If you are interested in a more long-established old city, you will fancy Kashan. This area highlights lavish 19th-century building works, built during the famous Qajar era. The roofed Kashan bazaar is atmospheric, and full of locally produced pottery and rugs. The best time to go to see Kashan in Iran is in April when rose bushes are in full blossom.
Kashan City is near Isfahan in Iran, and it is established the large oases along the Qom-Kerman road, situated along the edge of Iran’s central deserts of Iran. Kashan City is gifted with a fascination that is attained through the contrast of huge, dried out deserts and the greenery of well-tended oasis. Archaeological discoveries showed that Kashan, Iran was among the primary centers of civilization during the prehistoric ages and it dates back to the Elamite era of Iran. Aside from its colorful history, Kashan in Iran is well known for its carpets and its rose water, which are the major goods of the city.
International tourists go to Kashan, Iran to discover its history and culture. Paying a visit to Kashan indulges you to a kind of experience, uniquely with the fascinating charms in Kashan that you cannot afford not to go to see. Just attain a good Kashan lodging that will make it more convenient for you to plan a trip.
This is an old-fashioned house in Kashan that is built in the mid-19th century during the Qajar era. It is one of several large remarkable old houses in the central area of Kashan. Like the other houses around it, it was re-built after Kashan was ruined by a series of immense earthquakes in the 18th century. Currently, the house is renewed into a public museum.
This large old-fashioned historical house was built during the late 18th century. The Abbasian House is an attractive case of Kashani residential architecture. It is believed that it was the property of a famous cleric. It has six courtyards that would suit the requirements of different families. One of the chambers has a ceiling assembled with mirror pieces to give the effect of a starry sky under the nocturnal sparkle of candlelight. The house is now a public museum.
With its imaginary mud brick architecture, the Kashan Bazaar is one of the jewels of the city. Give a small amount money to one of the peddlers hanging around the bazaar who will direct you to the roof of the bazaar, you can get an idea of the technical wonder of construction such large constructions from mud bricks and have a pleasing sight over the old Kashan city.
Fin Garden or Bagh-e-Fin is a great Persian garden and as one of the nine Persian gardens registered on UNESCO world heritage list, it is located in Kashan, Isfahan. As a historical garden and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Isfahan province just like tourist attractions such as Naqsh-e-Jahan square or Chehelsotun. It attracts many tourists and travelers from around the world. The history of the garden dates back to the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century and restored in the 19th century. This garden is believed to have been constructed during the early part of the Safavid dynasty, while it continued to be developed over time. It was highly recognized and expanded during the reign of Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar in the 19th century. The origin of the garden may be anterior to the Safavid period; however, no valid document is available. The settlements of the garden in its present form were built under the reign of Abbas I of Persia (1571-1629). Travel to Iran and visit Fin Garden in Kashan, a great sample of Persian gardens.
The plan of the Fin Garden is a kind of elaborated chahar bagh with a pavilion at the intersection and other buildings are located within the garden. As a traditional chahar bagh with an area of thousands of square meters, it is surrounded by trees, shrubs, water flows, and a high curtain wall with circular towers separating this oasis from the surrounding desert. Fin Garden is also famous for a historic tragedy. Amir Kabir, the chief minister to Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and one of the most innovative in the whole Qajar period was murdered in Fin Garden in 1852. Fin Garden was first registered as a national property and later it was registered as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. Some believe that Ghiyāth al-Dīn Jamshīd Kāshānī who was a Persian astronomer and mathematician has been the designer of the garden, while some say it was the great art of Sheikh Bahaei who was a Shia Islamic scholar, philosopher, architect, mathematician, astronomer, and poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Fin Garden as a splendid sample of Persian gardens exhibits a good combination of nature, culture, history, and architecture. All architectural elements are elaborately applied to make a masterpiece that absorbs eyes for long times. Persian gardens are mainly located in the heart of deserts and seeing such amazing green places in hot and arid areas would keep travelers in awe.
