Fazel Stone Passageway

Location: in Torogh valley at the end of the south side at a place called Fazel Asee’yab

Brief Description: This stone passageway is located next to a village called Deh’ghaybi. In the old days, this passageway was built to make travelling to Nayshboor to Mashhad easier through the village of Dehsorkh. The width of the passage varies between 2 to 6 meters and has been carved into the stone of the mountain. The exact date of the construction of this passageway is not clear but evidence shows that is was there for many centuries.

Khak’estari Caravansary

Location: 17 Km south of Mashhad, next to the village of Khakestari

Brief Description: In the past, this caravansary was a resting place for travelers in route to Harat, Toos, and Nayshaboor. This structure has three main areas with six spherical domes and inside there are some rooms and a yard.

Baze Hoor Four-Arch or Chahar-tāgh

Location: about 78 km south of Mashhad, near Robat Sefeed Village, on the Mashhad - Torbat Khaydari Old Road

Date: Sasanian era (224 BCE – 642 CE)

Brief Description: This stone building with arched doors (chahar-tagh) at four axial intercepts and a high cupola proper is what remains from a larger architectural complex. A few archeologists believe this remnant was used for astronomical purposes.

Akhangan Tower

Location: 11 km east of Tabaran city, next to Akhangan Village

Date: Timurid era (1370–1507 CE)

Brief Description: This 17 km structure was built on an octagon base with eight pillars visible on its façade. On top of the tower is a conical dome with a particular design on its outer surface. The interior does not have any carvings but the exterior surface, that includes the walls and pillars, have been decorated with ceramic tiles. There is also an unidentified grave in this tower.

Majid-e-Azghad

Location: 17 km to the southeast of Torghabeh city, on the dirt road of Nayshboor-Toos , at the end of one of the northern mountain valleys of Binalod

Date: Timurid era around 833 AH/1430 CE

Brief Description: This village has a mild climate and beautiful landscape, along with a rich historical importance. The most significant and prestigious historical building in this village is its mosque. The inside of the mosque has 12 columns about 144 m2. There is a room on the west side of the main hall with four wooden columns 72 m2. The building has eleven inscriptions and one of them indicates the Timurid era 833 AH/1430 CE. One of the most precious elements of this historic site is its two-door decorative wooden hatches that are superbly carved.

Sefied Carvansary

Location: 75 km south of Mashhad near Robat Sefied Village on the old Toos Road

Date: Timurid era

Brief Description: The caravansary is made out of brick and has a central yard and three main porches.

Chalaghad Vault Arch

Location: 20 km southeast of Mashhad, near Chalaghad Village

Date: Timurid era (1370–1507 CE)

Brief Description: This square-shaped building is a tomb and has a dome and four arches.

Fakhr-e-Davood Caravansary

Location: 55 km off of the old road of Mashhad to Neyshabour

Date: Timurid era

Brief Description: This historic site is about 853 m2 and is built to serve mountain travelers. The upper level on the west side was used for nobles. What remains of this structure are the walls and lookout towers.

Sangvar Vault Arch

Location: 18 km northeast of Mashhad on the edge of Kashaf River.

Date: Timurid era

Brief Description: The architectural design of this building is very unique. A square room with a round dome is structured on four large arched doorways made out of brick and cobblestone. The local people consider it a holy place.

Torogh Mosalla

Location: 12 km from Mashhad, next to Torogh Village, to the southeast of Mashhad

Date: Timurid era (837 AH/ 1434 CE)

Brief Description: This historical building is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It has one central large porch and two smaller ones on each side with two rooms on the porches. At the end of the larger porch, there is a square-shaped area with a dome with one prayer niche. At the top of the larger porch is an example of beautiful Sols style calligraphy and stuccowork. Since Torogh was a short distance to Mashhad, it has witnessed many battles throughout its history with the intent of capturing it.

Ruins of Median Castle

Location: Kardeh Valley

Date: Timurid era

Brief Description: Kardeh Valley is one of the few impossible paths in Hezar Masjed Mountain, but with strategic and political importance throughout the century. The book of Shahnameh also mentioned these paths and their important role. Some sections of the walls of the castle and the water pool that has been made out of mortar are what remain nowadays. The pottery pieces that have been discovered in the area indicate that the castle was used during the Timurid to Safavid era.

