C
November 13.9C
December 6.6C |
|
|
Atashkadeh
The most important Zoroastrian fire
temple, Atashkadeh (located on a
hill in a small garden on the east
side of Ayatollah Kashani Street) is
open to the public from 08:00 to
11:00 a.m. and 02:30 to 04:30 p.m.
SaturDay to ThursDay, except
holiday. There is no entrance fee,
but donations are welcomed. It is
surrounded by evergreen trees and a
large round pool in the courtyard,
which gives a clear reflection of
the temple for artistic photography.
The sacred flame behind a glass
visible from the small museum inside
has, according to the Zoroastrian
elder in attendance here, been
burning since about 470 AD and was
transferred from its original site
in 1940. This attracts Zoroastrians
from around the world, and there
will probably be someone who speaks
English to explain thing to you.
There are also a couple of paintings
here, including one of Zoroaster.
Architecturally, there are certain
similarities between this
fire-temple and those of Indian
Zoroastrians.
There are plenty of other
Zoroastrian sites such as Qaleh-ye
Asadan (the Fortress of Lions) in
the far northeast of Yazd, and the
most important one, Chak Chak (see
below), 52 km to the north.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
City Walls
In ancient Iran there were many types of
public structures, from among which one
may mention the achievement represented
by city walls. The twelfth to fourteenth
century walls of Yazd, which are still
standing, are perhaps the most
interesting, imposing and skillfully
planned. In Yazd, sections of the old
walls and moat remain, providing an
interesting example of a medieval wall,
fortified by moat, towers and barbicans,
now buried deep within a town which has
long since expanded beyond its old
limits.
These walls were begun, it is said, in
1119 and rebuilt and extended during the
14th century. In places, they were 15
meters high; being nicely decorated with
ornamental devices such as those
employed on unglazed pottery.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Bazaar
The 12 historic bazaars of Yazd are
worth a visit. The most important
bazaars here are: Bazaar-e Khan;
Goldsmiths Bazaar; and Panjeh Ali
Bazaar. The many bazaars here are
probably the best places in Iran to buy
silk fabric, cashmere, brocades and
cloth (taffeta and Yazdi shawl) all the
beautiful local designs, motifs, and
colors, the products which brought the
town its prosperity. Try to take an
Iranian guide with you. Yazd is also a
good place for cakes and sweets (baghlava,
qottab, pashmak), although quite a lot
of the tempting tooth-rotters on display
arent actually made in the town.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Amir Chakhmaq
Mosque
On no account should you miss the
fourteenth-century AD Masjid-e Amir
Chakhmaq or Masjid-e Jomeh (an exact
contemporary of the Masjid-e Jame) next
to the bazaar portal, famous for its
superb portal ornamented with stucco,
and the traditional four-ivan structure
on a courtyard a little too small for
the ivans. Originally, it was called
Masjid-e Now (New Mosque). The frieze on
the portal has artistically very
valuable calligraphy etched on it,
according to which the mosque was built
by the zealous efforts of Bibi Fatemeh
Khatun, wife of Yazd governor Amir Jalal
od-Din Chakhmaq. A marble mihrab has
been installed, around which decorative
tiles and verses of the Holy Koran have
been etched over stone. The mosque is
very near to the Takieh-ye Mir Chakhmaq,
a 19th century tiled edifice built to
serve as a grandstand for the
traditional passion play, or Tazieh,
recording the martyrdom of the third
Imam Hossein, that is acted during the
mourning month of Muharram (lunar) in
the Takieh, or special theater used for
these performances, of which it formed
part. At present, the free space in
front of the monument has been turned
into the central square of the town, and
has acquired a new appearance as a
result of trees and flowers having been
planted. Actually, this represents one
of the buildings of a historic complex
incorporating a mosque, a public bath, a
caravansary, a mausoleum, a takieh,
three water reservoirs, and an imposing
entrance to one of Yazds bazaars.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Jame Mosque
Masjid-e Jame, also known as the FriDay
Mosque, like so many important mosques,
was the focus of a complex of buildings
of various periods and styles in various
states of conservation. The site of a
Sassanian fire temple, its major
features, however, were begun in 1324
and continuously developed for forty
years.
There is no more impressive gateway in
Iran than this great soaring 14th
century edifice. Crowned by a pair of
minarets, the highest in Iran, the
portals facade is decorated from top to
bottom in dazzling tilework,
predominantly blue in color. Inside
there is a long arcaded court where,
behind a deep-set southeast ivan, is a
sanctuary chamber which, under a squat
tiled dome, is exquisitely decorated
with faience mosaic: its tall faience
mihrab, dated 1365, is one of the finest
of its kind in existence.
The tilework has recently been
skillfully restored and a modern library
built to house the mosques valuable
collection of books and manuscripts.
By the side of the Masjid-e Jame, along
a side street to the right, was the Vaqt
va Saat (Time and Hour) complex, now
reduced to the Shrine of Rokn ad-Din,
who was responsible for building the
complex. The observatory (which gave its
name), a library, and a madraseh, have
all vanished.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Twelve Imams
Shrine
Further from the center can be found the
splendid early 12th century Shrine of
the Twelve Imams (maghbareh-ye Davazdah
Emam) properly described as a funerary
mosque. It is almost next door to the
Zendan-e Eskandar (Alexanders Prison, a
deep, circular, brick-lined pit about 10
m in diameter) and has a fine three line
Kuffic inscription inside, with the
names of each of the Shiite Imams, none
of whom is buried here. Although the
mausoleum is small, dusty and forgotten,
it is nonetheless a well-preserved
building of the period. There some
interesting plaster moldings on the
mihrab, and the brick dome is a good
early example of its kind. The Maghbareh
is locked, but the door-keeper at Zendan-e
Eskandar next door will take you in.
