Mashhad
Almost everything about Mashhad relates to its role as the holiest city in Iran, even its name (literally: burial place of the martyr). As the capital of Iran's Khorasan province, Mashhad's year-round cool temperatures and fascinating insights into the Shi'ite heartland have much to offer visitors.
Understand
Mashhad started life out as Sanabad, a village pitstop for trade caravans headed towards Turkmenistan. But in the ninth century, the eighth Shi'ite Imam Ali Bin Moosa Al Reza, the great grand son of Imam Ali who was the cousin & son in law of Prophet Mohammad was poisoned by the jealous caliph of the time. Imam Reza was buried in Mashhad, and his shrine became one of the holiest sites to the shi'ite Muslims after the Holy Kaaba in Saudi Arabia and Karbala in Iraq.
Over the next thousand years, the shrine complex was levelled, ransacked and rebuilt a number of times depending on the ruling army of the day. Today the Shrine is the most important place in the city and in the whole of Iran.
Dress code for women is strict, as it is in any part of Iran, however a self encompassing chador is not a must for any lady in public place in city. For women, a simple headscarf or roo-sari, with a trenchcoat and pants are fine. Men are also not allowed to wear shorts. These rules are the same for any and all cities and villages in Iran; it is national law.
Get in
By air
1 Mashhad International Airport (Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport) (MHD IATA) is located just a few kilometres South of the city centre. A taxi from the Holy Shrine area to the airport should not cost more than 150,000 Rials.
Being Iran's second largest city, Mashhad is connected to all Iranian cities that have an airport. On the busier routes, there are several options per day. However, during the peak season(s) of pilgrimage, tickets sell out early.
Mashhad is also connected internationally, as it features on the timetables of all the larger Middle Eastern airlines. There are flights to Bahrain, Damascus, Dubai, Kuwait, Bishkek, Beirut, Jeddah, Dushanbe, Kabul, Doha, Almaty, Lahore and Istanbul.
By train
The 2 railway station is located just North of the Holy Shrine area. There are several regular trains from Mashhad to Tehran, both day trains and overnight trains. They vary in speed, price and quality, the fastest do the trip in 8 hours. There are night trains to Isfahan (one or two per day, 18 hours) and many other destinations.
You get here from Turkmenistan. There are trains from Ashgabat and Merv to the Sarakhs border. And at the other side of the border there is a daily train from the Sarakhs border to Mashhad.
By bus
There are mostly night buses to Mashhad from other important cities. There are NO international buses from Ashgabat or anywhere in Turkmenistan.
Get around
Mashhad has a rapid transit system, which opened in 2012.
See
Apart from Imam Reza shrine there is a number of large parks, the tombs of historical celebrities in nearby Tus and Nishapur, the tomb of Nadir Shah and Kooh Sangi park and Mellat Park that have modern attractions for children such as the tallest Ferris wheel or fanfar in Iran and Koohestan Park-e-Shadi Complex that includes a zoo, where many wild animals are kept and which attracts many visitors to Mashhad. It is also home to the Mashhad Airbase (formerly Imam Reza airbase), jointly a military installation housing Mirage aircraft, and a civilian international airport.
Some points of interest lie outside the city: the tomb of Khajeh Morad, along the road to Tehran; the tomb of Khajeh Rabi' located 6 kilometers north of the city where there are some inscriptions by the renowned Safavid calligrapher Reza Abbasi; and the tomb of Khajeh Abasalt, a distance of 20 kilometers from Mashhad along the road to Neishabur. (The three were all disciples of Imam Reza).
Among the other sights are the tomb of the poet Ferdowsi in Tus, 24 kilometers distance, and the summer resorts at Torghabeh, Torogh, Akhlamad, Zoshk, and Shandiz.
The Shah Public Bath, built during the Safavid era in 1648, is an outstanding example of the architecture of that period. It was recently restored, and is to be turned into a museum.
