Zanjan is the capital of the province Zanjan and is located in the Zanjan-Chai valley (one of the branches of Ghezel-Ouzon, Sefidrud) in the north-east of Iran. It is said that the city of Zanjan was built in the time of Ardashir Babakan and it was named Shahin at that time, meaning attributed to the Shah.

Zanjan was an important city in the past because it was located on the Silk Road and served as one of the most important communication routes between India and China with European countries.

In terms of land appearance, Zanjan province has two mountainous and plain areas, most of which are located in the foothills and plains between mountain ranges and mountainous areas. The climatic diversity of this region has created different species of animal and plant life. The main agricultural products of the province, which are mostly exported, are: figs, rice, grapes, apricots, apples, beans, cucumbers, onions, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, olives, garlic, pomegranates, wheat, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets and sugar beets.

The most common souvenirs of Zanjan are knives, Charuq (a kind of women’s shoes of ancient Iran), Zanjan carpets (with a design known as tiny fish) Filigree, and Repoussé and chasing.

Here is a list of the most attractive places to visit in Zanjan and have some unforgettable times.

 

Zanjan

  1. The Dome of Soltaniyeh

It is a complex of ruins centering on the Mausoleum of the Mongol ruler Il-khan Öljeitü, also known as Muhammad Khodabandeh. The main building, erected between 1302 and 1312 AD, may have the oldest double-shell dome in Iran. It is one of the largest brick domes in the world, just at the theoretical engineering limit for a brick dome and the third largest dome in the world after the domes of Florence Cathedral and Hagia Sophia. One of the features that makes it so important is its 1600 ton weight, which has lasted for 700 years and only subsided 2 cm. Arthur Upham Pope, prominent American orientalist and historian, considers the Taj Mahal building in India to be an adaptation of the building and considers the Soltaniyeh Dome as a model for it.

Zanjan

  1. Zanjan Bazaar

There are many traditional markets in different cities of Iran that date back to hundreds of years ago and are still the beating hearts of the city with their beautiful architecture. Establishment of Zanjan Bazaar began during the reign of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar and ended in 1213 during the reign of Fath Ali Shah Qajar and mosques, houses and baths were added in 1324. This market, which is the longest and largest in Iran and in the world, has been expanded from the west and east, therefore named as down and upper bazaar.

Zanjan

  1. Katale Khor Cave

Katale Khor is a cave located in Zanjan, situated 120 km south of Zanjan city and about 410 km from Tehran. The name, Katale Khor, means “mount of the sun”. This cave dates back to 120 million years ago and has undergone many natural and artificial changes since then. It may be interesting to know that the primary humans used to live in the first 100 meters of this cave, and this can be understood from the 80 skeletons found in this place.

One of the most fascinating parts of this cave, which always attracts a lot of tourists, is the bride and groom section, whose stalagmites are very similar to a bride and a groom.

Another wonder and beauty of this cave is the multiplicity of floors, since such caves are very rare in the world. It is believed that the cave has 7 floors, but only 3 have been discovered so far.

Zanjan

  1. Dashkasan temple

This building is one of the most beautiful and unique stone temples in Iran. Dashkasan is a three cave complex located south-east of Soltaniyeh. Outside the caves there is a temple called Dragon Stone of DashKasan Caves, since the pattern of two Dragons are skilfully carved on it. These reliefs are among the few dragon patterns in Iran and show the influence of Far Eastern culture (Mongolia and China) on the Ilkhanid era.

Zanjan

  1. Archaeology Museum

One of the most famous attractions of Zanjan its archeology museum. This museum has been famous since 1972, when it exhibited the body of a saltman discovered at the Chehrabad mine. Besides that, the mummified bodies of three other saltmen from the Achaemenid and Sassanid periods are also on display at the museum.

  1. Sundial

Another interesting attraction of Zanjan, is the largest sundial of Iran that is located in the central square of Zanjan University. There is a touching message on this beautiful sundial that is engraved on its white stone which says: I am nothing without sun, you are nothing without God!