Yazd
Yazd is a city in central Iran and the capital of the Yazd province. It is an ancient city dating back to the Sassanian Period (224-651 AD). Yazd has a population of approximately 560,000 and attracts a growing number of tourists. The city is located 1,203 m above sea level, and covers 110 km sq. The city is hot and dry in summer due to its location, which is between the two main deserts of Dasht-e Kavir and the Kavir-e Lut. Traditionally, Yazd is famous for Termeh, the brocade made with Iranian patterns and used in dresses, bags, footwear and interior decoration. Yazd is one of the most spectacular places because of its water reservoirs, alleys, mills, architectural and historical symbols as one of the most remarkable architectural examples of the hot and arid area in the world.
The tourist attractions of Yazd are:
Dowlat Abad Garden
Dowlat Abad garden is an exquisite example of typical Persian-style gardening, it dates back to 18th century when it was commissioned by Mohammad Taghi Khan-e Bafghi. Dowlat Abad Garden is well-known for its high wind-catcher. The garden is one of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. With the height of about eight meters and a half , its wind-catcher is the highest abode one in the world. It should be mentioned that because of generations of adaptations to its desert surroundings, Yazd has a unique Persian architecture. It is nicknamed the “City of Wind-catchers”. Aqueduct of Dowlat Abad Garden is two hundred years old and it consists of a series of five aqueducts. The wind enters the building and it crosses the ponds, so for the persons in the building, it becomes cool and pleasant. The cool breeze moves to alcove and hallways through the bottom of the wind-catcher.
Dowlat Abad Garden
Fire Temple:
A fire temple in Zoroastrianism is the place of worship for Zoroastrians. It is said to be Iran’s only temple of Atash Bahram (meaning victorious fire) and the other eight Atash Bahrams are in. It has been said that the fire inside has been burning since about 470 AD. It is a holy fire within a large firebox made of Bronze which must always be on and someone called Hirbod is the responsible for keeping the fire in place; it dates back to 1500 years ago and is highly respectable by Zoroastrians.
Fire Temple
Amir Chkhmagh Complex
Amir Chakhmaq is one of the most significant historical complexes in Yazd which is located in the middle of the old architectural context. This valuable complex which is the point of main streets includes Mosque, Tekye (a place to hold the religious mourning), Sati Fatemeh mausoleum, Haji Ghanbar bazaar, Sati Fatemeh cistern, Palm and cistern of Amir Chakhmaq. The structure dates back to 9th century Hijri which is built by Amir Jalaluddin Chakhmaq who was one of the commanders of Shahrukh Teimouri (1370-1506 AD). The building was built with mud brick and have beautifully decorated with stucco.
Congregational Mosque (Jameh Mosque)
The Congregational Mosque (Jameh Mosque) of Yazd is the grand, congregational mosque of Yazd city. This 12th-century mosque is still under use and was first built under Ala’oddoleh Garshasb of the Al-e Bouyeh dynasty. The mosque was largely rebuilt between 1324 and 1365, and is one of the outstanding 14th century buildings of Iran. According to the historians, the mosque was constructed in the site of the Sassanid fire temple.J
ameh Mosque
Water Museum
This 124-year old Museum located in Yazd displays the tools and techniques used in the past 4000 years in Iran for creating underground waterways (called Qanats) and connecting them. The building was built based on the requests of one businessman in Qajar era in 1887 AD. The structure of this building is based on a fabulous architectural style that follows the traditional desert style in which the cultural diplomacy has been considered. Materials used in this monument are mainly of clay, mud, brick, straw, gypsum and wood structures built along with unique stucco.
Water Museum
Fahadan (Old Neighborhood)
As the oldest neighborhood in Yazd, the area contains several historic buildings and traditional hotels worth to visit. Some of the traditional hotels were houses made of mudbrick that have been rebuilt to stylish traditional hotels while preserving their old structure. The area includes the tomb of Sheikh Ahmad Fahadan, Fahadan Mosque, Abolmaali Bath and a lot of other historic buildings and structures.
Fahadan
Zoroastrain Towers of Silence
Tower of Silence is a circular structure built by Zorostrians for excarnation to expose the dead bodies to carrion birds usually vultures. Until a few decades ago, there could be found corpses on top of the Towers of Silence in Yazd, Iran, slowly disintegrating by desert vultures. The Zoroastrian believed that Human body could be contaminated by demons and to prevent that infiltration, the bodies were disintegrated to inhibit the contamination. The exposure of dead bodies is mentioned in the Histories of Herodotus belonging to the 5th century BC while the first notes on using towers is mentioned in the 9th century CE.
Tower of Silence
Cypress of Abarkuh
The world’s oldest cypress with more than 4,500 years of old is located in Abarkuh, a city in Yazd province. It is likely the second-oldest living thing in Asia. The tree is protected as a natural monument by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran. It has 25 meters of height and trunk diameter of 11 meters. The location of the tree is 140 km far from Yazd.
Henna Grinding Workshop
Henna grinding is a 700-year-old profession still practiced in traditional bazaar of the city. The old style henna mill in Yazd is used to grind henna leaves into henna powder.
Zein-o-din Caravanserai
The Zein-o-din Caravanserai is located in Yazd province, Iran. This caravanserai dates back to the 16th century and is situated on the ancient Silk Road. It is one of the 999 inns built during the reign of Shah Abbas I to provide facilities for travelers. Also Zein-o-din is one of the two caravanserais built with circular towers. After its refurbishment, it has operated as an inn.
