Nature and Culture on Ancient Land
 (Gorgân Region - Northern Iran)
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Gonbade Kâvus
(by Tirdâd Gorgâni)
About ~ Accessbility   ~ Accomodations ~ Attractions ~ Bank Office ~ Excursions   ~ Post Office ~ Restaurants ~  Travel Agencies
                           
About the city:
Gonbade Kâvus/- Qâbus or simply Gonbad is the second biggest town  in the Golestân province. It has been an important town in this part of Iran. Gonbade Kâvus owes its fame to Qâbus-ibn  Wošmgir , a prince, poet, scholar, general  and patron of  the arts (a  local Ziyarid  ruler of Gorgân). He completed his remarkable  mausoleum by 1005-7 A.D., five years before his death in 1012. High-fired bricks were used in the construction of the tomb, the highest brick tower  in the world, which  rises 180 feet (55m) from the plinth to the top of the roof. The interior is a dark empty void  with only a small  window at the top where according  to tradition the  body of the prince, a scholar,  poet and writer in his own right, hung inside a glass coffin. This tower is known locally as Mile Gonbad.              

From the point of tribal life and acceptance of tribe, Gonbad  Kâvus has been known not only in this province, but also all over Iran. The main  minorities in Gonbad Kâvus district are: Turkman emigrants and people  from Xorâsân, Semnân and Sistân & Balucestân  provinces.
Gonbade Kâvus, is boundered on the west by Ali Âbâd,  on the east by Minu Dasht and on the south by Semnân province. Gonbade  Kâvus region comprise four districts, eleven rural districts and five  towns (Gonbade Kâvus, Âzâd Šahr, Xân Bebein, Râmiyân and Daland). Sepid Âbâd (Aq abad),  Âbâdân Tape, Sepid band (Aq band) and Hâji Bâzargân (- artoq)  are some of the villages here.

District Population: 417 845
Area: 6856 sq. Km
Area code: 0172
Map: Click here
 

Gonbad tower
 Yahya Shrine
 Horse racing
 National costume of the region
 Gonbade Kavus

"Mile Gonbad" Tower
 Yahyâ Shrine
 Horse Racing
 National costume of the region
 Gonbade Kâvus, a view

Prime Attractions:

  • Gonbad brick tower (Mile Gonbad), is built on a high hill which  makes its hight 70 meters above earth level. This Tower is located in Gonbade  Kâvus.           
  • The remains of the ancient city of Hyrcania(Jorjâ n), 3 km from Gonbade Kâvus, on the main road to Gorgân.
  • The remains of the ancient Parthian city of Dašte Dež (- Qa'le), probably the ancient city of Syrinx which was a district of Hyrcania (modern town of Gorgân). Syrinx was taken from Arsaces II by Antiochus in 209 B.C. . Dašte Dež (Dašte Qa'le) is located15 km south eastern Gonbade Kâvus.
  • The shrine of Yahyá Ebnzaid is a sacred place which is visited by pilgrims, in Gonbade Kâvus.
      

Excursions:
            Getting there:
             The easiest way reaching these attractions is to charter a car from Gonbade  Kâvus.You can even get arranged trips to these attractions, by contacting  some travel agency in Gonbade Kâvus.

  • Horse Riding: Horse riding can take place in the vast area of "Gorgân & Gonbad Steppe" to the north east of the Caspian sea. "Gorgân & Gonbad  Steppe" is famous for its horses.You can even visit local nomads and perhaps spend a little time seeing how the nomads live. A riding tour here is unique since there are very few foreign  visitors in this area.   See map .
        Getting there: The easiest  way  is to get arranged tour with guide, by contacting some travel agency  in Gorgân or Gonbade Kâvus.

                            

Travel Agencies:

  • Be'sat Travel Agency, Tâleqâni Str., Opposite to "Motahari hospital"; Tel: 0172-21245 Fax: 0172-28142
  • Parande Travel Agency, Šari'ati Str., "Pâsâže Šahrdâri"  buildning; Tel: 0172-31619
  • Golgasht Travel Agency, 17 Šahrivar Str.; Tel: 0172-35036, Fax: 0172-35491
  • Mahâjer Gaš t Travel Agency, Emâm Xomeini Str., close to the cinema;  Tel: 0172-28479 Fax 0172-29051

Accessibility:
 Most of the buses and minibuses leave  from Gonbad Main Terminal at  the street of "17 Šahrivare qarbi".   
Minibuses leave about every hour from the special Gonbad terminal to Gonbade Kâvus from Gorgân (90 km).There are even daily buses and shared taxis from Gorgân.   
There are also daily buses from Gonbade Kâvus to Tehran,  470km (290mi)and  to Mašad.

In Tehrân, all buses to Gonbade Kâvus, leave from "East  Bus Terminal " (Terminale Šarq); Tel:  +98 21 7864010.
 

Accommodation:
*Ferdowsi, Emâm str., Vahdat square; Tel:0172-34979         
*Kâj, Tâleqânie šarqi str.     
*Sa'di, Emâm str., " Pâsâže Qâzi moqadam";  Tel: 0172 -24908        
*Kâvusi , Tâleqânie šarqi str., "Falake Markazi" square; Tel: 0172-27663
*Xayyâm, Emâm str., "Pâsâže Qâzi moqadam";  Tel: 0172 -28906


Restaurants:
 *Akbar Juje restaurant, Golšane šarqi Str. opposite to Kowsar building
*Atrak restaurant, Tâleqânie šarqi str., Tel: 0172-22067
*San Stin Pizza, Dânešju Blvd., opposite to Setâre super market.


Post Office:
 Emâm Xomeini str., Bâhonar str., Tel: 0172-24000 &  -24010

Bank office:
 *Melli Bank, Motahari šarqi str., Hâfez cross. Tel: 0172-24091 & 24092
*Mellat Bank, Behešti str. Tel: 0172-24296
*Sâderât Bank, Emâm Xomeini str., 15 Xordâd squ..Tel: 0172-26456   
*Sepah Bank, Tâleqânie qarbi str., Tel: 0172- 24645                     


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All text and photographes (C) by Tirdâd Gorgâni, 2005