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).

Coronavirus: a pilgrimage to Shah-e Cheragh after two-month closure

TEHRAN – Photos depict people visiting Shah-e Cheragh (“King of Light”), a major mausoleum and pilgrimage site in the tourist city of Shiraz, southern Iran, on May 26, 2020.

Visit holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) online

TEHRAN – COVID-19, the novel coronavirus disease, might stop you from traveling, but there are still ways to see historic and religious sites in nearly every corner of the globe.

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.

By Afshin Majlesi

“Majestic Iran” salutes travel, culture enthusiasts and exhibitgoers

TEHRAN – The 13th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition opens tomorrow morning with all hopes to well introduce lesser–known destinations, services and travel businesses, yet to offer pocket-friendly travel packages to the visitors.

37 million Iranian pilgrims, travelers visit Mashhad in 10 months

TEHRAN – Some 37 million Iranian pilgrims and travelers visited the shrine city of Mashhad, the capital of Khorasan Razavi province, since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2019).

Urmia-Mashhad passenger train route launched

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways launched a passenger train route on Sunday, stretching some 1,650 kilometers from the northwestern city of Urmia to the holy city of Mashhad in the northeast.

Iran closes southwestern border to Iraqi travelers

TEHRAN – Iran has closed its southwestern Chazzabeh border crossing with Iraq to inbound travelers due to insecurity and unrest in the neighboring country.

Azerbaijani airline to launch Mashhad-Baku flights

TEHRAN – An Azerbaijani airline is slated to launch flights from the capital city of Baku to the Iranian city of Mashhad on Monday.

Arbaeen hospitality gains UNESCO heritage status

TEHRAN – The generous hospitality of Iraqi people during the Arbaeen pilgrimage has been added to UNESCO’s prestigious heritage list.

Iran starts issuing electronic visas for Pakistani citizens

TEHRAN - Iran has launched an e-visa system for Pakistani citizens in order to facilitate their travels through abolishing old-fashioned paper visas.

IKIA transports 49,000 Arbaeen pilgrims in 4 days

TEHRAN – Imam Khomeini International Airport has transported some 49,000 passengers from Tehran to Iraqi cities of Najaf and Baghdad to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage in a span of four days.

Imam Khomeini Intl. Airport to operate extra flights for Arbaeen

TEHRAN – Imam Khomeini International Airport is scheduled to operate extra flights to cater for religious pilgrimage of Arbaeen, which falls on October 19 this year.

20,000 traffic police forces on duty during Arbaeen pilgrimage

TEHRAN – During the Arbaeen pilgrimage, some 20,000 traffic police forces will stand guard to ensure the pilgrims’ safety, traffic police chief Seyed Kamal Hadianfar has announced.

Iranian hajj pilgrims returning home

TEHRAN – The first group of Iranian hajj pilgrims flew home on Friday, departing from Medina in Saudi Arabia to Sari, the capital of Mazandaran province, Tasnim reported.

By Dr. Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

The pilgrimage experience

As the Hajj is approaching again, I would like to share my pilgrimage experiences with the readers of the Tehran Times.

Over 3,000 Armenians on pilgrimage at St. Thaddeus Monastery

TEHRAN – Over 3,000 Christian worshippers, who are natives of Iran or other countries, are on pilgrimage at St. Thaddeus Monastery, which is located in Iran’s West Azarbaijan province.

Mashhad hospitals admit 6,000 foreign patients a year

TEHRAN – Mashhad hospitals admit an average of 6,000 foreign patients per annum, a deputy for the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences has said.

Foreign rail passengers to Mashhad on the rise

TEHRAN - The number of foreign visitors traveling to the northeastern city of Mashhad by train saw an increase of 5% during the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21) compared to the same period last year.

By Afshin Majlesi

Worldwide Armenians to reunite at St. Thaddeus

TEHRAN – Hundreds of Christian worshippers are getting prepared to head for St. Thaddeus to observe a religious ceremony passed down from generation to generation.

Foreign arrivals in Mashhad on the rise

TEHRAN – The number of foreign arrivals in Mashhad has been rising over the past couple of years, said Gholamabbas Arbab-Khales, the head of Foreign Ministry’s Mission in East and North Iran.

Zoroastrians to observe Pir-e Sabz pilgrimage in Yazd

TEHRAN – Once again it’s time to celebrate Pir-e Sabz or Chak-Chak, a congregational pilgrimage observed by clusters of Zoroastrian pilgrims from all over Iran.

A day of pilgrimage to Shah-e Cheragh

TEHRAN – Shah-e Cheragh (“King of Light”) is a major mausoleum and pilgrimage site in the touristic city of Shiraz, southern Iran.

By Afshin Majlesi

Many Indonesians want to visit Iran: envoy

TEHRAN - Jakarta ambassador to Tehran said on Tuesday that many Indonesians want to visit Iran as he encouraged Iranians to visit the world’s largest island country.

Mashhad hosts some 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims per annum: envoy

TEHRAN – Some 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims annually travel to Mashhad to visit the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), Islamabad’s Ambassador to Tehran said on Tuesday.

Pilgrims mourn martyrdom of Prophet’s daughter

TEHRAN – A host of Shia pilgrims commemorated the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in a reunion held in Qom on Sunday.

Over 75,000 Pakistani pilgrims visit Iran in 2 months

TEHRAN – Over 75,000 Pakistani pilgrims visited religious places across Iran from September to November 2018, which is deemed as a record number, Pakistan Today reported on Wednesday.

Pakistani figure suggests formation of coordination committee to facilitate Arbaeen pilgrimage

TEHRAN – A Pakistani political leader has suggested formation a coordination committee between Iran, Pakistan and Iraq to facilitate visit of Pakistani pilgrims to holy places in Iraq during Arbaeen.

 Mo’aven al-Molk, a ‘must-see’ for travelers to Kermanshah

TEHRAN – Many visitors to the Takieh Mo’aven al-Molk, a sacred Shia shrine in Kermanshah, have highly recommended it as a ‘must-see’ destination for other travelers to western Iran.

By Afshin Majlesi

Christian worshippers to make annual pilgrimage to St. Thaddeus

TEHRAN – Hundreds of Christian worshippers from Iran, Armenia and other countries are heading for St. Thaddeus to observe an annual ritual and pilgrimage in the northwestern church from July 27 to 29.