Hamadan City

Hamadan (Alt. 1754m) 380 Km far from Tehran:

Hamadan, one of the oldest centres of civilisation in Iran is situated in the west of Iran on a high plain with snow-capped Mount Alvand (3574metres) in the background. It became the capital of the Medes in the 6th century BC before they formed a union with the Persians, then later the summer capital of the Achaemenian and Parthian kings.

In the centre of Hamadan is the Mausoleum of Abu Ali Sina, better known in the West as Avicenna, one of the most famous philosophers and scholars of the Middle Ages. Nearby is the Shrine of Esther, the Jewish wife of Xerxes and her uncle Mordecai and a most important Jewish pilgrimage site.

Baba Taher, who lived in the 11th century, is one of the great poets of Iran. His songs and poems are still very popular. His mausoleum, that looks a bit like a rocket, was built in 1970. We were not very excited about the outside, but what happened inside was something very wonderful. Here was a man who recited some of Baba Taher's poems and sung some of his songs. So beautiful, we could listen to this man for hours.

Places worth to see:

Alisadr Cave, stone lion, Ganj Nameh (treasure letter) Alavian Cupola, the tomb of Esther & Mordecai (the Jewish wife of xerxes), the tomb of Avicena, the tomb of Baba Taher, Bazaar, pottery industry in the village of Lalejin, Higmatana Hills.