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[About IRAN]

Chahar Fasl Public Bath

Pigeon House

Saveh High Tower

Spring Of Haft Emarat Village

The population of the province in 1996 was 1,228,000 of which 57.1% were urban dwellers, and 42.9% were registered as rural dwellers and 42.8% were registered as rural dwellers.

Topographical unevenness of this province is parts of Zagross mountain range. Rasvand mountain range. Rasvand mountains are located in southern parts of the province. Markazi Province enjoys a semi-arid, mountainous, and cold climate. From climatic point of view, this province is under the influence of high pressure current of Central Asia along with high snow and coldness, the Indian Ocean Pressure current along with dust storms, and Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean currents with humidiy and rainfall.

Before Seleucidian ear, there have been important civillzation centers near present Arak including “Karah” In Islamic period, the land between two rivers of Tigris and Euphrates was called "Arab Iraq". Also the land between Hamedan, Ray, and Isfahan was called "Adjam Iraq".

In 908 AH, Shah Ismail Safavid ordered to carefully repair the mausoleum (Astaneh) of Imamzadeh Sahl-e-bn Ali in “Karaj”. Since then Karaj was called Astaneh. In last decades due to development of railroad and industrialization on the region the face of the province was changed and Arak became the capital city of the province. Hereunder, the historical, cultural, and tourism visages of the province are pointed out.

* Saveh

Enjoying a temperate climate, city of Saveh is 140 Kilometers far from Tehran having a long history. In Dialameh and Seljukian time, Saveh was the seat of government. It was badly damaged during the onslaught of Mongols in 7 ^th century  AH. In Ilkhanan time it was rebuilt.

Again, Saveh was badly damaged in Taymourian and Agh-ghoviounloo time due to power competition between local governors and several plunder of the city. In Safavid time the city was flourished again. The happenings of late Safavid time the city was flourished again. The happenings of late Safavid time (attack of Afghans) caused some problems for the city.

In Zandyeh time some serious efforts were made to rehabilitate the city but it finally lost its importance by choosing of Tehran as capital.

The natural, historical, religious and cultural monuments of the city are as follows:

Ghadir Dame recreational area,

Caves of Aghdash and Shahpasand,

Castles of Ardmin, Alvir, and Ismailieh,

Caravansaries of Khamseh-Abad, (Seljuki), Pesangan (Safavid), Abdolghafar Khan, Khoshkeh Rood (Zandyeh), and Gardin (Qajarieh),

The historical bridges of Sorkhad and Asgar –Abad (Qajarieh).

The ancient regions of Korang Sadrabad (pre –Islamic), Abdollah-Abad Kahak, farghan, and Sousenghin

The historic hills of Aveh. Alishar, Ghyjleh or Ghyjleh, Khosrow, byuk,Joushaghan, Jamshid-Abad, and Abbasloo.

Underground water storage of Chahar-Soogh, Haj Mirza Hosseni and Jame’ Mosque,

Save Jame’ Mosque and Seljuki Maidab (Square),

Imamzadehs of Seyed Haroon, Seyed Abou Reza, Seyed Eshagh, Sultan,

Fazl va Mousa, Shahzadeh Ismail, Abdollah Ujan and mausoleum of Bibi Sharaf Khatoon.

* Arak

Arak is 295 Kilometers far from Tehran. It enjoys a cold cilomate in winters and mild weather in summers. The important rtiver of “Gharachai” crosses the city . Present Arak was founded if Fathali Shah Ghajar. It was firstly constructed as “Ghaleh Sultanabad” but it was renamed as Arak in 1316 AH. The main function of this city till 1270 Ah was military and the residence of army commander. After Mirza Hasan Khan the city lost its military role and business and industrial activities especially carpet weaving developed considerably.

Coincident with the beginning of World War I, Russian troops occupied the cities of Saveh, Sultan-Abad (present Arak) and surrounding areas. City of Arak developed and was industrialized after World War II and changed considerably.

The natural, historical and cultural features of the city are as follows:

• Mighan lake and Sarab Panjali recreational are,
• Caves of Shah Zand (Zorostrian place of pilgrimage),
• Soleh Khonza, Sefid Khani, Hidaj, Anjedan, And Vafas,
• Haftad Gholleh Protected Area,
• Historical villages of Sarough and Anjedan,
• Haj Vakil castle,
• Underground city
• Bazaar of arak
• Sepahdar School,

Imamzadeh of Mohammed Abed (Seljuki), Havakhatoon, Shahzadeh Ibrahim, Shahzadeh Abdollah, Shahzadeh Mohsen, and Shahzadeh Mohammed.

The mausoleums of Pyrmorad, (Seljuki), Haftado Dotan, Shah Gharid and Shah Ghalandar (Safavid).

* Mahallat

Located 362 kilometers from Tehran, the City of Mahallat is situated on the slope of the mountain enjoying a mountainside climate.

