Iran landmarks you've never heard of

Hidden in the humid green forests of Iran’s northern Gilan province is Rudkhan Castle, a medieval military fortress whose origins predate the rise of Islam in Iran.

For an up-close appear at the Iran of hundreds of years ago, guests to Isfahan can remain in Bekhradi Historical Home, a 400-year-old inn constructed in the Safavid era that has been beautifully restored.

A UNESCO World Heritage web site in the northwestern province of Zanjan, the mausoleum of Oljaytu at Soltaniyeh is topped by one particular of the world’s largest domes.

About 30 miles outside the northwestern city of Tabriz lies the troglodyte village of Kandovan, where residents reside in cone-shaped caves cut out of volcanic rock. Nestled within the 800-year-old village, the Laleh Kandovan Rocky Hotel provides guests the expertise of rock dwelling.

Toghrol Tower is a Seljuk-era monument situated in the city of Rey, on the southern outskirts of Iran’s capital city, Tehran.

• Discover Rudkhan Castle in Iran’s northern Gilan province
• Keep in a tough-carved rock hotel in the troglodyte village of Kandovan
• See the spectacular Soltaniyeh Dome in the northwestern province of Zanjan

Planet-renowned chef, ideal-promoting author and Emmy-winning tv personality Anthony Bourdain explores Iran at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, November two. Follow the show on Twitter and Facebook.

(CNN) — It may not be on everyone’s travel radar, but Iran has a well-worn tourist circuit, encompassing attractions in the ancient cities of Shiraz and Isfahan.

For these wanting to get off the beaten path, the country has a wealth of lesser-identified destinations that rival the gorgeous beauty and historical significance of their much more renowned counterparts.

Right here are five of the ideal:

Rudkhan Castle

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Hidden in the humid green forests of Iran’s northern Gilan province is Rudkhan Castle, a medieval military fortress whose origins predate the rise of Islam in Iran.

Handful of foreign tourists have visited the website, which is a well-known attraction among Iranians.

Function started on the castle in the course of the Persian Sassanid era, in between A.D. 224 and 651. Followers of the Ismaili sect (the infamous “Assassins” or “Hashashin”) are believed to have renovated and completed the fortress in the course of the late 11th to 12th centuries.

The hike up to the castle, which is situated along two peaks of a verdant mountain, takes a lot more than an hour, prompting several locals to get in touch with Rudkhan the “Castle of a Thousand Methods.”

Right after you have created the trek back down, it really is worth stopping off for meals on the drive back on the primary highway toward Rasht, the capital of Gilan province. Try a northern Iranian lunch at the exquisite Pich restaurant (Pich Restaurant, Rasht to Anzali Highway, Khomam Beltway +98 132 422 7554 Pichrestaurant@yahoo.com.) The “Torsh” kabob — tenderloin marinated in pomegranate paste, walnuts and garlic — is a particularly appetizing regional specialty.

Bekhradi Historical Home

This 400-year-old inn constructed in Persia’s Safavid era attributes 4 tastefully decorated multiroomed guest suites and is the oldest residence to be restored in Iran.

Its renovation and artistic restoration took neighborhood interior designer and restoration specialist Morteza Bekhradi five years to engineer and complete.

Peppered with stained-glass windows and original artwork from the Safavid and subsequent Qajar eras, the residence sits among two gardens replete with fruits and wildflowers.

The house’s furnishings was designed by Bekhradi utilizing wood from the chenar (plane) trees that line the streets and historic gardens of Isfahan.

The designer says he sought to keep accurate to the setup of the original property, which he says is believed to have belonged to a Safavid-era aristocrat.

Even the standard heavy Iranian wooden doors lining the entryways of the upstairs suites belonged to the original residence and were restored using chenar wood.

Doors throughout the rest of the historical residence, which boasts an intricately decorated traditional “hojreh” space for cooling and relaxation, are chenar-wood replicas of Safavid originals.

To date, most guests have discovered the inn only by word of mouth, and even neighborhood Isfahanis are only just starting to understand about this hidden gem.

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