Masuleh

Among all traditional and unspoiled mountain villages in Province of Gilan, Masuleh is the most beautiful one. It was founded in the 10th century. The village is 1050 meters above sea level in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. The buildings have been built into the mountain and they are interconnected. Courtyards and roofs both serve as pedestrian areas similar to streets. Yellow clay covers the exterior of most buildings in Masouleh which allows for better visibility in the fog. Masuleh is approximately 60 km southwest of Rasht and 25 km west of Fuman. The climate is cold in winter, with snow sometimes reaching three meters deep, but extremely pleasant and bracing in summer. There are four main local communities at the city named: “Maza-var” (meaning besides the Mosque) at the south, “Khana-var” (beside homes) at the East, “Kasha-sar” (stretched on top) at the North, and, “Assa-mahala” (Assad community) at the West.

The tourist attractions of Masuleh are:

Bazaar
Apparently, downtown is Bazaar area and also the main mosque of the city, (named Awn Ibn Mohammad Ibn Ali Ibn. Abi Taleb) built in 969 AD. Products such as Kilim (rug made of goat’s hair), Jajim (a carpet made of wool or cotton), Chamush (traditional shoes), clothes, knives and silk scarves are some of the items sold at the bazaar. The second most popular is the Saheb-az-Zaman Mosque, which dates back to the 12th century AD. One of the main shrines in Masouleh is Imamzadeh ibn Ali, called Qalandar Khaneh by locals, a term that dates back to the Safavid era (16th century) and means home of a wandering dervish. This beautiful shrine has an octagonal structure and the door, made of ebony trees, is carved with impressive designs. Inside the shrine is a 1,200-year-old inscription with verses from the Holy Qur’an.

Bazaar of Masuleh

Anthropology Museum of Masuleh
The Anthropology Museum of Masuleh that is founded in 2002 and carries the history of Masuleh and its people. The museum is made of three parts: (1) Contemporary period and the past century, (2) the 19th century, (3) the 18 century.  Cultural Objects such as traditional potteries, handmade shoes, coins, dresses, etc. are shown in the museum.

Anthropology Museum of Masuleh

Masuleh Waterfalls
Masuleh has a number of waterfalls that are located in different locations near and far from the village . Kushem waterfall is inside the village and thereby most visited by the travelers.