Semnan Province in Iran
About Semnan Province
Semnan province is located on the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains, on the middle border of Alborz and the beautiful desert plain. So, eye-catching and attractive sceneries along with various climates can be found in this region continuously. Semnan Province also spelled Samnan, located in northern Iran, bounded by the Khorasan Razavi and South Khorasan on the east, Isfahan on the south, Qom and Tehran on the west, and Mazandaran and North Khorasan on the north. The northern half of the region is an extension of the Alborz Mountain pierced by narrow defiles. It is home to Semnani languages and is known as Seman locally.
The city of Semnan enjoys the traditional four seasons of spring, summer, winter, and autumn each year. The main population centers of Semnan Province lie along with the old silk route (and modern-day Imam Reza Expressway), linking Rey (Tehran) with Khorasan (Mashhad). The large and crowded cities of Semnan are Damghan, and Shahrud (Bastam) all have a small selection of historic buildings and Semnan has a fine old covered bazaar.
Historically aspects, Semnan was considered as one of the great provinces of the Parthia during the whole period of the rules of the Medes and Achaemenes, Kumisneh or Kumishan (Qoms after Islam). In this period, Semnan was the border city of the Parthian and Median states. So, some historians sometimes consider it as part of the Medes and sometimes part of the Parthians.
Land of Ancient Cultures
It mentioned that Semnan Province is located in the northern parts of Iran on the border of the Lut desert. It is good to know the southern parts of the province are hot and dry and have a favorable climate only for half of the year. A starry sky, absolute silence, unique sceneries, outstanding mirages, etc are some of the attractions of the desert. The people of this province are ethnic Persians and speak the Persian language.
Semnan Bazaar
This place was constructed in the early Qajar period and comprises two sections named the northern and western sectors. The northern segment could regard as a vast place, having numerous rows and alleys. Also, there are five mosques, three public baths, four local inns or caravansaries (in a ruined state), and a large area in which religious ceremonies are performed.
Darvazeh Arg-e Semnan
This is a Qajar structure dating back to the 18th-century CE. The structure is 7 meters high and consists of a governmental division and a northern gate. The battle of the legendary hero Rostam and Div-e Sepid (White devil) is illustrated by the seven-colored tile work.
Masjed-e Tarikhaneh
This historical Mosque and structure in Damghan belong to the Islamic era dating back to the 7th century CE. During the Sassanid era, the building was a Zoroastrian temple but later it was turned into a mosque. The importance of this structure lies in the combination of Islamic and Sassanid Persian architectures.
Baiazid Bastamis Tomb
The tomb of Baiazid Bastami, an Iranian poet and mystic is located in the town of Bastam. It is interesting to know he was one of the founders of Sufism. There is one iron window in this structure. On the marble gravestone, the words of Imam Ali’s worshipping prayers have been carved.
Mehmandust Tower
This tower is located at a 20 km distance from the northeast of the city of Damghan near Imam Abad village. The internal diameter of this tower is 7.92 meters and has a height of 12 meters. This is a brick tower and dates back to King Sanjar of the Seljuk dynasty in the 11th century CE.
Rig-e Jenn Desert
This desert is located in the west and southwest of Dasht-e Kavir. This desert covers an area of 3800 square kilometers. The desert is an enormous area of dunes with a gentle slope on the western part due to the prevailing winds from the west to the east and a steep slope on the eastern side. Thus, passing through the desert by cars from the east to the west is very difficult and impossible.
Cheshmeh Ali Damghan
This place is located some 35 kilometers northwest of Damghan, the almost 200-year-old small garden, Cheshmeh Ali is now a pleasure garden visited by many locals and tourists every week, especially during summer days. The old building in the lake which was constructed by Fat’h Ali shah Qajar, a small Mosque down the lake together with the natural beauty of the garden and the soft breeze over the lake, and the garden’s 400-year-old trees are among Cheshmeh Ali’s tourist attractions.
Semnan Villages
Semnan has huge natural features such as being located in the mountainous or near the fringes of the desert the rural settlements of Semnan province uphold special characteristics. Such instance can be the vicinities of Shahmirzad, Sangsar, Padeh, and Goorsepid. Whereas other settlements named, Forumad, DarjezinLasjerd, Ahovan, and Miandasht come under the category of being ancient and historical.
Handicraft and Souvenir of Semnan
The most important handicrafts in this province are as follow: Kilims or coarsely woven carpets, a variety of calico or ‘block printed’ articles, earthenware, ceramics, and hand-woven articles can be picked up at the handicrafts center and bazaars.
Historical Attraction:
Prehistoric Tappeh Hesar, Pir-Alamdar mausoleum belonging to the early Islamic period, Chehel Dokhtaran circular tower of Seljuk period (1038-1194 Ad) and Mehmandust brick tower belonging to the Seljuk period in Dameghan city, Arg-e Soltani gate belonging to the Qajar period (1779-1924 Ad) and Shah Abbas caravanserai in Semnan, Biar Castle in Shahrud, Garmsar, Deh Namak, and Ivanaki caravanserais, Nuh Hesar, Mohammad Abad, and Chahar Bashlu ancient baths, Ali Abad, Nasar, Deh Namak, and Kushk Cisterns, and Siah Kuh, Shah Abbas, and Eynal Rashid ancient palaces in Garmsar.
Spiritual Attraction:
Emamzadeh Ja’far and Mahmud shrines and Friday prayer mosque in Damghan, Friday Mosque and Soltani Mosque in Semnan, Saljughi, Bastam, and the shrine of Bayazid Bastami, and Garmsar Friday Mosque.
Natural Attractions:
Darband natural landscapes in Semnan, and Khosh Yeylagh Preserved zone in Shahrud and Parvar in Semnan.