Date: Neolithic era (starting about 9500 BCE in the Middle East)

Location: 800 km from Mashhad on the Mashhad-Shandeez Road

Khantashi Historical Inscription

Location: 55 km northwest of Mashhad between the villages of Aal and Panmaneh on the Mashhad – Kalat Road

Date: Safavid era

Brief Description: This Inscription has been carved on a rock that has been separated from the mountain. The inscription consists of 10 lines and each line is about 1 m long. The content is about the travels of Shibak Khan Ozbak to Toos region in 916 AH/1511 CE and his retreat after he received the news of the Shah Ismaeil Safavi’s attack on the Marv area.

Deh Sorkh New Castle or Ghaleh No Deh Sorkh

Location: 34 km from Mashhad

Date: Safavid era

Brief Description: This castle is located on the highest point overlooking Deh Sorkh Village and is the remains of an old castle that was built by rock, brick, and mud. The remaining walls are about 5 m high and based on what exists now, the castle had six cylinder towers, and the entrance was on the northern side in the middle tower. Centuries ago, residential rooms were inside the castle. Unfortunately, now there is nothing left of these rooms. The architecture looks like it was built during the Safavid era.

Alaghband Carvansary

Location: 40 km from the city on the Mashhad-Nayshaboor Road in the village of Bezoshk

Date: Safavid era (1501–1736 CE)

Brief Description: This collection of historic caravanserais has an area of about 2500 m2. This historic site was used from the Safavid, Qajar, and Timurid eras. The architectural structure of the overall building consists of three caravanserais that are connected to each other and two water-storage pools. Based on existing evidence, this building was built on the remains of an older building. The building also has two symmetrical porches, a patio, and two covered entrances and a prayer room.

Sharif Abad Carvansary

Location: 35 km from Mashhad, close to an area called Piveh’zhan

Date: Safavid era (1501–1736 CE)

Brief Description: This area was a rest place along the winter path of Nayshaboor to Toos. The caravansary has 25 summer rooms and 20 winter rooms. Based on the type of defense and security found in this structure, it is believed that the caravansary was used by nobles.

Torogh Caravansary

Location: next to the village of Torogh, southeast of Mashhad

Date: Safavid era

Brief Description: The original building belongs to Shah Abbas I; however, the other section was built and added during Shah Soleman of the Safavid era. The building consists of two porches, and the original building was used during the summer. The inscription on the added section dates back to 1080 AH/1670 CE and remains of a bath are visible on the exterior west side of the building.

Chahar Borj Icebox

Location: 4 km to the west of Tabaran ruins

Date: Qajar era (1789–1925 CE)

Brief Description: This historical icebox belongs to the village of Chahar Borj. It is an all-wood structure and the interior is 12 m high and 10 m in diameter. In the past, the icebox was used by the villagers and those living nearby. Now only the dome and concave are what remain.

Baba Ghodrat Caravansary

Location: on Sadr St. off of 17th Shahrivar St.

Date: built during the reign of Fath Ali Shah (reign 1797–1834 CE)

Brief Description: This caravansary was built by Eshagh Khan Ghara’i to serve the pilgrims of Imam Reza (PBUH). This 1500 m2 building consists of 16 rooms and a porch around a central yard. On both sides of the building extending to the back of the rooms, there are stables. Also on the corners of the buildings, there are four lookout towers that have changed appearance over time.

Nowadays, it it's used as a traditional restaurant.

The Ancient City of Toos

Toos City - A Brief History

Toos was once a large region with four cities, Noghan (present-day Mashhad), Tabarān (present-day Toos), Radkan and Troghbaz (present-day Torghabeh) that once extended to over 16000 km2. Nowadays Tabarān is known as Toos, which is a small town with ancient ruins and contemporary memorials on the outskirts of Mashhad.

Toos has witnessed many significant events over the course of its ancient history. In 330 BCE, Alexander the Great captured the city. Its most eminent resident was the author of the Persian epic Shahnameh, Hakem Abol Ghasim Ferdowsi (935–1020 CE), who is now laid to rest there. In 1220 to 1259 CE, the Mongol warrior, Genghis Khan, plundered the city and almost destroyed it. In 1383 CE, Shah Timur’s son destroyed the city in an effort to crush a rebellion. Over time, Tabaran began to decline and a nearby village began to thrive and grow into a city of pilgrimage, Sanabad or present-day Mashhad.

