Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions of Iran and music and dance are the two major elements in the Kurdish culture. Every year, there are different celebrations and music festivals performed in the mountain region of Hawraman (Uraman) which is a huge valley located in Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces. Nowrooz (Nowruz) celebration or “Persian New Year", Palangan Daf Music Festival, and the Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar in Uraman Takht are the most famous Kurdish ceremonies which annually attract tourists from different countries. Kurdish Dance and Music Festival of Pir Shaliar in Iranian Kurdistan is an old traditional ceremony that goes back to over 950 years ago. It is still alive in Oraman-e Takht village located in Uraman valley (UNESCO) which is 65 km (1.5 hours) from Marivan. It is held on two different dates; the 1st festival is held on the 40th day of winter and the 2nd held on the 40th day of spring. The festival is celebrated for three days in three consecutive weeks. The winter festival shows the social participation of people in the ceremony. It symbolizes getting rid of material attachments and salvation. The spring festival, named Komsai, is known as the ceremony of breaking the holy stone. The celebration is accompanied by more Daf drumming and ritual dances. People chip a small piece from a large stone at Pir Shaliar’s tomb. They believe the chip can heal the ill and it will grow back on the main stone until next year. In this ceremony, the villagers talk about the shortcomings of the village and consult for solutions as well. Who Is Pir Shalyar? According to the people of
Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions of Iran and music and dance are the two major elements in the Kurdish culture. Every year, there are different celebrations and music
Iran Bakhtiari Nomads From ancient times, the human being has always sought different ways to adapt himself to natural and climatic situations and geographical limitations. Iran, as one of the vast oldest cradles of civilization, embraces a wide range of climatic conditions settled by various ethnic groups. The diversity is so amazing that it is no wonder if you can still witness one of the oldest kinds of lifestyle, the nomadic life. Living and migrating in the two main Iran mountain ranges, Alborz and Zagros (the longest), has taught the nomadic tribes how to adjust themselves to the harsh mountainous conditions and consume sustainably the environmental resources. Among different Iran nomadic tribes, Bakhtiari nomads form the largest surviving nomadic tribe in the Zagros Mountains. Lush forests, rough rivers, fertile pastures as well as harsh climatic conditions through different times of the year have pushed Bakhtiari nomads to practice a nomadic lifestyle that is proper to this geographical area. Here, you will find all the information you need to know if you are planning to travel to Iran for an authentic experience of living among the Bakhtiari nomadic tribe. Short History of Iran Bakhtiari Nomads Among numerous groups of ethnicities and nomadic tribes in vast Iran, Bakhtiari (also Bakhtiyari) Lur tribe is the largest group that still migrates seasonally to overcome the harsh conditions in the Zagros ranges. There are different theories about who Bakhtiaris are. According to Zoroastrian mythology and Shahnameh (the epic poem of the kings and heroic tales of ancient Persia), the Lurs (meaning nomadic) are the descendants of the people who could escape from the demon Zahhak. They took refuge in Zardkuh and Kuhrang and named themselves Bakhtiar (meaning fortunate bearer) because they could survive. Today, many historians arguably agree Bakhtiari people are originally Lurs. Others
Iran Bakhtiari Nomads From ancient times, the human being has always sought different ways to adapt himself to natural and climatic situations and geographical limitations. Iran, as one of the vast oldest cradles of civilization, embraces a wide range of climatic conditions settled by various ethnic groups. The diversity is so amazing that it is
Oraman (Uraman) Takht Village in Iran (UNESCO) Oraman or Uraman-e Takht is the name of a village located in Hawraman in the Kurdish region of Iran. The Cultural Landscape of Hawraman was registered in the list of Iranian UNESCO sites in July 2021. Hawraman is the name of the valley and mountain region located within the provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah in western Iran and the north-eastern Kurdistan Region in Iraq. The majority of the property of Hawraman is situated in Iran. Only a small northern part of this valley is located in Iraq. The Oraman village is one of the most exotic villages in Iran. It is 63 km away from the south of Marivan, Kurdistan Province, in Iran. Uraman Architecture The village stone houses are stair-like fashion, with beams covering the ceilings. Here, the roof of one house is the courtyard of the other. There are many other villages in Hawraman and other parts of Kurdistan with similar architecture. The following villages' pictures present the traditional architecture of this region of Iran. Uraman Attractions Oramanat Takht village is undoubtedly one of the attractive rural areas of Kurdestan. It is also among the Top 10 Iran Tourist Villages. The spectacular panoramic views of this area, like the rivers in the valley, are not the only attractions. Kurdish old traditions, such as Kurdish dance, traditional clothes, and customs are other attractions unique to the region. The annual performance of an ancient wonderful ceremony of Pir Shalyar put this village on the list of best Iran villages as well. Ancient fire temples and remnants of this region indicate that the inhabitants were Zoroastrian before converting to Islam. The fertile lands here are full of walnut, pomegranate, fig, and mulberry trees. The tomb of Pir Shalyar (Peer Shahriar) is one of the
