New eco-lodge units to come on stream in northcentral Iran 

TEHRAN  - New eco-lodge units will be added to the traditional hospitality sector of Damghan, an ancient town situated in Semnan province, north-central Iran.

Book on ancient Tarikhaneh Mosque published

TEHRAN – A book on ancient Tarikhaneh Mosque, which is one of the oldest existing mosques in Iran, has recently been published in Persian.

Army holds large-scale drone exercise 

TEHRAN – The Iranian Army on Tuesday launched a large-scale maneuver involving hundreds of combat drones used by the Army’s ground, navy and air defense forces.

Semnan’s nomads produce over 7,000 square meters of hand-woven rugs, textiles in 9 months

TEHRAN –Over 7,000 square meters of hand-woven rugs and textiles have been produced during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-December 20, 2020) by the nomads residing in the north-central province of Semnan. 

Historical manuscripts restored in central Iran

TEHRAN  - Over 20 historical manuscripts including paper contracts, miniature-ornamented folios, and Islamic marriage contracts have recently been rehabilitated in laboratories across the central province of Semnan. 

Iran’s Kalateh Khij seeks sisterhood agreement with Netherlands’ Leiden

TEHRAN - The Iranian city of Kalateh Khij, which is a ancient hub of traditional textiles, seeks to reach a sisterhood agreement with Leiden in the Netherlands.

Working group proposed to ease UNESCO registration for Bastam complex

TEHRAN – Semnan province is to form a working group to facilitate possible UNESCO registration of the historical complex of Bastam and Kharghan.

Government pays $270,000 in loans to support tourism businesses in Semnan

TEHRAN – The Iranian government has paid 11.3 billion rials (about $270,000 at the official rate of 42,000 rials) in loans to the tourism businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the north-central Semnan province.

Semnan to set up bureau to help safeguard historic texture 

TEHRAN – The Iranian city of Semnan is to set up a special cultural heritage bureau to bolster the conservation of its historic texture. 

Handicraft courses to provide jobs for inmates

TEHRAN –Training courses in different fields of handicraft are scheduled to be held in the north-central province of Semnan with the aim of providing job opportunities for prisoners. 

Old plane trees in Semnan added to National Heritage list

TEHRAN – Some old plane trees across the north-central province of Semnan have recently been inscribed on the National Heritage list.

Semnan province is noteworthy for history and archeology: Russian expert

TEHRAN- Pavel Borisovich Lurje, a faculty member of the Oriental Department of Russia’s State Hermitage Museum, has paid a visit to the north-central province of Semnan, calling it one of the most important provinces of Iran in terms of history and archeology.

Experts trying to recover relics from Iron Age tombs before being submerged in dam waters

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists and cultural heritage experts have so far discovered 25 tombs at an Iron Age cemetery in Mersin, north-central Semnan province, trying to retrieve relics before the ancient cemetery sinks into the waters of a dam nearby.

Tehran-Semnan rally to promote ecotourism, camping

TEHRAN – The newly-established Camping and Caravanning Club of Iran is scheduled to hold a car rally with an itinerary studded with a variety of tourist spots across Tehran and Semnan provinces.

Historical structure of Semnan being restored

TEHRAN – The historical structure of the north-central city of Semnan, which includes monuments from the Ilkhanid period (1256–1353) to the Qajar era (1789–1925) is being restored, a provincial tourism chief has said.

Archaeologists to save relics before Iron Age cemetery submerged in dam waters

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists, cultural heritage experts, and diggers plan to recover ancient human remains and relics from an Iron Age cemetery in Mersin, Semnan province, before the cemetery is disappeared under the waters of a nearby dam.

Wooden pulpit of Ilkhanid mosque being restored

TEHRAN - A restoration project has been commenced on a minbar (pulpit) of a mosque in Semnan province, which dates back to the Ilkhanid era (1256–1353).

By  Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

Muharram mourning rituals: Nakhlgardani in Shahroud

Nakhlgardani or palm-carrying ritual is the carrying of a huge wooden coffin and is a symbol of Muharram mourning in Iran. In the first decade of this month, the coffin, while covered with black and green cloth, is carried by numerous mourners due to its heavyweight. This structure is kept in Husseiniyehs (religious places) and mosques for the rest of the year.

Historical structure of Mayamey restored

TEHRAN – The historical structure of the city of Mayamey in north-central Semnan province has been restored, a local tourism official has announced.

By Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

Candle and Lamp Ceremony in Shahroud Tekiyehs during Muharram

Tekiyehs (prayer halls) of Bazaar, Golshan, Qaleh, Shariat, and especially Tekiyeh of Bid Abad, which is one of the old Tekiyehs of Shahroud, hold this traditional ceremony with special ceremonies. In this ritual, which begins minutes after sunset, the servants of these Tekiyehs, known as "watchmen", stand in a row in front of the Saqqakhaneh (A small indent in the wall overlooking some passages where water was poured for people to drink and had a kind of religious sanctity), which is called the lampstand. It is also common to play the trumpet to inform local servants during candle and lamp ceremonies. The custodian of the mosque and the elders also stand in front of the lighthouse, and the servants, who are on duty, line up in front of them.

Safavid-era caravanserai in Semnan being restored

TEHRAN – A team of cultural heritage experts and restorers has commenced work on a Safavid-era (1501-1736) caravanserai, which is located in Lasjerd, north-central Semnan province.

Eco-lodges trigger reverse migration in Semnan

TEHRAN- The growth in the number of eco-lodge units has triggered reverse migration in the north-central Semnan province, ISNA reported.

Shah-Abbasi caravanserai in Semnan undergoes restoration

TEHRAN – A new round of restoration projects has recently been commenced on the Safavid era (1501 to 1736) Shah-Abbasi caravanserai in the city of Mayamey, north-central Semnan province.

Ruins of ancient ramparts, fortifications vandalized in north-central Iran

TEHRAN – Local vandals have severely damaged parts of the ruined ramparts and fortifications that centuries ago protected the ancient town of Damghan, now situated in north-central Iran.

Some $170,000 spent to restore Semnan historic bazaar

TEHRAN – A budget of seven billion rials (some $170,000) has spent on the restoration of the historic bazaar of Semnan in north-central Iran over the past six years, a provincial tourism chief has said.

Semnan province to increase eco-lodge units

TEHRAN – The Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department General of Semnan plans to increase the number of eco-lodge units across the province in the near future, CHTN reported.

Historical structure of Mayamey under restoration, landscaping 

TEHRAN – A new round of restoration and landscaping has begun on the historical structure of the city of Mayamey, north-central Semnan province, CHTN reported.

Qajar-era mansion in Semnan to turn into museum 

TEHRAN – Qajar-era Danai mansion in north-central Semnan province will be turned into a museum, a Semnan municipality official has said. 

Foreign arrivals in Semnan province up 22% since March

TEHRAN – International tourist arrivals in Iran’s north-central Semnan province rose 22 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), provincial tourism chief has said.