Mashhad
The capital of Khorasan province, the holiest city in Iran and a sacred place for pilgrims.

Mashhad, Iran's holiest city, is the capital of Khorasan province. Mashhad is located 850 kilometers North East of Tehran and has population of over 2 million. The name means the burial place of a martyr. Back in the 9th century A.D., Imam Reza was poisoned and martyred in the city. He was the eighth Imam (head spiritual leader) of Shi'ate Islam. His holy position made his tomb a sacred place for pilgrims to worship. Millions of people pay pilgrimage to the holy shrine, undoubtedly the largest and most magnificent of its kind, every year. There are plenty of priceless objects and unique manuscripts in the shrine's library.

Mashhad is a tourist city with many hotels of various categories as well as a great number of guesthouses for the pilgrims who come to this city from the other parts of the country everyday by tens of flights, trains and buses.
Before he died, the city was known as Sanabad, a small village in the north of Persia. After his death, pilgrims came and ended up staying in Mashhad. The village grew into a small city because of his shrine. Sunni Muslim forces sacked the city, followed by the Mongols in the 13th century. The shrine was badly damaged and, after time, rebuilt.
In the 16th century, three Safavid Dynasty rulers established Shi'ite Islam for the whole territory. The shrine was restored and enlarged. These rulers made pilgrimages to the site and since then it has become the most holy Shi'ite pilgrimage in Iran.
The mosque and ivan of Gowhar Shad rank among the most beautiful historic structures of the 15th century A.D. Iran. The founder of the mosque is Gowhar Shad, wife of the Taimurid Shahrokh. It is a four-ivan Masjid with two tile-decorated minarets flanking its main ivan. Upon the front of the ivan, there is a stately inscription containing the name of Shahrokh Bahadur and the date 1418 A.D. A part of the inscription is by the Taimurid prince, Bysonghor Mirza and is exceedingly remarkable as a calligraphic achievement. The rest is from the Safavid period and has been attributed to Mohammed Reza Imami. The Gowhar Shad structures are masterpieces of archeological skill and tile decoration.

The city's climatic condition is varied with very cold winters, pleasant springs, usually mild summers and beautiful autumns. The magnificent holy shrine of Imam Reza and the historical and artistic complex attached to it including the courtyards, porticos and porches, the Goharshad Mosque (of Timurid period) as well as its rich museum and library are the most significant sights to be seen by any visitor and pilgrim.

There is a magnificent golden dome over the shrine's building; surrounded by several porches. The Grand Gohaharshad Mosque is located to the south of the shrine, the museum and the tomb of Sheikh Bahaee to the southeast and Parizad and Balasar Schools to the west.
Other than a number of large beautiful parks, the other sights tomb of Nader Shah of Afsharid Dynasty, Kooh Sangi pool. There are also some sights outside the city. Tomb of Khajeh Morad kilometers from Mashhad along the road to Tehran, the tomb of Khajeh Rabi' located 6 kilometers north of the city where there are some inscriptions by the renowned Safavid calligrapher Reza Abbasi, and the tomb of Khajeh Abasalt in a distance of 20 kilometers from Mashhad along the road to Neishabour, (the three personalities were the disciples of Imam Reza).

Among the other sights are the tomb of the great poet Ferdowsi in Tous, 24 kilometers away from Mashhad; and the summer resorts at Torghabeh, Torogh, Akhlomod, Zoshk and Shandiz.

Nayshabour

The city of Nayshabur lies in a level plain and is 768 km. from Tehran. The Binalood heights are to the north, and other heights run northwest of the city. The railroad of Tehran - Mashad passes through Nayshabur. In the year 31 AH, it was seized by the Ottomans (Osmani) and during the Islamic era held its own as one of the four important cities in the province. The city was so vast that it was called Omol-Belad (mother of cities).
In the Islamic period, this city was of such importance that on their minted coins the names of the ‘Omavi’ Caliphate could be noted. During the reign of the Qaznavian and Saljuqian, Nayshabur was one of the most important cities of Khorassan. In the year (618 AH) Nayshabur was destroyed during the Mongol attack and it was close to Mongol reign that Nayshabur was annexed to the territory of the Sarbedaran rulers. This city has played an important role in attributing to the fields of Iranian art, civilization and philosophy. Moreover this city had a position in the path or route of the Silk Road besides many historical sites.