Oraman (Uraman) Takht Village in Iran (UNESCO) Oraman or Uraman-e Takht is the name of a village located in Hawraman in the Kurdish region of Iran. The Cultural Landscape of Hawraman was registered in the list of Iranian UNESCO sites in July 2021. Hawraman is the name of the valley and mountain region located within
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlights Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is the name of a small Province in the southwest of Iran, situated in the west of Esfahan province. Geographically, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is located among the central Zagros Mountain Range, full of tourist highlights for adventure seekers. In this part of Zagros, the Zardkuh mountains chain is the most famous sub-range, making it the best spot for adventurous travelers. Zardkuh “yellow mountain” has a few important peaks above 4000m. Zard in Persian means yellow and Kuh means mountain. MT. Kolonchin (4200 m) is the most famous one, perfect for summer ascent. These mountains have huge volumes of snow in winter, and they are the main sources of water for the two main Iran rivers of Karun and Zayande-Rud. Moreover, there are a lot of springs, waterfalls, and underground water reserves in various parts of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in different parts of the mountains. The weather and climate of this province along with the high-altitude mountains and geographical features of this region made this land a perfect place for livestock breeding for the local tribes. The highlight of this province is the nomadic lifestyle of Bakhtiari tribes who live in a different part of the Central Zagros Mountains. Bakhtiari Lifestyle, The Most Prominent Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlight The most important tourist highlight in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province is visiting the Bakhtiari tribes who are living in the mountains with a very basic life. They have a long history and for thousands of years, they have been living with their traditional culture in this land. Seeing their tribes and staying in their houses in villages or their basic nomadic tents in the mountains would be one of the most unforgettable experiences that you could have in Iran. The
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlights Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is the name of a small Province in the southwest of Iran, situated in the west of Esfahan province. Geographically, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is located among the central Zagros Mountain Range, full of tourist highlights for adventure seekers. In this part of Zagros, the Zardkuh mountains chain
Bakhtiari Nomadic Land Bakhtiari is the name of one major Iranian nomadic tribe living in the central part of the Zagros mountain range. Bakhtiari nomadic land is very remote and far from civilization. It embraces the last remaining original and authentic nomadic tribes in Iran. Livestock raising is their profession, and their life is divided into two different periods: the hot and cold seasons. Iranian Bakhtiari nomads live in the low lands during the cold season and move to the high mountains with their families and animals during the hot season. In Persian, there is a special world of KOOCH for this kind of movement and lifestyle. The lifestyle based on Kooch is still alive and it is very fascinating to see. This traditional lifestyle would, unfortunately, disappear very soon in this artificial world. The people still live in basic tents with their ships and goats without facilities and electricity. For those who are interested in anthropology, this nomadic region would be one of the most impressive parts of Iran. The nomads still keep their original clothes and customs. Their wedding ceremonies and traditional dance are enchanting as well. The villages and the nomadic camps are other highlights of this region. The Bakhtiari nomadic tribe, their lifestyle, traditions, costumes, and their territory as a whole are must-sees for those who wish to experience them during their travel to Iran. All the abovementioned attractions have made this place one of the destinations for adventurous travelers who are looking for Off-the-Beaten-Track destinations in Iran. Travel to Bakhtiari nomadic region is full of experiences. Depending on your interest, you could have different travel styles and activities. If you are interested in Bakhtiaris’ Kooch and traveling along with them in early spring, " Kooch with Bakhtiari Nomadic Tribes” is a very interesting 15-day trip
