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5 Things To Do, Eat, Drink & Buy In Iran

By Nazrin Gadimova April 29, 2018

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The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque also known as the Pink Mosque is a traditional mosque in Shiraz, Iran.

Headed to Iran? Here are five things you should do during your stay.

Dip into rocky architectural oddities in Kandovan

If you happen to visit East Azerbaijan province of Iran, which is located in the north-western part of the country, don’t miss the village of Kandovan – a breathtaking monument to the ingenuity of people who lived there centuries ago.

Kandovan’s buildings, roads, and stairs are carved right into the rocks. Its oldest residences were built more than 700 years ago, at which time people discovered that the rocks near the neighboring volcano consist of a soft stone, which is perfectly suitable for cutting.

Modern-day Kandovan is considered one of the main tourist attractions in the country. There are numerous hotels, shops, as well as other infrastructure for tourists, while the residents of the village live in the neighboring settlements and come to Kandovan only during the tourist season.

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Kandovan’s buildings, roads, and stairs are carved right into the rocks. Its oldest residences were built more than 700 years ago.

Dine on khoresh fesenjan

Khoresh fesenjan features lots of seasonings, from basic salt and pepper to exotic cultural seasoning blends. Women usually cook this dish in large quantities, to be sure all guests have their fill.

Ingredients can range from poultry to meat - and there is even vegetarian fesenjān! The dish, regardless of how it is prepared, is served with rice. The classic khoresh fesenjān is made with chicken, stewed with walnuts and pomegranate juice.

Try a fesenjān in the central square of Isfahan, where the aromas of spices pleasantly fill the air. If you are tired and do not want to go far, you can try local dishes in the hotel restaurant.

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The classic khoresh fesenjān is made with chicken, stewed with walnuts and pomegranate juice.

Buy handmade goods

It often happens that tourists visiting Iran unexpectedly find out that what they are most impressed with are not beautiful ancient palaces, but the country’s unique folk crafts. Numerous in their diversity, handmade goods are considered one of Iran’s hallmarks – local manufacturers have been polishing up their skills for centuries while passing on traditions to the next generation.

When visiting Iran, be sure to check out the Bazaar of Isfahan, located near famous Hasht Behesht Palace. There you will find napkins and tablecloths manufactured in the technique of ghalamkari – a technique of drawing pattern on cotton cloth, vases and other products inlaid with turquoise, elegant plates and vases decorated with multicolored enamel, as well as caskets, coasters, candlesticks and decorated utensils.

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Numerous in their diversity, handmade goods are considered one of Iran’s hallmarks.

Drink tea in the world’s smallest chaikhana

Don’t bypass the Bazaar of Tehran, because among hundreds of shops that spanned over this place you will find Haj Ali Darvish teahouse, the world’s smallest teahouse, or chaikhana. For almost hundred years, tea lovers from all over the world are coming here to try hot fragrant tea boiled in a samovar.

The owner of this miniature teahouse, covering a territory of no more than two square meters, welcomes his customers with great love and respect. Meanwhile, when drinking tea you will be told a series of stories – the owner of the teahouse will share his memories of his father, the Iran-Iraq War, and never charges buyers who come for the first time.

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Don’t bypass the Bazaar of Tehran, because among hundreds of shops that spanned over this place you will find Haj Ali Darvish teahouse, the world’s smallest teahouse, or chaikhana.

Get lost in mangrove forests

A shrub or small tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water, or mangrove, are known as hara in Farsi, while the largest mangrove forest stretching along the Persian coastline carries the same name. Mangrove forests cover a total area of 20,000 hectares along the southern coast of Iran and are considered the largest of its kind in the Middle East.

Nature lovers should surely visit this tourist attraction. In the spring it is possible to witness more than 150 species of birds migrating. In addition, hunchbacked dolphins, sea pigs, and green sea turtle inhabit the mangrove forests, so be patient and keep your camera lens open.