INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
principal fire temple of the Zoroastrian faith in ancient Persia.Takht-e Soleyman is now a major travel destination for domestic and foreign
travelers who want, even for minutes, to experience its peaceful atmosphere
Important to learn is what exists Today is only fragments
the ancient interweaves a scenic natural context with a rich harmonious composition
It reveals architectural achievements of outstanding universal values, which from artistic, religious, mythical, and historical points of
view, emerge from the synergy of a man-made and spectacular natural setting.They established the ensemble in a geologically anomalous
location where the base of the temple complex sits on an oval mound roughly 350 by 550 meters
It encompasses a lake roughly 80 by 120 meters and a Sassanid-era Zoroastrian temple complex dedicated to Anahita, an ancient goddess of
the Arab invasion.In the 13th century, Takht-e Soleyman became a summer retreat for the Mongol Ilkhanid khans
The remnants of their hunting palace are now covered with a discordant modern roof forming a storeroom (often locked) for amphorae,
unlabelled column fragments, photos, and a couple of ceramic sections of those ancient gas pipes.According to Britannica Encyclopedia, its
surrounding landscape was probably first inhabited sometime in the 1st millennium BC
as well as Zendan Soleyman
Moreover, there is a small village between the two from where you can hike to the archaeological site (Takht-e Soleyman) and the
mountain/volcano (Zendan-e Soleyman)
I have spent four hours all together between the two sites and the village and would love to come back soon
You can also sleep in the village in a recently refurbished traditional house
It is in a stunning location surrounded by beautiful mountains
The lake within the site is large and with a guide to explain the various structures, the whole complex comes to life an$ you begin to
appreciate what a magical place this is
place is far from everything
and after our departure, three hours more for our next stop, Sanandaj
Yet it would be foolish not to stop here, as long as possible
millennial history of men
The mystery of nature, because the water saturated with calcium flowing here after tens of thousands of years, and that finally created the
astoundingly deep), reminds us of the thrilling charm of the land that hosts us all; it makes us think of what is hidden under the
landscapes we usually see
In fact, even in this case, the ancient inhabitants have built a mythology around some natural phenomena, the mythology that makes this spot
other sights in Iran, to enter the spirit of the civilizations that have interacted with the environment, and to fully understand it
Otherwise, you will be bewildered by the almost un-decipherable complex of the ruins that are included between the pond and the walls of the
If you have the time, walk up for a few hundred meters on the hill overlooking the ticket office and the rest area: you will have the most
gorgeous view of the site
And I later found that another mountain of this name is found in Pakistan (Balochistan region)
but this Zoroastrian fire temple sits in an amazing landscape
The few buildings that are left are ruins, but the site is surrounded by an ancient wall and has amazing backdrops of snowcapped mountains
The weather is very changeable, so wrap up warm when the sun goes in
Sassanids warriors and kings, Zoroastrian fire, and Anahita water goddess worshipers all co-existed here
Even when the Mongols appeared, they did not destroy it but appreciated its deep Crater Lake and volcanoes around
It is amazing that it is so well preserved after so long..
It was covered in silt from various discharges over the centuries until the early last century
The pool of water is very deep and fissures, the source of the water, go even deeper
The high mineral content helps fertilize the surrounding orchards
Intriguingly, the site was important for the Persians and then also the later Ilkhanid Mongol invaders, who modified it
The on-site guide was excellent and brought it all to life (including the 12 fortresses which surround it)
This is a compelling visit, especially when you consider the full context