The construction of the pavilion in the middle of the garden along with two dynamic elements of trees and water flow altogether bring about the identity for this cultural and historical attraction. Water plays a vital role in the design of Fin Garden.
Though the garden appears lush, it is surrounded by a desert landscape where water is scarce. However, inside the garden, the water runs through pools and canals with abundant beauty.The water is supplied from a spring that heads toward a pool behind the garden, and then it enters the garden. The height difference between the pool behind the garden and the canals running through it make fountains throw the water upright by the gravity. The water supply system is very sophisticated. There are clay pipes one meter beneath all the pools and they are connected to the main pools from one side and blocked at the other side. The water runs through the clay pipes; however, it throws out of the fountains because the ends of the pipes are blocked. Since the ground is sloping and in order to divide the pressure, the pipes diameters have been built differently from each other. The pipe head is thicker than its end; therefore, water throws out of pipes with an equal amount. The water within the main pool called Howz Joosh throws out of twelve springs within it, and then it runs through canals ornamented with turquoise tiles. The eye-catching color of the tiles is in contrast with the color of desert surrounding the garden.
Howz Joosh is a great pool in Fin Garden. It was covered by tiles inspired by the design of Kashan carpets. The tiles were looted in the early Pahlavi period and today some of the tiles are exhibited in the Louvre Museum. Once the Britains attempted to restore the pool, but they failed to do so. Professor Pirnia- Iranian architecture professor- also wanted to restore the pool, but after demolishing one corner of the pool, he noticed clay pipes beneath each of the holes. The calculations for the pipes and their sizes were so complicated that he stopped manipulating and declared that he could not restore it. Water flow not only cools the environment in hot seasons but also provides tranquility for humans through its soft sound.
As one of the most beautiful Persian gardens, Fin Garden of Kashan is also surrounded by trees and shrubs. Tall trees are planted along its pathways. The tall trees and the abundance of water are in contrast to the hot desert surrounding the garden. There are hundreds of cypresses plus several plane trees in Fin Garden. Regarding the old age of trees, it seems that the evergreen cypresses are the main trees of Fin Garden while planting a few plane trees was considered to enhance the visual quality. Moreover, in Persian language cypress is the symbol of human’s beauty. The trees are approximately 100 to 470 years old. It embraces other flowers such as lilies, eglantine, jasmine, violets, and tulips. In constructing the garden, symmetry has been a very important factor, while gradually the symmetry was disrupted and some sidewalks and buildings were added to Fin Garden complex.
Similar to Narenjestan Garden and Eram Garden in Shiraz, Dowlatabad Garden in Yazd, and Shazdeh Garden in Kerman, Fin Garden is a masterpiece combining natural and man-made elements. The architectural structures represent both Safavid and Qajar styles. The Safavid pavilion (Kushk) is located at the center of the garden, while the Qajar Kushk decorated with beautiful paintings on the ceiling and the walls is located at the end of the garden and out of the basic symmetry of the garden. The small bathroom and Emarat-e-Sardar (an entrance building) belong to the Safavid period, while the royal bathroom, national museum, Khalvat-e- Karimkhani (Karim Khani Nook) and the room called Shah Neshin are added to the complex during the Qajar period. Kashan National Museum is worth a quick visit as well. It showcases some ceramics and calligraphy. However, the most exquisite highlight is the shah’s delightful shotor gelou that is a two-story pool house in the middle of the complex.
Beside the small bathroom constructed in the Safavid period, there is also a large bathroom (Hammam) which was built during the Qajar period. It was in the small bathroom that Amir Kabir was murdered in 1852. Amir Kabir served as the prime minister of Nasar al-din Shah, a ruler of the Qajar Dynasty from 1848 to 1851. He made significant changes especially in the fields of education and administration. These actions made the prime minister popular, but he provoked the anger of the royal family. Finally, the Shah was persuaded to dismiss Amir Kabir. He was imprisoned in the Fin Garden and later he was murdered in 1852. After the murder, with such a tragic association, the garden went into a decline until it was named a national monument and restored in 1935.
