Marco Polo Road The researches have shown that after hundreds of years, still Europeans taste has not changed about travelling to Iran. Marco Polo was the first European who wrote a comprehensive itinerary about his travel to Iran, (commerce between Iran and Europe) after the interval between Old/Ancient and Middle Ages. This itinerary was the start of Europeans acquaintance with Iran in the contemporary age (some historians believe that the only credible and valid parts of this itinerary are those which have been written about traveling to Iran and India, because the existing documents show that he has never gone beyond these two countries and what has been for example written in the script about China is half his imagination and half what he has heard about the country in Iran and Indian). There is no doubt that in his travel to Iran, Marco Polo has chosen a way which almost passes from the West of the country, Kermanshah and Hamadan, and after leaving Rey behind, leads towards Yazd and Kerman and finally departs the country either through the Persian Gulf or Zabol. Interestingly enough, Europeans still favor Tehran-Kashan-Yazd-Kerman path, the way they like Tehhran-Isfahan-Shiraz. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Europeans taste has little changed since Marcos time. You can learn more about Marco Polos West pass ways in the section on the Near East Road and the ways he has taken in the area of Persian Gulf, in the section on the Pearl Road. But you can best learn about major parts of his trip in the section on Marco Polo Road, which might better familiarize the mind of a tourist with the cultural maze of Iran, due to its special character and atmosphere. Like other roads, our starting point is Tehran. You should travel the distance between Tehran and Qom in a one hundred thirty kilometer superhighway, after which you reach Marco Polo road which diverges from Qom. After Qom you should undergo another two-hour trip by car in a straight road in desert, so that you arrive to Ksahan. The small city of Kashan, which is the heir to one of the most valuable cultural and historical legacy collections of Iran, and has been inhabited since about six thousand five hundred years ago, according to the archeological excavations in Sialk hill, has been one of the first birthplaces of human civilization. Although many of the citys customs and traditions as well as some historical relics go back to Old/Ancient Ages, but today, Kashan owes all its reputation to the historical events and cultural legacy of the Middle Ages. Fin garden, Niasar cave, the citys old texture, Sialk hills, old water cisterns, inns located in the roads leading to the city, old mosques of the city, the Broujerdis house and especially the citys big traditional bazaar, are among many attractions of Kashan. From Kashan towards Natanz, you pass from two sideways diverging from the main road at an equal distance, which both lead towards West; the first one takes you to Ghamsar and the second, to Abiane. From Natanz you can take the East road, which 15 kilometers ahead arrives to a crossroad, one way leading to Isfahan and the other to Ardestan. For travelling to Ardestan, we take another road which leads the North from Natanz, and after 20 kilometers reaches to Badroud, which is actually a small port on the border of desert. A 12-kilometer road connects Badroud to the shrine of Ali Abbas (an Imams descendant), which attracts thousands of pilgrims to this desert every year. After travelling about 53 kilometers from Badroud, towards East, we arrive to Ardestan. The name of this city means the holy city, the city of Dastan (Rostams father), or the city of flour (due to the white color of its soil). If you travel another one hundred kilometers from Ardestan towards East, you will arrive in Nain. Nain, the city of carpet and desert has adhered to its local architecture and traditional lifestyles. The citys Jame mosque is one of the best examples of simplicity and brevity in fourth century architecture, aiming for beauty and glory. From Nain towards North, a straight road crosses Kavir plain, which I highly recommend you to take the adventure if you enjoy travelling in deserts. This road which can also be taken through the Silk Road passes through the heart of an arid desert from Nain, arriving in Moalleman and leading the North, gradually the hot desert changes into temperate foothills of Alborz in the province of Semnan. The