Bakhtiari Nomadic Land Bakhtiari is the name of one major Iranian nomadic tribe living in the central part of the Zagros mountain range. Bakhtiari nomadic land is very remote and far from civilization. It embraces the last remaining original and authentic nomadic tribes in Iran. Livestock raising is their profession, and their life is divided
Busiest Travel Days of Iran Holiday Season Why you should not consider your travel holiday during the busiest holidays in Iran! Iranians travel a lot in Iran and the number of domestic tours is increasing every year. some travelers travel by themselves and some of them use local travel agencies or tour operators for their holidays. They use public transport such as domestic airplanes and trains as well. Also, they use many standardized or even luxury hotels in the country along with guest houses and local homestays. As we have many official and unofficial public holidays on our calendar, sometimes it makes a very busy traveling time for your trip to Iran. These holiday as we mentioned in the post “Iranian National Holidays in the Calendar” sometimes makes booking difficult. In this useful travel advice, we will indicate the most important one for you as a traveler, travel agency, or tour operator who would like to travel to Iran. Below we listed the dates of continuous Iranian national holidays which make the busiest travel time in Iran for domestic travelers. During those dates, finding the air tickets would be difficult and all of the railway routes would be very busy and the trains are occupied by the locals. If you would like to travel to Iran during the below dates, you have to be aware of your travel time. If you are interested in traveling by train or you are using our Train Journeys, we suggest do not travel during those dates. When some of the listed two days holidays are fixed on the weekdays, the locals take more days off and attach them to the weekend. The weekend in Iran is Thursdays and Fridays. If you couldn’t change your travel date and the below dates are in your travel
Busiest Travel Days of Iran Holiday Season Why you should not consider your travel holiday during the busiest holidays in Iran! Iranians travel a lot in Iran and the number of domestic tours is increasing every year. some travelers travel by themselves and some of them use local travel agencies or tour operators for their
Iranian Ancient holidays versus the Muslim holidays Iran has 22 days of official national holidays which are marked in our Shamshi calendar and more unofficial holidays that most domestic travelers use for their holiday time. Some of the occasions date back to Ancient Persia to the Zoroastrian important events such as Persian New Year (Nowrooz) while many of them are related to the religious holidays which are mostly used in Shiite Muslim countries. Some also commemorate contemporary historical events. The ancient Iranian holidays are fixed every year on the Persian calendar because they are considered on the Solar Hijri calendar “Shamsi Calendar” with 365 days. So you could mark it on your calendar “Gregorian calendar” as a fixed date for Iran’s holiday. But the Muslim religious holidays of Iran do not have a fixed date in the Persian Calendar. Because those dates sets on the Lunar calendar which is mostly used in the Islamic Shia countries. The number of days on this calendar is between 354 to 355 days. This makes about a 10-11 days difference to our Persian calendar. So the national religious holidays of Iran move forward between 10-11 days every year and it makes it complicated for those who would like to travel to Iran or for travel agencies, tour operators, and other companies who work with Iran. Below is the list of Iranian Public holidays and some details: Index Event Number of Holidays Local Name Remarks Type of Calendar 1 Persian New Year 4 Nowruz Celebrating Iranian Ancient New Year Solar 2 Nature Day 1 Sizdah Be-dar Celebrating the rebirth of nature after Nowruz Solar 3 Islamic Revolution Day 1 Dahe-ye Fajr (celebrating Iran’s Islamic revolution for 10 days) contemporary historical events Solar 4 The demise of Imam Khomeini 1 contemporary historical events Solar 5
Iranian Ancient holidays versus the Muslim holidays Iran has 22 days of official national holidays which are marked in our Shamshi calendar and more unofficial holidays that most domestic travelers use for their holiday time. Some of the occasions date back to Ancient Persia to the Zoroastrian important events such as Persian New Year (Nowrooz)
Persian Gardens of Iran The UNESCO Sites One of Iran’s main tourist attractions is Iranian historical gardens, which are situated in different regions of Iran. UNESCO collected 9 gardens under the name of the Persian Gardens and registered them in their heritage sites in 2011. Across time and in various climates, this type of designed garden has taken on a multitude of forms. Chahar Bagh, or the Persian Garden's original principle, adapts in new ways over the centuries. It first matured in the garden of Cyrus the Great's palace complex, in Pasargadae, more than two thousand years ago. Persian Garden exemplifies the ideals of art, philosophy, symbolism, and religion through a combination of natural elements and man-made elements. In a way, the Persian Garden is an Earthly Paradise or Eden. No Name of the Gardens Region Province/ City Geographical Coordinates 1 Ancient Garden of Pasargadae Iran Plateau Fars/Shiraz N: 30˚ 10΄ 0.0΄΄ E: 53˚ 10΄ 0.0΄΄ 2 Bagh-e Eram Iran Plateau Fars/Shiraz N: 29˚ 38΄ 10.03΄΄ E: 52˚ 31΄ 31΄΄ 3 Bagh-e Chehel Sotun Iran Plateau Esfahan/Isfahan N: 32˚ 39΄ 27΄΄ E: 51˚ 40΄ 20΄΄ 4 Bagh-e Fin West of Dasht-e Kavir Desert Esfahan/ Kashan N: 33˚ 22΄ 20.53΄΄ E: 51˚ 22΄ 20.53΄΄ 5 Bagh-e Abas Abad Caspian Sea Mazandaran/ Behshahr N: 36˚ 39΄ 50΄΄ E: 53˚ 35΄ 38΄΄ 6 Bagh-e Shahzadeh South west of Dasht-e Lut Desert Kerman/ Mahan N: 30˚ 01΄ 30΄΄ E: 57˚ 16΄ 59΄΄ 7 Bagh-e Dolat Abad Iran Plateau Yazd/Yazd N: 31˚ 54΄ 12.30΄΄ E: 54˚ 21΄ 6.59΄΄ 8 Bagh-e Pahlavanpur Iran Plateau Yazd/ Mehriz N: 31˚ 33΄ 36.6΄΄ E: 54˚ 26΄ 25.21΄΄ 9 Bagh-e Akbariyeh Desert (North of Dasht-e Lut) Southern Khorasan/ Birjand N: 32˚ D1΄ 10΄΄ E: 59˚ 13΄ 40΄΄ 1. Ancient garden of Pasargadae 2. Bagh-e Eram
