BUSHEHR

Busher, the capital city of the province of Busher, situated in the South of Iran on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is mostly humid throughout the year with temperate winters, agreeable springs, and broiling summers. The present-day city of Bushehr has erected during the Afsharian Dynasty of 1736 to 1796 close to the ancient Elamite (a civilization that flourished from 2700 to 539 BC) city of Liyan. The Elamite city brought the old civilizations of the west and East together and was known as the cultural epicenter of the ancient world.

Later on in its history, at the beginning of the Sassanian Empire, its founder Ardashir the Unifier who lived from 180 to 242 AD, reconstructed the city of Liyan and renamed it as Ram Ardashir or Rui Ardashir which in time was transformed to Reishahr or Reyshar. During the Sasanian Empire, the city was known as the Book Capital of Iran as it was considered to be a significant Intellectual center in which numerous books were transcribed and stored in its vast libraries.

Today, Fishing plays a key part in the economy of the city and the city is renowned for its seafood cuisines such as Ghalieh Mahi and Ghalieh Meygo. Indeed fresh fish is constantly available in the city’s local fish market. Bushehr is also one of the main manufacturing hubs of the unique Lenj or Lanj fishing Boats. The expertise in the sailing and making of these old-fashioned boats was enlisted in 2011, by UNESCO. Busher is also well-known for its grieving ceremonials during Ashura in which the martyrdom of Imam Hussein who died in 680 in near the city of Karbala, is mourned by Shi’ites around the country

The Old Bazaar of Bushehr

The old Bazaar was built during the Qajar dynasties rule from 1785 to 1925. The market is situated in the old center of the city and is made out of a lengthy passageway of 250 traditional stores. The roof of the Market comprises of numerous holes or skylights that afford both air conditioning and light to the Bazaar. Nourishments, handicrafts, textiles herbal medication and spices are sold within and throughout the bazaar. In 2007 this old market was listed as a National Heritage site.

Malek Mansion

Like many other historical buildings in Bushehr, this mansion was built during the Qajar dynasties rule of 1785 to 1925. Indeed this mansion was built by a Malek-ol Tojjar a merchant from the city who was infatuated with a house in France. Malek-ol Tojjar hired the architect to construct a similar home for himself in Bushehr. With its elaborate wall paintings, an enormous ebony door and a balcony held by three pillars and listed in 1999 as a National Heritage Site, this French-Iranian mansion, is unique among its kind in the region.

The Sea and Seamanship Museum

From its commencement in 2009, this museum has been dedicated to the exhibition of naval and military equipment. The Museum displays a variety of items such as Maritime binoculars, compasses, night-vision goggles and devices, historic maps, radios, medical gears and kits, Persian and English typewrites. In addition, the museum also presents documents of numerous naval missions and profiles of the martyrs of the navy during the Iran-Iraq wars of 1980 to 1988.

Submarines, military ships, and Lenj boats made by engineers from inside the country during the Iran-Iraq war are shown by the entrance of the museum. Iran’s first modern warship, the Persepolis battleship now more than a hundred years old which was given to the Qajar king, Nassereddin Shah, in 1885 as a gift by Germany, is also contained within the Museum.

Dehdashti Museum

Also known as the Museum of Architecture of Bushehr, it is situated in the Dehdashti palace. This Museum showcases small-scale replicas and photos of the architecture of Bushehr. In addition, the museum also provides displays and information on the details of old Bushehr, its historic buildings and the old materials that they used to construct the historic buildings.

Anthropology Museum

Located in the Taheri palace built during the Qajar dynasty (1785 – 1925), Bushehr’s Anthropology museum began its work in 2006. The Museum contains wax sculptures illustrating the clothing, customs and cultures of old Bushehr in addition to cookware, farming tools, and musical instruments.

Jashak Salt Dome

Located on the southern hills of the Zagros Mountains in the province of Bushehr, Jashnak is amongst the substantial and stunning salt domes in the world. The Jashak Salt dome stands high at 1350 meters above the adjacent plain. This mountain range has the width of 4.5 and the length of 12 kilometers. The Dome’s expands over to 3.7 square kilometers of land. The dome was shaped during the late Precambrian and early Paleozoic era, taking shape as a result of its previous location under shallow seas. Salt Domes take form during dozens of thousands of years as due to seawater temporarily drowning the area and then evaporating leaving salt residue in the shape of domes and eventually mushrooms. Many Salt domes exist in Bushehr and Hormozgan Provinces, in fact, there are more than hundred Salt domes in the south of the country, but the caves, crystals, waterfalls and the varied salts, make The Jashak Salt dome particularly unique.