Mahallat is amongst the ancient residential areas in Iran, In Safavid time, the most commercial exchanges were mainly made with Isfahan. Mahallat have been one of the most important bases of Ismailieh movement. In the limits of present city. Two villages of Khorheh and Nimvar are much older than Mahallat and hold several historical monuments.

Nimvar has been one of the important religious centers of Iran Plateau in the ancient time. Khoheh is amongst very old villages that its history dates back at least to Seleucidian time.

The important natural, historical and religious monuments of the city are as follows:

• Thermal springs of Shafa, Solaymani, Mahallat spring and recreational area,
• The caves of Azad Khan, Shah Babol, Soorakh Gav, Yekehchah, Goldar Kalcheshmeh, Sarcheshmeh and koshteh Riz,
• The castles of  Jamshidi, Aghakhan Mahallati, and Khosravani,
• The caravansaries of Dodehak (Safavid), and Joun-Abad (Safavid),
• Dodehak bridge (Safavid),
• Historical inscription of Khorheh (seljukian),
• Seleucidian temple of Khorheh (4^th  century BC),
• The Fire-Temple of Atashkooh (Sassanide), and Milmilouneh,
• Sassanide Dam of Nimvar,
• Statue of Amr or Amreh (pre-Islamic time),
• Nimvar ice house,
• Jame’ mosques of mahallat (early Islamic time) and Nimvar,
• Imamzadehs of Yahya, Fazolreza, Shahzadeh Mousa, and Shahzadeh Ismail.

* Khomain

Enjoying a moderate mountainous and semiarid climate, Khomain is 323 Kilometers far from Tehran. Weather is cold in winters and mild in summers. The name of Khomain has been mentioned in old historical books. The leader of Islamic Revolution and the founder of Islamic Republic late Imam Khomaini (RH) has been born and finished his school studies in this city.

The important natural, historical, and religious places of Khomain are as follows:

• The father house of Imam Khomaini (RH),
• The castles of Joojan and Shams,
• Khomain bazaar,
• Khomain Jame’ mosque,
• Imamzadehs of ismail and Addollah,
• The neighborhoods and old houses of Khomain,

* Delijan

The city of Delijan is 409 kilometers far from Tehran. It has been a large city in the past holding 4 gates. Due to being situated on a suitable transportation point, it has been developed considerably in last decades.The worth-seeing places of Delijan are:

• The lake and recreational area o Panzdah Khordad dam,
• The caves of Chaal Nakhjir and Kohak,
• The historical village of Dodehak,
• Naragh bazaar,
• Naragh Grand Mosque,
• Imamzadehs of Shahzadeh Eshagh, Ownebn Ali, Shahzadeh Yahya, Hasrat Masoume’h, Ghar Sirjavan, and Aghasha Bobol.

* Tafresh

Enjoying a mild climate Tafresh is located 282 Kilometers far from Tehran in a plain surrounded by an arduous mountain.

In the past time it was famous as “Tabars” and “Gabarsh” and then its name changed into Tafresh. It is an ancient city and Farahan is one of its districts. Azargoshasb Fire- Temple has historical and cultural sites of Tafresh are:

• Mineral springs of Gerav,
• Ali Khorrandeh cave,
• The ancient village of Kohak,
• The hill of Bala Mashhad Zolf,
• Abolala Mausoleum,
• Bibi Dome,
• Imamzadehs of Abolghasem, Shahzadeh Ahmad, Shahzadeh Ghasem, and Shahzadeh Hadi Agheb.

* Ashtian

Ashtian is located in the northeast of Arak and is among ancient areas of Markazi province. In Pre-Islamic time the people of this city were Zoroastrian and the most important fire-temple of them has been "Atshkadeh Vard"

* Sarband (Shazand)

Sarband was famous as “Edris Abad” in the past and then it was renamed as Shazand. The important historical, natural, and cultural monuments of Shazand are as follows:

• Hendou Dam,
• Abbas Abad, Eskan and Emarat wetlands,
• Imamzadeh Shal-enb-Ali (PBUH).

* Wildlife and Protected Areas

Geographical and climatic diversity of the province have created suitable habitats for different species of fauna and flora especially endemic and migratory waterfowls. The protected regions of the province are

• Haftad Gholleh Protected Area,
• Mooteh Protected Area.

These areas are the habitat of different wildlife including:

Wild goat, wild sheep, and gazelle. Also different species of rare plants may be found in mountainous areas.

Travel and Accommodation

All cities of the province are connected by suitable access roads and there are equipped health centers as well as communication facilities and easily accessible. All cities have suitable accommodation units and people are well familiar with tourism activities. All necessary information, telephone numbers, and addresses are mentioned in this book. The souvenirs of the province are: different handicrafts, carpet, rug, coarse carpet, gelim, giveh (light cotton summer shoes), chinaware, etc.

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