Hamedan reopens tourist sites, museums as virus curbs ease

TEHRAN – Museums and other cultural heritage sites in the west-central province of Hamedan have been allowed to reopen doors to the public as restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic have been loosened, the provincial tourism chief has said.

Hamedan directorate approves renovation for old mansion

TEHRAN - Samadi mansion, a Qajar-era (1789–1925) monument in the west-central province of Hamedan, is planned to undergo restoration in the near future, the deputy provincial tourism chief has announced. 

Long-neglected cave to be equipped for tourism in northeast Iran

TEHRAN – Long neglected Mazdavand Cave in Khorasan Razavi province, which can grow even more prosperous than the renowned Ali Sadr Cave, will be equipped for tourism to serve sustainable development in terms of local economy and employment, a provincial official has said.

$3.3m paid to support tourism businesses in Hamedan

TEHRAN – The Iranian government has paid some 140 billion rials (some $3.3 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) in loans to the tourism businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Hamedan province.

Mud-brick domed bathhouse to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – Hammam-e Zerhan, which is a mud-brick domed bathhouse in Tuyserkan county of Hamedan province, will undergo restoration to regain its former splendor, the deputy provincial tourism chief has said.

Parthian underground city getting prepared for public visits  

TEHRAN - Samen underground city is getting prepared to reopen to the public in west-central Iran. The ancient troglodytic settlement dates back to the Parthian era (247 BC – 224 CE) based on archaeological evidence.

Iran seeks ICESCO heritage status for Alavian Dome

TEHRAN – Iran has nominated its 12th-century Gonbad-e Alavian (“Alavian Dome”) for inclusion on the cultural heritage register of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

60 Hamedan historical monuments restored in year 

TEHRAN - Over 60 historical buildings across the west-central Hamedan province underwent restoration during the past Iranian calendar year 1399 (March 20, 2020 – March 21, 2021), the provincial tourism chief has said. 

Officials urge completion of gigantic theme park in western Iran

TEHRAN – A number of provincial officials have urged to pave the way to complete a gigantic theme park, which is being developed near the city of Malayer in western Iran.

Iranian police seize ancient relics from smuggler

TEHRAN – A total of thirteen historical objects have recently been confiscated from a smuggler in Hamedan, according to a senior police official in charge of protecting cultural heritage.

By Afshin Majlesi

Six destinations to visit in Hamedan when travel opens up

TEHRAN – It is more than a year since many countries around the world have imposed sweeping travel bans and advisories to stem the spread of novel coronavirus within their borders and beyond.

Walnut Kuku added to Iran national heritage list

TEHRAN - Walnut Kuku, a kind of herbal frittata enriched by walnuts mostly served in Iran’s Tuyserkan county, has won a national cultural heritage status.

Meet elderly tinsmith who’s a living human treasure

TEHRAN –Seyyed Mohammad Baqer Zarrabian, whose name has been inscribed on the national list of living human treasure, is an old hand Iranian tinsmith.

Ecbatana, once summer capital of Achaemenid Empire, one step closer to UNESCO status

TEHRAN - Iran is further moving towards inscribing Ecbatana, which was once the summer capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550 – 330BC), on the UNESCO World Heritage list as the country has recently completed an all-inclusive dossier to be presented to the UN cultural body.

Historical hills, sites, mansions in Hamedan made national heritage

TEHRAN – A total of 13 historical sites and aging structures across Iran’s Hamedan province have recently been inscribed on the national heritage list in a bid to receive more protection than ever before.

Archaeologists to make final attempt to unearth Laodicea Temple

TEHRAN – Iranian archaeologists will be making a final attempt to unearth the ruins of the enigmatic Laodicea Temple, believed to be buried under the modern town of Nahavand in Hamedan province, west-central Iran.

Autumn snow adds beauty to nature

People are walking at a park in the north-central city of Hamedan as snowfall has adorned the city environment. According to meteorological maps, precipitation in Iran is expected to meet normal or lower than normal averages over autumn. The country will be facing a cold winter with heavy snowfalls this year.

Some $1.7m paid to support tourism businesses in Hamedan

TEHRAN –The Iranian government has paid 70 billion rials (about $1.7 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) in loans to the tourism businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the west-central province of Hamedan. 

Chest-beating ritual in Hamedan added to National Heritage list

TEHRAN – Sineh-Zani (chest-beating) ritual, which is held during the mourning month of Muharram in the city of Mohajeran, Hamedan province, has recently been inscribed on the National Heritage list.

Historical mansion in Hamedan being restored

TEHRAN – The historical mansion of Janani in the northwestern province of Hamedan has undergone some rehabilitation works.

Handmade ceramics, pottery on show in Tehran

TEHRAN – A wide-ranging collection of handmade ceramics and pottery are being displayed during a solo exhibition at the headquarters of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts in Tehran.

Another part of temple, where Avicenna jailed, unearthed in central Iran

TEHRAN – Another part of an ancient fire temple, which is believed to be the place where Avicenna, the illustrious Persian polymath was exiled to and jailed, has recently been unearthed in a rural district, central Iran.

Kermanshah, Hamedan, Kordestan to co-host last Noruz festivity of century

TEHRAN – Three provinces of Kermanshah, Hamedan, and Kordestan are scheduled to hold an event jointly to celebrate the last Noruz (Iranian new year holidays) of the 14th century.

Safavid-era madrasa in Tuyserkan being restored

TEHRAN – Parts of the Safavid-era (1501–1736) Sheikh Alikhan Madrasa in the city of Tuyserkan, west-central province of Hamedan, is being restored, a provincial tourism chief has said.

Iranian archaeologists find new clues on enigmatic Laodicea Temple

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has found further evidence to unearth the enigmatic Laodicea Temple in the city of Nahavand, west-central Hamedan province.

Landscaping project to start around Prophet Habakkuk’s tomb tower

TEHRAN – A landscaping project has been scheduled to trim surroundings of the Prophet Habakkuk’s tomb tower, which stands tall near Tuyserkan, a historical city in Hamedan province, west-central Iran.

Archaeologist says newest Ecbatana excavations yielded ‘satisfying’ results

TEHRAN – Senior Iranian archaeologist Mehrdad Malekzadeh has said results of the 22nd archaeological season recently conducted on the ancient city of Ecbatana in west-central Iran were “satisfying”.

Oshtormel to be named national city of Golriz woodcarving

TEHRAN – Oshtormel, a village in Tuyserkan county, west-central province of Hamedan, is planned to be named as the national city of Golriz (literally meaning small flowers) woodcarving, provincial tourism chief has said.

Ancient rock-carved motifs constitute open-air museum in west-central Iran

TEHRAN – A new survey by Iranian cultural heritage experts and officials has shed new light on hundreds of ancient rock-carved motifs, which are scattered near Maryanaj, constituting an open-air museum across west-central Iranian town.