- 1 Imam Reza Shrine Complex (The shrine is visible from far away and has entrances on all sides. There are separate entrance doors for brothers and sisters, bags and cameras have to be left at luggage deposit offices outside the shrine for a 10,000 Rials fee. All visitors will be frisked at the gates leading to the Shrine. Mobile phones can be brought into the shrine. Women have to wear a chador.). This complex has been developed around the tomb of the eighth Imam of Shia Islam. The burial chamber where the Imam rests is the holiest place for all Shia Iranians. Foreigners are allowed to visit the complex, while the central area and certain courtyards allegedly are off-limits for non-Muslims. Shiites come to this place as pilgrims to mourn the death of their religious leader and don't want to be disturbed by crowds of tourists. That said, there are no marks of any kind telling where you can go and where not. If you manage to blend into the crowd, it is possible to visit the core of the shrine. It is impressing from the architectural point of view with the corridors and domes completely adorned with Persian mirror mosaic. It pays off to take some time and soak in the athmosphere of praying and mourning. The complex also includes a library and the Ghoharshad Mosque, which is the largest mosque in the world by area and the second largest in capacity. Travellers have the option to visit the Foreign Pilgrims Assistance Office where you will be shown some videos about the shrine (from PRESS-TV) and handed out some booklets. There are some English-speaking volunteers available to guide you around in the complex, but they will not show you the Holy Shrine itself. Free.
- 2 Central Museum (Located inside the Holy Shrine complex, it is signposted in English). Weekdays 08:00 am till 05:45 pm, Holidays 08:00 am till noon. This museum shows an arbitrary mix of items such as coins, stamps, European clocks and astronomical instruments, pictures of marine animals, but also some interesting items like the old tombs of Imam Reza and pictures dating back to the beginning of photography in Iran. Some of the explanations are in English. Avoid visiting this museum with a guide from the Foreign Pilgrims Assistance Office, as they will press you to adequately appreciate each of the items, even the Euro coins. 10,000 Rials (also for foreigners).
- 3 Carpet Museum (Located inside the Holy Shrine complex, it is signposted in English). Saturday till Wednesday 08:00 am till 12:30 pm, Thursdays 08:00 am till 11:30 am, Holidays 08:00 am till 12:00 pm. The name says it all. Great and impressive pieces on display. 10,000 Rials (also for foreigners).
- 4 Nader Shah Park & Mausoleum. Monument to the founder of Afshar dynasty (1736–1747)
- 5 Ferdowsi Park & Mausoleum.
- Gombade Sabz Mausoleum.
- 6 Torghabeh. Sightseeing, village restaurants
- 7 Shandiz. Village restaurants
Money
A few 3 money changers line up on Imam Khomeini Blvd., this is where rates are competitive. Hotels change at much worse rates, if at all.
If Mashhad is your first station in Iran, you may consider getting an Iranian ATM to prevent having your money stolen. The state-owned Bank-e Melli-ye Iran provides such a service for tourists who visit Iran. Tourists just need to head the nearest branch of this bank. Information on this service can be found here. The drawback is that the card expires the date your visa expires (mind this point if you extend your visa) and that you hand your Euros or Dollars to the bank who converts it to Rial at the government rate. This is by far lower than what you receive from money changers. So your safety comes at a price.
Another way to prevent having your money stolen, is going to the nearest bank and getting a gift card. They are exactly like ordinary ATM debit cards, but once they get empty, they cannot be recharged. Sepah Bank or Bank -e- Sepah is a governmental bank that has a current account service for foreigners which provides both ATM debit card and cheque writing option. A list of permitted Iranian banks can be found here
Buy
Mashhad has three large bazaars. Interesting things to buy include Khorassan crafts, fur-cloak, jewelry, perfume, saffron, and religious souvenirs.
- 1 Bazaar-e Reza (Bazaar-e Bozorg). Two stories height and one of the main shopping centres in the town. Sells souvenirs, sweets, saffron and clothes on the first floor and jewellery on the second floor. Famous for the turquoise which is mined near Mashhad. All products are aimed at the Iranian taste.
- Sara-ye Bazaar-e Reza Mostly a fabric and textile bazaar.
- Kuwaiti Bazaar, on the 17th Shahrivar Square.
- Bazaar-e bozorg-e markazy, on the corner of shirazi Av. and akhond-e khorasani st.(Shohada crossroad).
