Iran in March

With its distinctly UNESCO World Heritage Sites, impressive natural wonders, mouthwatering food and beverage and laid-back vibe, Iran is a must-visit county in Asia. Although typically seen as a summer destination, you can visit Iran all year round depending on where your interests lie. March marks the start of the blossoms season in Iran, a natural phenomenon that happens throughout the country. Moreover, Nowruz, new Persian year is on the way and it’s the biggest event in the Iranian calendar. It usually runs from 20th March for around two weeks. Our European guests explored Iran during holiday of spring and renewal to get familiar with this festival, celebrated by millions of people worldwide, dates back thousands of years.

Our European guests explored Iran during March

Kandowan village

Visiting a traditional village, where people follow traditions to honor the past, is one of the highlights of a trip to Iran. As soon as you arrive at a village, excitable kids call out “salam”, elders take the time to shake your hand and you may receive generous offers to stay for a meal. Get ready to start a trip into picturesque Kandovan village, where is famous for its most unique feature. This is a place where houses are not built on a mountain, but within a mountain. An interesting aspect about this rocky countryside is the fact that the rock acts as an energy efficient material, keeping the house cool during summer and warm during winter. This is why most of the inhabitants here do not use heaters or air conditioning systems. Gorgeous Kandovan is an extraordinary ancient village in the province of East Azarbaijan, near the city of Tabriz, Iran. With its at least 800 years existence, this remarkable place is inhabited by few people and offers scenic beauty for its travelers. With homes carved inside rocks, some of them 700 years old, the Kandovan village is said to have been partially formed by volcanic remains from a strong Mount Sahand eruptions hundreds of years ago. Our traveler, Konah took this photo during his trip to Kandowan village. he believed that he was sick of the big cities and exploration of this small provincial town breathed back life to his travels.

Konah took this photo during his trip to Kandowan village

Ancient Falak ol aflak Castle that Still Stands Today

Iran is dotted with many beautiful castles of varying shapes, sizes and functions – from romantic fantasy palaces to imposing military forts and picturesque manor houses. Ancient castles are sprinkled across Iran’s lush, green countryside in various states of ruin. The amazing artifacts, antiquities, and artworks can be found in Babak and Falak ol aflak Castles. Falak-ol-Aflak Castle situated on the top of a large hill with the same name within the city of Khorramabad, the regional capital of Lorestan province, Iran. This gigantic structure was built during the Sassanid era, while some of the archeologists believe that the castle’s structures date as far back as the Atabakan dynasty. The castle itself covers an area of 5,300 square meters and the height of the entire structure, including the hill, reaches to 40 meters above the surrounding area. It is 2,860 meters in perimeter and its tallest wall is 22.5 meters high. This space is divided into four large halls, and their associated rooms and corridors. Originally the castle used to have 12 towers, but only 8 remain standing today. The water well of the fortress lies in the area behind the first courtyard. Reaching a depth of 40 meters, the majority of the well's shaft is carved into the rock in order to reach the source of the spring. The castle is managed by the Iran Cultural Heritage Organization as a protected site. At present, Falak-ol-Aflak is on the Tentative List of UNESCO's World Heritage sites as an example of Persian Architecture.  The castle’s simple beauty makes it one of the most visited castles in Iran .Remember to add this magnificent monument in your bucket list while exploring west of fascinating Iran.

 Falak ol aflak Castle, Lorestan, Iran