Winter festivals, a rich source of charm for freezing Sarein

TEHRAN – Winter festivals have long been a source of charm for drawing visitors to Sarein, the tourism chief of the northwestern Iranian city has said. 

Landscaping project begins on Sheikh Safi ensemble

TEHRAN –A landscaping project has been commenced on the Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble and its surroundings in Ardebil, northwest Iran.  

Some $524,000 paid to support handicrafts businesses in Ardebil

TEHRAN - The Iranian government has paid over 22 billion rials (about $524,000 at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) in loans to the handicrafts businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the northwestern Ardebil province. 

Tens of tourism projects underway in Ardebil province

TEHRAN – More than 150 tourism-related projects are currently underway across Iran’s northwestern Ardebil province although the COVID-19 pandemic has brought travel and tourism to a near-standstill, the provincial tourism chief has said. 

Assessment of Ardebil completed as touristic city

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has completed a comprehensive assessment of Ardebil as a touristic city, the tourism minister announced on Sunday.

4.1 magnitude quake strikes Caspian Sea

TEHRAN- An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale occurred on Tuesday morning in the Caspian Sea, shaking nearby regions in Iran and other littoral countries.

Webinar discusses bird-watching in Ardebil

TEHRAN- An online seminar on bird-watching, the first of its kind in Ardebil province, was held in the northwestern Iranian province on Wednesday. 

Martyr Soleimani selected as theme for art competition 

TEHRAN – Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, who was martyred in a U.S. terrorist attack in January, has been selected as the theme for an art competition in which crafters of various fields could enter.  

Museum dedicated to Tazieh being set up in Ardebil

TEHRAN – A museum dedicated to Tazieh -- Iranian passion play on religious events especially on the day of Ashura – is being prepared to be launched in the city of Ardebil, northwest Iran.

Millennia-old gold bowl to go on display in Meshkinshahr

TEHRAN – A 3000-year-old gold bowl, which was discovered from illegal diggers almost seven years ago in a village near Meshkinshahr, the northwestern province of Ardebil, will go on display during the next Iranian calendar year 1400 (starts on March 20, 2021).

Handmade knifemaking to be revived in Ardebil

TEHRAN – The forgotten art of making handmade knives, which was once flourished in northwestern Ardebil province, is planned to be revived in the near future.

Some $2.3m allocated to Sheikh Safi Ensemble project

TEHRAN – Some 100 billion rials (about $2.3 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) has been allocated to a project for leveling of the surrounding area of the Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardebil, northwest Iran.

Ardebil ready to jumpstart tourism after coronavirus

TEHRAN – The tourism sector of Ardebil province, northwestern Iran, is prepared to recover after the coronavirus crisis ends, a provincial tourism chief has said.

Tourism complex under construction in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – A tourism complex is being built in the Aznav tourist area in Khalkhal city, the northwestern province of Ardebil.

Rural capacities has diversified tourism in Sarein: MP

TEHRAN – Paying attention to the rural tourism and directing tourists to the surrounding villages by creating the necessary infrastructure in these areas has taken Sarein tourism out of a one-dimensional state, a member of parliament has said.

Tasht Gozari ritual held observing health protocols

TEHRAN – The annual Muharram ritual of Tasht Gozari was held at the UNESCO-registered Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in the northwestern province of Ardebil on Wednesday, observing health protocols and social distancing rules.

One more suspension bridge to be built in Ardebil

TEHRAN- One more suspension bridge will be constructed in Ardebil province, northwest Iran, a provincial tourism official has said.

(Part 2/8); Tasht Gozari in Ardabil

Muharram mourning: A glimpse of indigenous rituals across Iran

One of the most famous rituals in Ardabil is Tasht Gozari during the mourning season of Muharram. People of Ardabil, who are Azeri, love Imam Hussein (AS) and his young brother Hazrat Abulfazl Abbas (AS). Before Muharram, people in Ardabil begin Tasht Gozari ritual, which is dated back to several years ago. People in other cities near Ardabil also hold Tasht Gozari ritual.

Ardebil historic bazaar to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – Zanjirlu covered passage of the Safavid-era (1501-1736) bazaar of Ardebil in northwest Iran will undergo some rehabilitation works, CHTN reported.

‘World’s longest suspension bridge’ being built in Iran

TEHRAN – The world’s longest suspension bridge with a length of 500 meters is being constructed in the northwestern province of Ardebil and will come on stream in June 2021.

COVID-19 inflicts $1.4 billion in losses on Iran’s hotels

TEHRAN – The outbreak of the new coronavirus has inflicted a loss of 60,000 billion rials (about $1.4 billion at the official dollar rate of 42,000 rials) on Iranian hospitality industry during the past four months, the president of Iranian Hoteliers Association said on Friday.

Skiing without snow: forest ski resort to open in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Forest skiing will be added to charms of touristic Ardebil province in northwest Iran this year.

Over 10,000 petroglyphs identified in northwest Iran 

TEHRAN – More than 10,000 new ancient petroglyphs and rack-carved arts have been discovered across the northwestern plains of Meshginshahr county. 

Millennia-old goblet to go on show

TEHRAN – A millennia-old goblet, unearthed last year, will be put on show at a museum in Khalkhal, one of the historical cities of the northwestern Ardebil province.

Archaeological survey aims to spotlight cultural sequence in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – A fresh archaeological season is scheduled to start today in Germi county, northwestern Ardebil province, in a bid to turn the spotlight on the long cultural sequence in the region.

Ardebil to launch porcelain and ceramic museum 

TEHRAN – The first porcelain and ceramic museum in the northwestern Ardebil province will be launched, said Nader Fallahi, the provincial chief of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department. 

Authorities planning big to make Ardebil winter tourism hub

TEHRAN – Tourism authorities of Ardebil province, northwestern Iran, have developed extensive plans to draw more tourists during the winter season by launching three new ski resorts in the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21).

By Morteza Alehashem

A glance at tourist attractions, must-see sites of Ardabil province

Ardabil Province is one of the thirty-one provinces of Iran. It is located in the northwest of the country, bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan, the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Zanjan, and Gilan. This province is home to many cultural and historical sites as well as tourist attractions with breathtaking views in a way it attracts a huge number of tourists from both inside and outside the country every year.