Birjand
Iran · Asia
About Birjand
Birjand is a city in the Central District of Birjand County, South Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. The city is known for its saffron, barberry, jujube, and handmade carpet exports.
The first citation of the city in the historical literature belongs to the famous book Mojem Alboldan, by Yaqut Homavi (13th century) which introduces the Birjand as the most beautiful town in the Qohestan. Before this, Birjand had been probably not as big and important as a municipality but rather as a rural community. However, the Birjand geographical area had its historical and political importance long before the emergence of the city of Birjand. Many citations of the region are available in the original literature like Ehya -ol- Molook of the once important localities in the area. Apart from literature, the oldest evidence on the history of the region is the ancient Lakh-Mazar inscription in the Kooch village some 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Birjand. Numerous fine drawings and inscriptions are carved on an igneous rock surface. The inscriptions include pictograms as well as Arsacid Pahlavi, Sasanian...
Birjand travel guide
Getting there
1 Birjand International Airport (XBJ IATA). Connections from Tehran and Baghdad.
See
1 Furg Citadel (Arg e Furg), Furg Village. Citadel from the 12th century. (updated Dec 2017) 2 Akbariyeh Garden & Museum (باغ و موزه اکبریه), Moallem St (behind Library of Imam Reza), ☏ +98 917 425 7008. UNESCO heritage site. Rows of pine trees and sunken terraces and such. (updated Nov 2020) 3 Birjand Castle (قلعه بیرجند) (on the northwest side of city). It has got a pretty wowee look to it - big ramparts and turrets made of clay and brick. And then you can look down on the town from the top, and have a meal at the restaurant there. It dates from the Safavid era when the inhabitants were trying to fight off theTurks and Uzbekis. (updated Nov 2020) 4 Kolah Farangi Citadel (ارگ کلاهفرنگی بیرجند). A palace built during the Qajar dynasty (i.e. 1789-1925) with some ziggurat features. Now the government buildings for South Khorasan so not much in the way of snooping around possible. (updated Nov 2020)
Buy
1 Bazar, Hakimnezari St. Covered marketplace with various stalls. Fruit, knick-knacks, etc. (updated Nov 2020)
Eat
1 Shamso Alemare Traditional Restaurant (رستوران سنتی شمسالعماره), ☏ +98 56 3245 4220. 12ː00-15ː00, 19ː00-23ː00 daily. Try some Iranian standards here, looking out on an inner courtyard. (updated Nov 2020)
Sleep
1 Sepehr Hotel (هتل سپهر), Jomhuri, ☏ +98 56 3223 2299. Restaurant and pool on site. Wifi may not be the best. (updated Nov 2020) 2 Mountain Hotel (هتل کوهستان) (in Zolfaghari Brothers Tourist Village by Amir Shah Dam south of Birjand), ☏ +98 56 5832 3370. It looks like a major fortification. Not likely to miss it slapped up against a mountainside. Pool, gardens, restaurant, billiards. (updated Nov 2020)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.