- Shargh-Zist Trade Center All things with best prices, Tabarsi Sqr, north side of Holy Shrine.
- Proma Trade Center, Janbaz Sqr.
- Almas-e Shargh, Northern Khayyam Blvd.
- Zist Khavar, Shariaty Sqr.
- 2 Sajjad Blvd (500 metres northeast of Khayyam metro station). You can find few good quality shopping centers in this Blvd (a bit expensive).
Learn
- Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
- Medical & Health University of Mashhad
- Institute of Technology "SIT"
- ImamReza International University
- Azad University of mashhad
Eat
Iranian cuisine is one of the best in the world. They do not eat spicy food but even then their food is very tasty. Chello Kebab is a very popular dish as well as Bakhtiari Kebab. There are also different kinds of breads available. So eating will be an assured good and affordable experience in Mashhad
You can find lots of great restaurants and all kinds of fast-foods are available. The most advertised restaurant of Mashhad (and one of the most expensive) is 'Padide Shandiz'. There are also numerous other decent restaurants in Shandiz. Full meals with rice cost from 5 to 20 dollars.
Padide Shandiz address: Shandiz town.
You can find a kind of ice-cream named ice pack "Persian: آیس پک" in mashhad. it's really great to taste it. There are lots of Ice Pack bars in Mashhad. The main one is placed at "Shariati Sqr". This kind of ice-cream can be found with all kinds of flavors like "chocolate , apple , cherry , strawberry , coffee , peach and all kind of fruits you can imagine" This type of ice-cream invented in Iran, is even getting popular in the United States of America.
1 Hezardestan Traditional Teahouse, Jannat (جنت) street (in a parallel street to Modarres Blvd. Jannat street is a pedestrian zone. There is a huge Lonely Planet advertisement on the wall opposite to the restaurant so it is hard to miss.). Very beautifully decorated subterranean restaurant. The menu comprises (only) four dishes (Chicken Kebab, Dizi, Ghormeh, mashed eggplant) which are very well done and are served with lots of side dishes. Service is lame, however, bring enough time. Base charge for tea = 150,000 Rials. Meals 250,000 to 470,000 Rials.
Sleep
Mashhad attracts huge number of visitors specially during the summer months, so be sure to make travel reservations in advance. Mashhad can also be very cold during winters, hence heavy woolens are required during winters. Even in summers nights are pretty cold and requires light woolens.
Hotels
Five-star hotels in the city are: Pars Hotel, Ghasr Talaee international Hotel, Ghasr International Hotel and Pardisan Hotel. There are also couple of good hotels near the Imam Ali Bin Moosa Al Reza Shrine, namely Khayyam Hotel, Ghadir International to name a few. The Shrine is 10 min. walk from the Khayyam Hotel and the rent for double bedroom with attached bath is around 100-120 USD per night. but the rent for Ghasr Talaee Hotel is very expensive about 400 USD per night. But there are lots of rooms for rent around the shrine which are pretty cheap and suitable to rent, they are ranged from 30-90 USD per night depending on the distance from shrine.
- 1 Razavieh Grand Hotel (هتل رضویه مشهد) (Just next to the main entrance of Reza Bazaar.), ☏ +98 51 3365 3611. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 13:00. Located very close to the shrine and the Reza Bazaar, yet not noisy. The four stars this hotel attributes to itself are bogus, however. The rooms and facilities are simple, old-fashioned and a bit run-down. Staff is not motivated. expect 160,000 Toman for double occupancy. Bargain..
- 2 Hotel Atlas. Located very close to the shrine.
- 3 Hotel Atrak. Located very close to the shrine and the Reza Bazaar, yet not noisy.
- 4 Hotel Ferdous (هتل فردوس), ☏ 0513-8540830, fax: 0513-8544656. Located close to the shrine on busy Imam Reza Blvd. expect 3.86 million Rials for double occupancy. Discounts available outside the peak season..
- 5 Ghasr Talaee international Hotel, Basij square, Imam Reza st., Mashhad, Iran, ☏ +98(51)-38038, fax: +98(51)-38037. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Five star hotel, located close to the shrine on busy Imam Reza Blvd.