Toos Historical-Cultural Complex

Location: 24 km to the northwest of Mashhad

Brief Description: Tabaran or present day Toos has a very ancient and interesting history. It was called Susia when it was the capital of the Parthian Dynasty (247 BCE – 224 CE). However, based on ancient documentation, the city most likely was in existence during the Achaemenid dynasty (550-330 BCE) and until it was over shadowed by the holy city of Mashhad, Toos was where the Silk Road forked.

According to archeologists, the Golden Age of Toos dates back to the 4th to the 6th century Hejri or 11th to 13th century CE. During the Ilkhan Dynasty (1256–1380 CE), this region experienced its greatest expansion. Toos was designed as a circular city; and its remains still show evidence of this urban planning.

Nowadays, the Historical Toos Cultural Complex includes the remains of the Harooneyeh Building, Tabarān Jame Mosque, Ferdowsi Mausoleum, the tomb of Imam Ghazali, two villages called Toos and Islameyeh, and ruins of ramparts that once surrounded the city and a brick tower from ancient times.

It will only take one morning to visit all of these sites in the Toos Historical-Cultural Complex, especially since it is so close to Mashhad. You can leave at 9 AM and be back around 1 PM in time for lunch.

Tabarān Ruins

Date: 400 to 700 AH/1010 to 1301 CE

Brief Description: Since Tabarān was a major city in ancient times, it was strongly fortified against invaders. In the past, the ramparts stretched around the city and stood 9 m tall. Today only half of the ramparts are left, extending to 7 km. Based on historical documentation the city had 106 towers and at least four gates named Rezan, Roodbar, Marv, and Neishabour.

Tabarān Citadel or Kohn Dezh

Date: Samanid (892–998 CE) to Safavid (1502–1736 CE) dynasties

Brief Description: This citadel protected the government officials’ residences and government buildings. It was located 250 m away from the city, with a height of 1050 m and 15 m wide. The citadel had a lookout tower and a rampart with a trench. The entrance of this citadel, the rampart, tower, trench, and barricades date back to the Samanid through the Safavid dynasties. Archeological findings around the citadel have unearthed valuable discoveries, such as a spiral brick structure, a mosque, and bathhouse.

Harooneyeh Building

Date: ca. 5th or 6th century AH/12th century CE

Brief Description: The structure known as Harooneyeh is 800 m from the mausoleum of the great poet Abol Ghassem Ferdowsi. There are many uncertainties about this building, such as the date it was built, its original purpose, and name. The name Harooneyeh does not go back more than 100 years and is not related to the Abbasid caliph, Harun al-Rashid, as many wrongfully believe. It has been said that this building was the mausoleum of Harun al-Rashid, but we know that he was buried at the feet of Imam Reza (PBUH). Others claimed that this was a prison at the time of Harun, while others have said that 60 Sayyeds were martyred at the orders of Harun and buried there. All of these rumors have earned the building its name Harooneyeh.

Moreover, this building is believed to have served as a meditation site for mystics or as a mausoleum. It was built on the remains of ancient Tabaran city. In the 13th century during the Timurid era, three halls were added to the end of the original building. Harooneyeh has beautiful plasterwork and facades that reflect the influence of the Toos mystics.

Imam Mohammad Ghazali Tomb

In recent years, a grave belonging to the famous mystic Imam Mohammad Ghazali Toosi (1058-1111 CE) and one of his disciples was discovered. On the south side of the building is a black granite stone to mark his grave. Annually, mystic followers from around the world pay homage to hm. On the northwest side, there is another grave of the contemporary Ghazali expert, Hossien Khadavi Jam (1928-1990).

Ruins of Tabarān Jame Mosque

Date: ca. 500 AH/11th century CE

Brief Description: About 150 m on the southwest side of Harooneyeh Building is the oldest mosque of Khorasan province. The remains of this mosque are 94 m long and 308 m wide and the mosque was built based on the traditional architecture of mosques in ancient Persia in the shabestan model with pillars. Based on investigations into the remains, it has been concluded that the mosque had a ghebleh shabestan towards the direction of prayer on the south side and a north shabestan and courtyard. Most likely, the remains date back to the 500 AH/11th century CE and probably Hajj Nezam al-Malek Toosi founded this mosque.