Dont forget to give him a tip of at
least 500 rials. It would be also good
to have a guide or taxi driver with you.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Towers of
Silence
Dakhmeh or Qaleh-ye Khamushan (Towers
of Silence): These are three impressive
buildings remaining from several other
similar structures on hilltops outside
and in the immediate vicinity of the
town (about 15 km to the south-west)
where the bodies of the dead
Zoroastrians would be brought to the
foot of the tower so that a ritual
ceremony could be held in presence of
the relatives and friends of the
deceased. The body was then carried by
the priests into the tower where it was
laid on the flat stones on the ground
thus avoiding that earth, water, and
fire, the divine elements be
contaminated, the soul of the defunct
person having already been by Ahura
Mazda. In a short time the body would be
torn apart by passing vultures and
crows. The bones were then thrown into a
circular pit in the center of the tower.
At the foot of the towers stand the
remains of the buildings, which once
served for the funerary ceremonies. When
the towers were still used for
Zoroastrian burials, only the priests
were allowed into them. Nowadays,
however, some of them have been opened
to the public. Beneath the hill there
are several other disused Zoroastrian
buildings including a defunct well, two
small bad-girs, a kitchen and a
lavatory. The custom of exposing corpses
in a tower of silence largely
disappeared throughout the Zoroastrian
world around 50 years ago, at about the
same time that the eternal flame was
transferred to the newly constructed
Atashkadeh in the center of Yazd. As a
matter of fact, the towers was used
until 1978, after which all Zoroastrian
dead were buried in the cemetery at the
foot of the towers. The site can be
reached only by taxi or private car.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Chak Chak
This important Zoroastrian fire-temple
is on a hill 52 km to the
north-northeast of Yazd. It attracts
thousands of pilgrims for an annual
festival, which lasts for ten day from
the beginning of the third month after
Now Ruz. To visit, it is best to get the
permission of the religious authorities
at the Atashkadeh in Yazd. The return
trip, by a difficult stretch of road off
the main route to Tababs, will cost
around 10,000 to 12,000 rials by hired
taxi.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Bagh-e Dowlat
Historic Complex
This is a complex built according to the
original Iranian architectural style and
consists of a large garden and some
buildings. Being watered by a qanat,
until the very recent past it was used
for the residence of the provincial
governor. The most impressive part of
the complex are a 33-meter high bad-gir
(wind-tower) on the roof and a water
stream in the interior. The air was
conducted into the interior and cooled
through the action of the flowing water.
Lattice doors and windows with stained
glass patterns impart a pleasing sight
to the complex.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
HENNA
An ancient Iranian Herbal Substance with
Modern Application
Henna is an orange red dye that yields
varied colors depending on the surface
to which it is applied. It comes from
the leaves of a small shrub that grows
in Iran, India, and the African coasts
of the Mediterranean, and is used in
cosmetics, perfumery, and medicine.
By distilling henna flowers, an
intensely fragrant boiling henna powder,
a yellowish brown color is gained which
turns into brilliant red when mixed with
an alkaline matter. Henna stems are used
in dyeing industry to obtain the red
color.
Using henna for coloring hair, hands and
feet considered a traditional beauty
ritual has a long history. Fresh henna
powder was made into a paste by adding
other materials, in order to produce an
attractive orange color. The mixture
could then be used as mascara for
eyelashes. The color lasts three or four
weeks.
According to Avicenna (908-1038), boiled
henna leaves are effective in treating
inflammations and burns caused by fire,
mouth and gum sores, prevention of
nervous disorders as well as healing of
bone fractures. In regions where sun
shines directly and intensely, coloring
of the scalp with henna is recommended.
In Europe hennas has been used for
curing rheumatism and helping skin
regeneration in wounds. Boiled henna
leaves mixed with peach leaves were used
for treatment of eczema.
To obtain violet, the amount of
supplementary colors in the mixture is
increased. If henna is mixed, with
verjuice or lemon juice, its effect will
be enhanced and a better color obtained.
To change hair color to blonde, one
portion of rhubarb flower and two
portions of henna are mixed.
Henna has traditionally been growing in
the provinces of Kerman, Sistan va
Baluchistan, and Yazd where it is
considered a native plant. Henna mills
can be visited around Yazd.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Suggest your comments about nearby Sightseeing |
Private and group tours Tours , also Accommodation reservation services are available at
www.PersiaTours.com for further information , please contact us.
Use the following keywords to find this page online:
Yazd, Travel Iran Yazd , Iran Yazd vacations, Iran
Yazd tourism, Iran Yazd hotels, deals, Iran Yazd
historical travel tour, Iran Yazd visitors guide,
Iran Yazd advice, Iran Yazd map, Iran Yazd
pictures, Iran Yazd information, Iran Yazd
ratings, Iran Yazd reviews, Iran Yazd airport,
Iran Yazd weather, Iran Yazd things to do, Iran
Yazd attractions, Iran Yazd cultural tours iran ,
Iran Yazd travel to Iran, Iran Yazd Iran tours,
Iran Yazd Iran touring, Iran Yazd Iran tourism,
Tour to Iran Yazd , Tours in Iran Yazd , Iran Yazd
tour operator, Adventure tours in Iran Yazd ,
Business Travel to Iran Yazd , Business Trip to
Iran, Archaeology tour in Iran Yazd , Pilgrim tours
in Iran Yazd , Persian tours Iran Yazd , cultural
tours in Iran Yazd , geographical tours in Iran
Yazd , Persia, tour to Persia, Trekking tours in
Iran Yazd , hunting tours in Iran , historical tours
in Iran , climbing tours in Iran Yazd |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |