By Afshin Majlesi

Excavation sheds new light on mysterious capital of Medes in Ecbatana

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have unearthed new cultural relics and architectural vestiges that sheds a new light on the mysterious capital of Medes, which is widely believed to be in Ecbatana, an ancient city on the site of which stands the modern city of Hamadan in west-central Iran.

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.

By Afshin Majlesi

Explore mausoleum of Esther and Mordechai

The purported burial site of Purim’s Persian queen and a pilgrimage site for Iranian Jews

TEHRAN – The mausoleum of Esther and Mordechai is a Jewish shrine in the city of Hamedan, west-central Iran, where, according to Judeo-Persian tradition is the burial site of the two cousins who played a pivotal role in the Book of Esther (also known as the Megillah).

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.

Malayer one step closer to 'a world city of woodcarving'

TEHRAN - World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region Director Ghada Hijavi and some of her fellow experts are to visit the city of Malayer on Monday to follow up on their assessment to name the city “a world city of woodcarving”, a title granted to Abyaneh in 2018, IRNA reported.

Overseas troupes to perform at Hamedan children’s theater festival

TEHRAN – Theater troupes from six countries including Spain, Italy and France will attend the 26th International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults in Hamedan.

Hamedan hosting national crafts exhibit

TEHRAN – Iran’s ancient city of Hamedan is playing host to a national handicrafts exhibit.

UNESCO-invitees tour attractions in Hamedan

TEHRAN – Participants to a UNESCO meeting, which was held in Hamedan, paid visits to several tourist attractions in the ancient Iranian city.

Hamedan to host UNESCO transnational nomination of Silk Roads meeting

TEHRAN – Iran’s ancient city of Hamedan will host the 6th meeting of the Coordinating Committee on the Serial Transnational World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads from September 23 to 26.

Malayer may become Iran’s next world city of woodcarving

TEHRAN – The World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) is to assess Malayer for possible inscription as a world city of woodcarving, a title granted to Abyaneh in 2018.

A walk through Jameh Mosque of Hamedan

TEHRAN - Photos show interior and exterior views of Jameh Mosque of Hamedan, August 20, 2019.

Silk Road a suitable opportunity to introduce ancient Iran

TEHRAN – The possible inscription of the ancient Silk Road on the UNESCO World Heritage list will open up a suitable opportunity for Iran to present its cultural, literary, historical and scientific achievements to the world, the secretary general of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO has said.

Photos to display old days of Hamedan at Tehran exhibit 

TEHRAN – Axkhaneh Shahr, Iran’s photo museum in Tehran, plans to showcase a collection of photos of the western Iranian city of Hamedan in the old days in an exhibition, which will open on Tuesday.

Visiting Hamedan? Consider a rail route

TEHRAN – The first exclusive tourist train connecting Tehran to Hamedan was inaugurated on Friday, making it easy for sightseers to get around one of the ancient world’s greatest cities.

Six places to visit in Hamedan

TEHRAN – The west central Iranian city of Hamedan, never falls short of offering cultural heritage sites to its visitors. Scenic natural landscapes, traditional restaurants, public gardens and colorful outdoor markets and more importantly, its hospitable people make for an unexpected slice of the city.

Doors of ancient underground “city” opened to archaeologists 

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists has commenced an extensive research on a centuries-old underground “city”, which is located in Salehabad district of Hamedan province, west-central Iran, ISNA reported on Friday.

Minister offers condolences over assassination of cleric

TEHRAN – Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli on Monday expressed his condolences over the assassination of a cleric in the city of Hamedan.

Rainfalls bring back vulture to western Iran

TEHRAN-- A vulture has returned to a protected area in western Iran after 2 decades following recent downpours that have revived over 40 wetlands in the country.

First Tehran-Hamedan passenger train inaugurated

TEHRAN – The first passenger train from Tehran to Hamedan was inaugurated on Wednesday, establishing a new link between the two Iranian cities, ISNA reported.

Pre-historic human remains, coffins, potteries unearthed in Hamedan

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has recently unearthed pre-historic human remains, coffins and potteries during an urgent excavation in Hamedan, west-central Iran.

VP inaugurates industrial, health projects worth $176.5m

TEHRAN- In his one-day journey to the west-central province of Hamedan, Iranian First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri inaugurated several industrial and health projects at the value of around $176.5 million in the province, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

 Ancient hill rescued from destruction

TEHRAN – Iran’s cultural heritage body has recently defined new boundaries for Negar-Khatun hill in order to protect the ancient site from deliberate destruction.