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.

Over 6,500 crafters trained in Hamedan in a year

TEHRAN – A total of 6,560 crafters were trained in the west-central province of Hamedan by taking courses on handicrafts during the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 19), provincial tourism chief has said.

New archaeological season begins at Hegmataneh 

TEHRAN – A new round of archaeological excavation has recently commenced at the ancient Hegmataneh Hill in the west central Iranian province of Hamedan, provincial tourism chief has said.

Hamedan exports $35m of handicrafts in year

TEHRAN – Handicrafts exports from west-central province of Hamedan reached some $35 million during the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 19), provincial tourism chief has said. 

Malayer, a global hub for woodcarving and carved-wood furniture

TEHRAN – Late January this year, Iran’s Malayer was named a global hub for woodcarving and carved-wood furniture by the World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR).

Sets of enameled pottery on display at Tehran exhibit

TEHRAN – Sets of enameled pottery, handcrafted by Iranian artisans in Hamedan province, have been put on show at the headquarters of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism in Tehran.

Religious tourism: Prophet Habakkuk and his tomb tower in Iran

TEHRAN – As you know religious tourism, which marks one of the oldest forms of traveling, is exclusively or strongly-motivated by spiritual reasons. It can also be referred to as faith tourism or spiritual tourism.

Three Iranian cities, one village registered by World Crafts Council

TEHRAN – Three Iranian cities and one village have recently been named as world craft hubs by the World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR), tourism minister announced this morning.

Iranian winter festival highlights “Chinese New Year”

TEHRAN – A winter tourism festival opened in the Iranian city of Hamedan on Friday, concurrent with the start of the Chinese New Year, which has been selected as one of the main themes for the event.

Frozen waterfall attracts ice climbers

An ice climber challenges a frozen waterfall, which is situated adjacent to the prehistoric rock carvings of Ganjnameh, a can’t-miss destination in Hamedan, west-central Iran, January 17, 2020.