To have a perfect day in Fin Garden, do not forget to visit Fin Garden tea-house near the source of the spring. The water is full of fish and it is shaded with an abundance of trees. Travel to Iran and enjoy visiting one of the most beautiful examples of Persian architecture. Stroll around and listen to the peaceful sound of running water and the whistling sound of leaves.
Every year during the second half of May, the festival of rose and rose water is held in Kashan in Iran. Many people from different parts of the country and abroad go to see Kashan, the hub of Mohammadi Rose in Iran. Kashan rose water is prepared from a very sweet smelling kind of rose and is utilized in numerous old-fashioned dishes and sweets. Mohammadi Rose (Rosa damascene or Damask rose) is among the most significant roses in the world and among the most famous plants. Because of its extraordinary fragrance and diversity, this flower is planted in many parts of the world. The flower has usage in food, medicine and perfume industries.
Kashan is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities of Iran that has a significant place in Iran tourism that always arise interest of national and international tourists. Kashan souvenirs can be divided into two categories of edible souvenirs and handicrafts.
Kashan is famous for its rosewater and other herbal essences. Every year in May, the rosewater festival in Kashan is very vital in Iran tourism that appeals many tourists from different cities and countries to see making rosewater from Mohammadi flowers in an old-fashioned way. Further, it is one of the most fascinating festivals in Iranian culture. The pure rosewater is clear and colorless and has a bitter taste. Along with rose water between kashan souvenirs, other herbal essences in this city are prepared in customary copper saucepans that have many health and medical properties.
Baklava is one of the confections that is prepared in many Iranian cities; however, Kashan baklava has another flavor. The unique feature of these kashan souvenirs is the nuts that they employ in its ingredients. Kashan Baklava consists of five nuts; walnut, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and Indian almonds and its nutritional value is very high.
Haji Badami sweet is one of the most delightful kashan souvenirs that is well known for its high amount of almond, and has high nutritional value due to nutmeg and flour utilized in it. It is a unique cookie for Yazd, Shiraz, and Kashan.
Customary Kashan cookies
Customary Kashan cookies are kashan souvenirs from the three generations of this historic city that prepared for Nowruz and you can find them in all houses in Kashan. Dissimilar to other cookies, this cookie is prepared from whole-wheat flour, and this causes it so appealing and crispy. Customary Kashan cookies are prepared from unique pastries
Customary Kashan cookies and cotton candies are a fundamental part of welcome of Kashani in their celebrations. Even in some cases, they eat them together. So do not think that cotton candy is the unique souvenir of Yazd, and it is one of kashan souvenirs!
Kashan carpets are very famous. In many cities of Iran, weaving carpets is customary; however, each city has its own unique design. Kashan carpet patterns are very beautiful and are utilized to make machine woven carpets. You can buy the best-made handcrafted or machine woven carpets as one of the best Kashan souvenirs to present to your friends or family. We should declare that all stages of the texture of handmade carpets are accomplished according to the taste and art of Kashan artists, and they do not use any chemical stuffs in the preparation of raw materials.
She’r is the name of a silk fabric that is woven with the help of a device. These fabrics are now sold in a raw form and quilted as pants, shawl, etc. They are other kashan souvenirs.
Another item of kashan souvenirs is pottery that belongs to seven thousand years ago. Proof shows that the oldest pottery shop was related to Silk civilization in Kashan. Nowadays, there are many artists working in pottery and glazing workshops and Kashan pottery with engravings or stamped designs in various shapes like pots, jars and other containers always arise the interest of tourists.
Making giveh is one of the art of Kashan villages’ people. Giveh is a kind of shoe that is famous in this city and is one of kashan souvenirs. This type of shoe that many old people used to put on them in the summer and winter are becoming well liked by boys and girls that put them on nowadays in different colors.
