When it comes to visiting the deserts of Iran, what comes to mind at first is their hot weather, however, the special geographical features of the desert Esfahak Village have caused this amazing place to have cooler weather compared with other cities and villages surrounding it, and also other deserts of Iran. Esfahak Village in tabas 38 kilometers away from Tabas city in a desert region in south Khorasan Province, in east southeast Iran, and its abandoned and historical district is one of the most exotic and special villages and desert attractions in the vast and varied land of Iran. The Esfahak Village is one of the booming travel destinations among travelers and nature lovers who seek desert destinations and places with old and unique architecture.
Esfahak Village - Iran
The story behind Esfahak Village
The Esfahak Village is a 400-year-old village located in the heart of the desert and palm tree gardens with a special climate, because of the mountains around this village, and also the water wells and fresh water Qanats that have been dug by residents for 400 years ago. A big part of the beautiful and booming Isfahak village was destroyed by the harsh earthquake of Tabas in September of 1978, and the surviving locals and residents abandoned their villages and migrated to neighboring cities. But in recent years, children of locals of Esfahak Village, who are now grownups, decided to revive their village and little by little changed it into a tourist village with amazing attractions.
A big part of this reconstruction project is the work of Mr. Faramarz Parsi, who has renovated some houses, a school, a mosque, and a bathhouse and has established a new observatory and an institute of architecture.Today the houses of the village that were destroyed and abandoned because of the earthquake 45 years ago, are renovated and are being used as eco-lodges and residences for accommodating travelers and visitors who travel to this amazing spot for enjoying the clear and starry night sky and the evergreen palm gardens.
In this touristic village, no one smokes hookah or cigarettes, no food is served in plastic dishes, and there are separate trash bins for waste sorting. Also, visitors should take off their shoes when they enter the rooms. During the night, the village shines by the light of lanterns, and walking through the cobblestone alleys and visiting the mud-brick houses and arcs is a wonderful experience that feels like traveling back in time.
Esfahak Village - Iran
The architecture of Esfahak Village
The architectural construction of Esfahak Village is completely based on the architectural style of desert regions and the material used for building houses is mud and brick. The houses and buildings of Esfahak Village are built close to each other in order to provide more safety against rubbery and also proving more shadow during hot summer days and keep houses warmer during winter. another architectural feature of Esfahak Village is the dome-shaped ceilings of the houses which is a smart solution for providing shadow.
Esfahak Village - Iran
Locals of Esfahak
In recent years, tourism-based activities like running small eco-lodges and village houses and providing transfer services, have become a main source of income for locals of Esfahak Village. Apart from that, having access to rich water resources like water wells and Qanats since centuries ago, and also a cooler climate (about 5 to 6 degrees lower) than the neighboring villages and towns has led to thriving agriculture and animal husbandry in Esfahak. The most important agricultural products of Esfahak Village are Saffron and date which are harvested in very large amounts every year.
Things to do in Esfahak Village
Stargazing at the Observatory
One of the most significant attractions of the deserts of Iran is the surreally beautiful and starry night sky, and the Esfahak Desert Village is not an exception and offers the most wonderful night sky. One of the best things that you can do in Esfahak Village is exploring the night sky and enjoy astronomy at the observatory of the village which is a circle-shaped brick building and is open every day from sunset to midnight.
Walking through the alleys
Since Isfahak village is characterized by its old district, walking through its historical alleys and exploring the architecture of the desert is an activity that shouldn’t be missed. The Jaame Mosque of Esfahak is a small yet atmospheric building with a simple mudbrick dome, and the historical bathhouse is an amazing building where you can also experience taking a shower the way Iranians did many years ago.
Esfahak Village - Iran
While you are in Esfahak Village, you can also enjoy exploring the mysterious Kal- Jenni Canyon of Tabas which is one of the most exotic natural attractions in Iran with a rich history.
