Alasht

Located only 4 hours far from the capital city of Tehran, Alasht is one of the villages of Savadkooh, Mazandaran province. It is one of the best villages to resort to in the holidays or weekends. This village is the birthplace of Reza Shah, the Pahlavi king of Iran. The kind and hospitable locals have created a quite nice atmosphere here. Its both nature and history must be carved and explored. Want to enjoy the embrace of the cool mist around you? Plan your trip and head for it.

About Alasht

Like many natural sites of the north of Iran, Alasht is a part of paradise left on earth. The green grass, fresh weather, and the cool mist have created an imaginary world up here. Located in the northern mountainside of Firoozkooh, this piece of land is 1900 meters above the sea level with a humid and mild climate. This beautiful land has been registered as a National Heritage Site of Iran.

Facts About Alasht

One nice fact about the locals of this area is that they all have the name of their land after their family name in their identity document. It can simply indicate that the people here are strongly devoted to their birthplace.

Alasht means the nest of eagles and the reason for such naming is that there is a lot of eagles in the mountains of this village. It also has a strictly preserved wildlife.

In addition, the houses have fruit trees like walnut, hazelnut, and cherry in their yards.

Local people cook Mazani or Mazandarani dishes which are very mouth-watering. People of the north have a great gastronomic taste and we highly recommend trying them during your stay.

History of Alasht

Ancient hills can be seen all around the village. The objects that have been found in the graves of this area are representative of its long history. However, not many investigations about the exact age of Alasht has been done so far. This village is the birthplace of Reza Shah, the Pahlavi king of Iran. It was transformed into a city in 1973 and a municipality was established here in the same year.

The Observatory Building

If you are wondering where you can visit in Alasht, the first place you should go to is the observatory building. It is the first building of its kind in the Northern provinces built on a hill by the municipality and two companies from Isfahan and Shiraz in 2006. The aim of its construction has been the improvement of tourism in the area on the one hand and holding educational plans on the other.

Museum of Alasht Anthropology

The house where Reza Shah Pahlavi was born was changed to an anthropological museum in 2008. The fact is that this house belonged to his paternal uncle but was then rumored among tourists as his father’s house. This museum has put the lifestyle and the everyday tools of people on display.

Reza Shah Mosque or Jameh Mosque

Reza Shah founded a mosque in remembrance of his father in the northwest of the city. There used to be a statue of Reza Shah in the mosque which was destructed in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution.

Dokhtar-e Pak Temple (The Innocent Girl’s Temple)

The ladies and girls in the city go to this temple to pray for their wishes to come true. Only women are allowed to enter this holy place.

Handicrafts Building

If you like to buy souvenirs, head for this building. In addition to buying them, you can watch women knitting and making traditional stuff. Most women have professional careers in handicrafts making. You can buy fabric and socks as souvenirs.

When to Visit Alasht

As Alasht is located in a mountainous region, summer is the best time to move here. If you come here around August, you can try the tasty blackberries. If you can stand cold weather, move here in autumn to see its beauties.