Ferdowsi Mausoleum & Museum

Brief Description: Abol Ghassem Ferdowsi (b. 940 CE) is credited for reviving the Persian language through his epic the Shahnameh or the Book of Kings. It took 30 years for him to complete this masterpiece, which narrates ancient stories of Iran. Around 1020 CE, at the age of 81, Ferdowsi died in his own garden, which is located within the Toos rampart near Rezan Gate. The exact grave of Ferdowsi was not known, so during Nasser al-Din Qajar’s reign (1092–1094 CE) the governor of Khorasan ordered a serious search to be undertaken and then a brick structure built on the site. Later in 1927, a group of scholars built a more impressive structure over Ferdowsi’s tomb. Then in 1931, Hajj Mohammad Ali Gha’em Magham Razavi donated 25250 m2 of his land for a larger mausoleum. It was finished in 1965 but later sunk into the ground, so it was demolished and in 1969 another one was built (945 m2) in the style of Achaemenid (550–330 BCE) and Parthian (-247 BCE–228 CE) architecture. At the same time, Sayyed Esa and Mosa Gha’em Magham also donated 25375 m2 of their land to expand the garden that held the mausoleum. The lower level of the mausoleum is decorated with reliefs depicting the story of Haft Khan Rostam from the Shahnameh, which adds to its splendor.

There is a museum with displays of objects native to Toos and from the era of Ferdowsi, such as old armor of warriors, old copies of the Shanameh, coffee house paintings, clay dishes, coins, bow and arrows, and so on.

Nader Shah Garden, Mausoleum, and Museum

Location: on the intersection of Shirazi St. and Azadi St. on the left hand side, this intersection is also known as Chahar Rah Shahadah.

For a nominal entrance fee you can visit Nader Shah's mausoleum and museum, which is located in a beautiful garden about 1.6 km north of the Holy Shrine on Chahar Rah Shahadah. It does not take more than an hour to tour the entire complex.

The museum of Nader Shah is distinctly marked with a large statue of him on a horse with three soldiers in pursuit; one is a horn blower, the next is a flag bearer, and the third is an arms bearer. The entire statue is 14600 kg and was designed by the master sculptor Abol Hassan Sadeeghi and under his supervision the statute was made and bronzed in Italy.

Since Nader Shah was not a scientist or artist, but a warrior, the artifacts in the museum are weapons, armor and other items related to war and some paintings of the Shah.

There is a library with 17000 volumes of books, but there is a bookstore and souvenir shop where tourists can pick up postcards and small books.

Mirza Ebrahim Mausoleum

Location: at the end of Beheshti St., close to Kooh Sangi Park

Date: Safavid era

Brief Description: Mirza Ibrahim Razavi was a main donator among the Sada’at-e-Razavi family; moreover, he was considered one of the most important members of this family during his time. This Arabic term, Sada’at-e-Razavi, refers to the fact that he and his ancestors can trace their genealogy back to the son of Imam Javad (PBUH) and thus the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&F). Mirza Ibrahim Razavi passed away in 1042 AH/ 1633 CE and was buried in his garden. This garden also had a house that is presently the only building reminding in Mashhad from the Safavid era. The house has a beautiful 30.8 m high porch that was decorated by tiles and a very nice prayer niche. The garden has a 15 m by 10 m pool located in front of the main porch. There are some graves in the garden belong to some of the Sa’adat family and famous elite of Mashhad.

The building was renovated in 1986 and is now open to the public.

Baba Peer Mausoleum

Location: on the Mashhad-Nayshaboor Road, next to an abandoned village called Kalat Peer.

Brief Description: The building with a four-sided dome has a grave under it that the local people think belong to a person called Baba Peer; however, there is no conclusive evidence. Based on some evidence found in the dome structure it is thought to belong to the Qajar era while the graves around it belong to the 13th to 14th century AH.

Khājeh Rabi Mausoleum

Location: on the north side of Mashhad on Khajeh Rabe’i Street

Brief Description: Khajeh Rabi died in 61 or 63 AH/681 or 683 CE and his mausoleum was built in the middle of a beautiful garden which is now surrounded by the local cemetery named after him. During the Safavid era (ca. 1032 AH/1623 CE) by the orders of Shah Abbas I and the support of Shaykh Baha'i the construction of the present day mausoleum was built by the architect Algh Razavi Khādem.