mid-way oases like Anarak, Allah Abad, Choupanan, Jandagh, Barandaz-e-Namak and Hoz Agha are all reflections of deserts wild beauty. Between Choupanan and Jandagh a road diverges from the main road towards East, which leads to Chah Molk, Farrokhi, Khor, Darin, Robat Gour and finally Tabas. Among Tabas oases, Khor is the most renowned. In Khor you can visit the beautiful garden lanes which will remind you of Khyyam and Attars poetry, Seyed Kamaleddins shrine and the tomb of Yaghma Jandaghi, poet of oases. Your main way is towards East, where finally you arrive to Yazd. But before Yazd, you will come to Ardakan. Ardakan, meaning the holy place, is as holy for hundreds of Zoroastrians as Mecca for Muslims and Vatican for Christians. Every year, in the period of Zoroastrian religious ceremonies (3rd to 10th of Tir, 6th and 18th of Farvardin or 10th of Bahman), pilgrims come to the holy shrine of Pir-e-Sabz (Chak Cakou), which is located 40 kilometers, East of Ardakan. A considerable number of Zoroastrians live in the city of Ardakan itself, especially in Sharif Abad. After 5 kilometers south of Ardakan, you will arrive to Meybod, whose architecture reflects the oldest examples of Iranian urban design and some of its architectural elements such as Kohan Dejh, Sharestan, Bironeha and … are typical of the dominant urban architecture in Iran. 24 kilometers from Meybod, you will arrive to Yazd, the city of air ducts, which has been constantly considered a holy place and highly respected both in Ancient/Old Ages and in the period after Islam. Some say that in the past Yazd was called Yazdgerd, which means the city of God, and after Islam it was labeled as Dar-ol-Ebade. One of the ancient names of Yazd has also been Isatis. Yazds Jame mosque, with its minarets, inscriptions (engravings), and exquisite tile works, is one the most magnificent Iranian mosques of eighth and ninth centuries. Some of the other fascinating places in Yazd include Amirchakhmagh mosque, Shesh Badgiri water cistern, Dolat Abad garden and the Zoroastrian temple. The air duct of Dolat Abad garden, which is 33 meters high, is the highest air duct in the world. The local architecture of Yazd with its famous air ducts is typical of human witty compatibility with nature. An air duct is an air ventilation system in desert traditional architecture, which is independent from any source of energy and helps the air circulation within the house and outer parts of the building. This system is designed so that the weather (inside the house) would be warmer in winter and cooler in summer. These kinds of air ducts are today introduced to the post modern architecture as environmental friendly techniques of ventilation. It also helps reduce the fossil fuel consumption. Yazd Zoroastrian temple is another highly admired historical building which attracts lots of visitors. The fire in this temple has been kept ablaze by Zoroastrian fire guards (Peris Daran) for more than one thousand five hundred years. This fire is one of the two very holy fires (Varharam) of the worlds Zoroastrians. The other holy fire burns in Kermans Zoroastrian temple. According to some inscribed documents, the fire blazing in Yazd Zoroastrian temple at present has been ablaze in Nahid Pars temple before the 921 lunar year. At that time a flame of this fire was taken to Haftadar village (Oghada desert, North West of Yazd province) and years after, this fire was transferred to Tork Abad temple in Ardakan, later on, in the 1295 solar year, it was moved to Ashkoft Yazdan cave (a holy place for Zoroastrians) and finally in 1325, the fire was moved to the city of Yazd to the house of the citys mayor (Dastour), and after a short time it was settled in its present location, Gahanbarkhane. The fire guards keep this fire ablaze and will never let it die. From Yazd, you can go to Kerman either from Bafgh, or from Mehriz road. Bafgh road is longer and more roundabout, and youd better choose Mehriz road. Mehriz is a small town, 35 kilometers from Yazd. The sightseeings of this town include its famous gardens such as: Golkar, Akrami and Sarasiab gardens. Kalmand and Bahadoran reserved areas are among the richest habitats of Iran, which are located in the south of this town. Some of the wildlife species of this region include: deer, Jebir, bustard, Kal, ram and ewe.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 02:15:01 +0000
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