Kashan and Around (April 2014)
Kashan is an oasis city coined between the Dasht-e Kavir (Desert of Salt Marsh) on its eastern side and the Zagros mountains on its western side. The city and its surroundings feature a broad variety of interesting sites, including a beautiful lush garden, very old settlements, richly decorated 19th-century houses of wealthy merchants, an underground city, and a desert salt lake.
Fin gardens at the southwestern edge of Kashan.
Left: Rose water distillers outside the Fin gardens. (Kashan is often referred to as the ′′rose water capital′′ of Iran.) Center: Jubs (surface canals) the Fin Garden, which are fed by a natural spring. Right: Pavilion in the Finn Gardens.
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Details of the ceiling of the pavilion in the previous picture.
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In the Shahzadeh-ye Ibrahim shrine (located close to the Finn Gardens).
Celing in the Shahzadeh-ye Ibrahim shrine. The close-up on the right depicts Imam Ali and his two sons.
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The Sialk (Tappeh-ye Seyalk) archeological site, where some settlements date back 9000 years.
In the restored Sultan Mir Ahmad hammam.
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Ceilings of Sultan Mir Ahmad hammam.
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Rooftop of Sultan Mir Ahmad hammam.
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Roof of the Borujerdi merchant house (built in 1857) with its two wind catchers (bagdirs), seen from the rooftop of the nearby Sultan Mir Ahmad hammam.
The main courtyard of the Borujerdi house.
Inside the Borujerdi house.
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The Tabatabei merchant house.
Blue-tiled conic dome of a small mosque near the Tabatabei house.
Traditional doors in Kashan, with two knockers, a round one for women and a long one for men. The different sounds made by the two knockers identify the gender of the visitor.
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In the bazaar.
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Teashop in the bazaar.
Old caravanserais on the edge of the bazaar.
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Agha Bozorg mosque.
Partial view of one of the minarets through a the small window of the dome.
One of the few remaining sections of the ancient adobe wall surrounding the old city of Kashan.
Tunnels in the underground city of Nooshabad and aeration shaft (rightmost photo). The underground city was used as a shelter during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.
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Inside a huge ancient water cistern in Nooshabad.
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Sizan castle (Seljuk period) in Nooshabad.
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View from one of the towers of the Sizan castle toward the Zagros mountains on the west of Kashan.
Imamzadeh Helal-ebne Ali Shrine in Aran.
Entrance of the Imamzadeh Helal-ebne Ali Shrine.
Graves of martyrs of the Iran-Iraq war near the Imamzadeh Helal-ebne Ali Shrine.
Entering the Dasht-e Kavir toward Namak Lake.
Sand dunes near Namak Lake.
View over Namak Lake (which means Salt Lake). Most of the lake is very shallow.
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Click the following links to see photos of other parts of the trip: - Tehran, - Qazvin, - Abyaneh, |
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