The building is located in the public cemetery and is often overlooked because of this fact. It is octagonal shaped and has several rooms, large halls and arcades reflecting the beautiful Iranian-Islamic architecture of that era. The double covered dome is a deep blue and 18 m high with two bands of calligraphy around the exterior of the dome in Bana’i script and the other in the Tholth script.

In the interior of the mausoleum there are two inscriptions penned by the famous calligrapher of the Safavid era, Alireza Abbasi. The oldest inscription located above the entrance to the garden belongs to Abbasi as well and dates back to 1026 AH/1617 CE. Amazingly, the art and architecture of this building was so exquisite that it is said to have inspired the famous Taj Mahal in India, which was built 10 years after this mausoleum.

The tomb is surrounded by a magnificent burial chamber or za’ri and the walls around the chamber are decorated by beautiful tile and stuccowork.

It has also been documented that Imam Reza (PBUH) made pilgrimage to this tomb when he migrated to this area.

Green Dome or Gonbad-e-Sabz

Location: in the center of a square in Akhond Khorasani St.

Date: Safavid era

Brief Description: In the old days, this area was a part of a cemetery called Mir Hova. Later a wall was built around it and landscaping was added. As the city of Mashhad expanded and the demand for new streets increased, the surrounding building, walls, and houses in this area were demolished, but the Green Dome remained. In 1974, the interior and exterior of the building was restored. Nowadays, the beautiful building functions as a public mosque to do the daily prayers. Give it's such a small structure, it is only used by men.

Inside the building, there is a narration from the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and an inscription that dates the structure back to 1058 AH/1648 CE. The name of the calligrapher is also included, Mohammad Hossain Mashhadi, the distinguished calligrapher of the Qajar era. It is uncertain who the tomb belongs to, some believed this to be the tomb of Sheikh Mohammad Momein, while others believe this is the tomb of Sheikh Mohammad Momein Aref Astar Abadi.

Akhi Ali Ghot’logh Shah Mausoleum

Location: Vayrani Village, just on the outskirts of Mashhad on the road to Shandeez countryside.

Brief Location: Vayrani Village was an important hub for mysticism in the 8^th to 9^th century AH. Ghotlogh was a leader of the mysticism movement of that time and had many disciples. This building, where he is buried, served as the movement’s temple, where mystics would gather. Ghotlogh died in 800 AH and was buried in the temple.

Hafez Omar Abar’deh Mausoleum

Location: in the cemetery between Shandeez and Abardeh Village

Brief Location: He was a student of Akhi Ali Ghotlogh Shah and when Ghotlogh passed away, he took over his position as leader of the mysticism movement. He died in 809 AH/1407 CE and recently a simple mausoleum was built over his grave.

Peer Langar Mausoleum

Location: 46 km east of Mashhad, near Kashaf River

Date: believed to be from the Timurid era

Brief Description: This mausoleum belongs to a person called Peer-e-Langar and his name indicates that he belonged to the mystic sect of Sufism. Based on archeological findings the mausoleum is the remnant of the inside of an old cemetery and pottery pieces that were discovered in the area indicate it was used during the Timurid to Safavid period.

Khāje Abasalt Heravi Mausoleum

Location: 10 km to the east of Mashhad on the Mashhad-Fareemān Road

Based on Islamic historical sources Abol Salām bin Sāleh bin Solemān Ayyoub bin Mysareh is also known as Khāje Abasalt Heravi. He was a scientist, narrator of narrations, and preacher born ca. 160 AH/777 CE in Medina. He followed Imam Reza (pbuh) to this area and became one of his closest companions. Khāje Abasalt Heravi was responsible for recording the history of Imam Reza (pbuh) and his martyrdom. Some historians claim that he was at the side of Imam Reza (pbuh) when he passed away. Then after the death of the Holy Imam (pbuh), he isolated himself due to the intense political pressure of the time. He passed away in 232 AH/847 CE based on documentation written by Baghdadi; however, based on ibn Toghrah he died in 236 AH/851 CE.

The original building was semi destroyed and with the efforts of Karbala’i Mohammad Ali Darvish who was a mystic of that time, the building was renovated into a four-sided structure with a dome. In recent decades, the building was expanded to 920 m² into an octagonal-shape similar to the architecture of Imam Reza’s (pbuh) complex.

Nowadays, there is a restaurant, teashop, souvenir shops, and parking facilities around the mausoleum.