Natural Attractions of Nayshabur :

Binalood and Aladaq Mountains:
These mountain ranges are the continuation of the Alborz Mountain Range. The Aladaq running 170 km. at a stretch, lies between the Koorkhod Mountains to the west, and Binalood Range to the east. From the north the Aladaq Range is limited by the Atrak Valley and to the south it stretches out towards Esfarayen and Jajrum. The highest peak of this range called Shah Jahan width is 3,032 m. in height and the distance between the two cities of Quchan and Sabzevar forms its utmost limits, that is, the Aladaq and Binalood Ranges.At this point the Binalood Mountains span a distance of 120 km. and separate the Kashaf Valley in the north from the plains of Nayshabur in the south. The Binalood peak with the height of 3,410 m. stands northwest of Nayshabur. To the south of Mashad city the hills of Fariman and Torbat Jaam stretch in continuation to The Binalood Ranges. In this area, the Binalood Mountains segregate the Kashaf Rood Valley from the Torbat-e-Jaam region and has a peak of 2,256 m. in height. In spring and summer this region forms an excellent spot, full of natural enhancements.

Garmab Taqankooh Thermal Spring:
This spring is located 44 km. from Nayshabur - Sabzevar. The spring has mineral content.

Religious Attractions of Nayshabur:

Imamzadeh Mohammad Mahrooq:
This tomb is one of the historical sites which dates back to the 10th century AH. Amazing tile-works of the portico, the entrance to the shrine, including inscriptions which are from Shah Tahmasb I era, are apparent. A stone is installed which belongs to Shah Soltan Hossein Safavid era (1145 AH.) on which the date of 1119 AH. is inscribed. It also indicates that at the end of Safavid era, Mohammad Khan-e-Nami in Nayshabur had made efforts in the construction of a mosque and its Mosalla (praying center). In this mausoleum one of the offspring of Hazrat Moosa Bin Jafar (AS) has been buried. This Imamzadeh is registered in historical records.

Nayshabur Jame' Mosque:
The building of this mosque is of 9th century AH, and its founder was Pahlavan Ali-e-Nami. The courtyard of this mosque is square shaped, with tall porticos (Shabestan and Mehrab). The altar and place for nocturnal prayers are all paved in stone. Inscriptions from Shah Abbas I (1021 AH) can be observed, the most important of which is in the form of verse. There is also another poetical inscription fixed on the altar.Abbas Qoli Khan Nami was responsible for repairing the mosque and making additions to the focal structure. Three commands declared by Shah Abbas I have been inscribed on stone and this tablet has been fixed to the wall of this mosque. This decree is to do with the taxes and welfare of inhabitants of Nayshabur.

Historical Attractions of Nayshabur:

Hakim Omar Khayam Nayshaburi Tomb:
One of the eye-catching sites is the garden which envelopes the resting place of the great scholar, mathematician, philosopher and poet, Hakim Omar Khayam. The said garden belonged to him. The exact date of his death have not been specified and it is known to be within the years 506 - 530 AH. Later another monument was erected about 100 m. north of the tomb to commemorate this renowned personality. This structure is a high tomb made of iron and stone, consisting of ten bases, which have geometrical shapes and are connected to each other.

Nezamol Molk-e-Bakravi Tomb:
The mausoleum of Nezamol Molk-e-Bakravi is situated in Nayshabur and is attached to the eastern portico of the oldest mosque of this city. It is constructed of gypsum and brick, the ceiling of which is adorned with turquoise colored tiles. In parts, remnants of old architecture styles can be observed.

Sheikh Attar Nayshaburi Tomb:
Faridodin Abu Hamed Mohammed-ebne-Abu Bakr Ebrahim Ben Issaq Attar Nayshaburi, the great poet and Gnostic of Iran was born around the year 540 AH and expired in 618 AH. The tomb of this famous poet is located 6 km. west of Nayshabur, near Imamzadeh Mahrooq and the tomb of Khayam.This structure is octagonal in shape with a tile worked onion shaped dome. It has 4 entrances, the northern one is the main entrance. This historical structure has been tastefully adorned with colored (green, yellow and blue) tiles and carvings. The interior site is covered by plaster and has four seats.The Mausoleum is located in a garden covering an area of about 119 sq. m. The grave of the well known painter Kamalol Molk is also situated in a part of this garden.