Homestays
- 6 Vali's non smoking homestay, 38th (Farsi:۳۸) alley (previously 6th) off Malakoshoaraye Bahar street (previously Engelab Eslami street), house 277 (Farsi:۲۷۷) (close to Lashgar square at the intersection with Imam Khomeini street), ☏ 851 6980, 0915 100 1324, vali1332@yahoo.com. Vali is a carpet merchant and a regional guide but most of all a chatterbox! (he speaks English and basic French) His wife cooks delicious meals which you can enjoy sitting on the terrace. Two bedrooms and an extremely comfortable dorm are available in the basement full of Persian rugs with a basic shared bathroom. The setting is simple but cozy and there is a warm family atmosphere. Internet and Wi-Fi. Lots of tourist information (Vali can help you to sort your visa for Turkmenistan). Hikes and excursions can be organized for one or more days in the villages and mountains surrounding Mashhad. (to help you find Vali's place copy this Farsi phrase and show it around: بین چهاره راه لشکر و استانداری ملکا اشعرابهار ۳۸ شماره۲۷۷ ولی انصاری). Dorm 300 000 rials, breakfast 60 000 rials, dinner 150 000 rials.
Stay safe
- In crowded places and places of worship, such as the Holy Shrine, be careful about pick-pockets. Take care of your possessions as there's a small risk of theft by pick-pockets.
Emergency services phone numbers
- Police: 110
- Fire department: 125
- EMS: 115
- Road EMS: 115 or 112
Go next
Inside Iran
You can easily use ground transportation and visit these ancient cities in a short period of time:
- Tous, the hometown of Ferdowsi, the great Iranian poet of the tenth century (AD) and the author of Shaahnaameh, a great Iranian epical masterpiece.
- Nishapur, hometown and the place of tombs of Khayyaam and Attaar. Two peots and polymaths. Khayyaam was also a great mathematician and astronomer.
- Torghabeh, beautiful nature and a country side.
- Torghabeh Shandiz, beautiful nature and a country side.
To Turkmenistan
Since no public transportation goes across the Turkmen border, to get to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, the following option is the most convenient:
- Take a bus to Quchan: every 2 hours from 6:30AM. Cost: 8000 rial. Duration: 2h30.
- From Quchan, take a private taxi to Bajgiran (village at the border). Cost: 60,000 rial for 2, or less if you can. Duration: about 1h.
- At Bajgiran, go to the border (opening time: 7.30 - 15.30 Iran time). Crossing the border can take up to 2 hours. Turkmen police will ask for an entry tax of $10 (per person) + $2 of bank fees (per group), to be paid in US dollars only.
- In the Turkmenistan side, take a taxi to Ashgabat, which can cost up to $15 per person. Duration: about 1h.
To Afghanistan
Herat in Afghanistan is only a few hundred kilometers from here.
Visas and permits
Following countries have Consulate in Mashad:
- Consulate of Afghanistan, Imam Khomeini Avenue, Doshahid Street, Sevom Isfand Sq., ☏ +98-513-8544829, +98-513-8597552, fax: +98 21 33113508, afghanistan_ge_con_mashad@samanir.net.
- Consulate of Kazakhstan, Rahnemai Street 10, 41 h., ☏ +98-513-8417716, fax: +98-513 8401293, gcomrk@aftab.ws.
- Consulate of Kyrgyzstan, No. 209, Next to Gas station, Abkooh Ave. 91839, ☏ +98-513-2229845, fax: +98-513-2227045, pcmi@persiannet.net.
- 4 Consulate of Pakistan, P.O. Box No.91375-1733, Imam Khomeini St., Opposite of Melli Garden, ☏ +98-513-6040364.
- Consulate of Turkmenistan, No. 34, Konsoolgari Alley, 10th Day Sq. 91386, ☏ +98-513-8547066, fax: 98-513-8547073.
- Consulate of Saudi Arabia, No. 4, Molavi St. Sajjad Blvd, ☏ +98-513-6076276, +98-513-6076279, fax: +98-513-6076273, +98-513-6076278.