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SHAHRUD CITY
Some 410 kilometers to the
east of Tehran,
half-way between the capital and Mashhad, and at the junction with
the Gorgan road, this halting-place (with more than 202,000
inhabitants) has, in modern times, replaced the historic town of
Bastam situated in the hills a few kilometers to the north.
From the north, it is
surrounded by the Alborz Mountain Chain, and from the south by the Salty
Desert. The river of Tash, after crossing this town, reaches the Salty
Desert. The weather on the mountainous areas is cold and it is to somewhat
temperate in other parts of the city.
The town of Shahrood has a really short history. It was just a village
before Fath-Ali Shah Qajar with two old castles and a small farm named
"Shabdary". But all surrounding areas, such as Biarjomand, Miami and
Bastam have longer history.
The old town of Bastam is located 6 kilometers north to the town of
Shahrood. Its pre-Islamic history is not clear, but to some historians, it
was built during Shapour II period (310-379 AC). During the Abbasid
period, it was the second, following Damghan, greener and larger area in
the Qomis state. It was visited by Nasser Khosrow Qubadiani, the great
Iranian poet in 438 AH, and mentioned by him as the center of the Qomis
state. But Bastam declined by the Mongols’ attack, and Shahrood developed
instead. The town of Shahrood is located on the main road between Tehran
and the east of Iran toward the state of Khurasan and its regional capital
Mashhad.
The most interesting historical places and buildings of the district of
Shahrood are as followings:
The Saljuki Mosque which is located in Bastam, and only a part of its wall
as well as one minaret remained to this day. Its construction belongs to
the year 514 AH.
The Monastery of Bayazeed Bastami which includes an interesting building
with a dome is made of brick in the 8th century, then reconstructed in the
13th century AH.
hThe Village of Kharaqan which is located 12 kilometers far from Bastam.
It was a famous village during the 7th and the 8th centuries AH. The tomb
of Abul-Hassan Ali Kharaqani, who is one of the most famous Arefs of the
Sufi group of the 5th century AH, is located in this village. The brick
building with its dome belongs to the 5th century AH.
The Byar Castle which is located on the south-eastern area of Bastam, and
is near to the desert edge of Byarjomand. This castle has an old mosque
and an old wall with three gates.
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Masjid-e
Farumad
Located in a
village by the same name 165 km to the north east of Shahrud,
the original construction of this magnificent historic monument
belongs to the 13th century AD.
Today nothing but the ruins and demolished columns and prayer
hall of that impressive structure may catch the visitor's eyes.
The reason for the building of such a mosque in this village was
that Farumad and the surrounding villages had developed into a
major center of political
activities of
Sarbedaran Movement during the later Ilkhanid period.
Shahrud Museum
Dating from the later
Qajar and early Pahlavi periods, originally belonging to the
Shahrud Municipality and already located in the center of the
town, this two- storied structure with brick facing was
transformed into the present museum in 1988 after a series of
major repair and renovation works. It is a remarkable structure
in terms of architectural style and exterior tile works. It
houses both archaeological and ethnological sections.
Visiting Hours.
everyday 08.00 am-13.00 PM, except Fridays. Tel:(02231) 21784. |
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