Persian Gardens of Iran The UNESCO Sites One of Iran’s main tourist attractions is Iranian historical gardens, which are situated in different regions of Iran. UNESCO collected 9 gardens under the name of the Persian Gardens and registered them in their heritage sites in 2011. Across time and in various climates, this type of designed
Classic Route of Iran for Photography Iran is a very popular destination for photographers and photography fans. One of the most important reasons why Iran was added to the list of special travel destinations in the world was photography in Iran. With the rise of social media and its growing popularity around the world as well as the urgent need for creating unique content on various platforms, the number of influencers who travel to Iran has considerably increased in recent years. Many of them travel through the Classic Route of Iran for photography. They wish to take amazing photos of Iran's best locations. Iran is so vast and diverse in both cultural and natural attractions that it offers the best photography locations for Instagram or other image-based social media in all four seasons. If you are a specialist photographer, Iran offers you great impressive subjects and locations for most photography types. For those who are interested in Landscape and People Photography in Iran, there are various destinations like Kurdistan, Turkmen Plain, Baloochistan, Bakhtiari Nomadic Region, Persian Gulf and the islands, as well as the Azari Region of Iran, and Arabic tribes who live in the southwest of Iran in Khuzestan. Depending on your travel time and your interest, you could travel all year round to all the above regions of Iran in the Best Travel Time to Visit. If you are a generalist photographer or just enjoying travel photography and you are interested in exploring the Best of Iran, you should travel through Iran Classic Route. Iran is famous for historical and cultural attractions and the majority of travelers who are exploring Iran prefer to visit the main attractions of the country and pass through the 5 of Iran's main tourist destinations. Moreover, most of the photographers or the first
Classic Route of Iran for Photography Iran is a very popular destination for photographers and photography fans. One of the most important reasons why Iran was added to the list of special travel destinations in the world was photography in Iran. With the rise of social media and its growing popularity around the world as
Iran Cooking Tour and Persian Cuisine Iran cooking tours and Persian Cuisine like many other things in Iran is not well known. Iranian delicious foods should be on the menu of many important national restaurants everywhere else like Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese food in East Asia, but unfortunately, the lack of marketing and other different issues affected this matter and the majority of travelers have no idea about the Persian Cuisine before their trip to Iran. Even if you know about Iranian cuisine, you should have good local contacts or invitations to the house of locals to taste different traditional Iranian foods. In addition, another important thing that makes Iran very different with other countries is that Iran has varied categories of foods belonging to different ethnic and tribes. If you would like to know deeply about the Persian Cuisine, you have to know that there is wisdom behind their meals, which is deeply related to the regions and climate and weather system of that location. It means the meals of every region is connected to the Persian traditional medicine and it is very important for the health system of the people. For example, the meals of the Caspian Region in Gilan province are different from people who live in the desert regions of Iran like Kerman or those who live in the Iranian Plateau like Meymand (UNESCO) and those who live in southern part of Iran in Bushehr, Baluchistan and Bandar Abbas. Another interesting fact about Persian cuisine is that they had meals for different seasons of the year based on traditional medicine practices, these categorization took the products of the season and the region that the food was made in to consideration. Recently, the numbers people who are interested in Iranian foods are increased and many people are
Iran Cooking Tour and Persian Cuisine Iran cooking tours and Persian Cuisine like many other things in Iran is not well known. Iranian delicious foods should be on the menu of many important national restaurants everywhere else like Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese food in East Asia, but unfortunately, the lack of marketing and other different
