Marivan Tourist Attractions | Top 20 Places to Visit in Iran

Travel to Iran | Marivan Zarivar Lake

Marivan Zarivar Lake

the Largest Freshwater Lake

Zarivar (Zrebar, Zaribar) is a natural lake in Marivan city, Kurdistan. The lake gives you a unique chance for birding activities as more than 270 kinds of birds has been recorded here. This stunning ecosystem with an area of about 3000 hectares is a combination of water, canebrake and wildlife. It has sweet water and is one of the marivan tourist attractions. Some springs at the bottom of the lake supplies its water. This lake has many species of fish, birds and vegetation diversity. Walking beside peaceful lake, visiting villages around it, eating fresh grilled fish, boat riding and fishing are available just around this amazing lake. Make sure to try rafting using pedal or motor boats in the pristine water of the gigantic lake. It is a travel destination for weekend.

Marivan Uraman Takht Village

The Stepped Architecture

Uraman Takht Village is located in an east-west valley on steep slope overlooking the northern front of the Takht Mountains 63 km. south of Marivan, Kurdistan Province in IRAN. The village houses are generally made of stone and stair like fashion, with beams covering the ceilings. These houses are arranged such that the roof of one house is the courtyard of the other. The Oramanat Takht Village is one of the attractive rural areas of Kurdestan which besides its panoramic views, has valuable tourism capacities because of the annual performance of an ancient and wonderful ceremony of Pir Shalyar. Ancient fire temples, remnants of this region indicate that the inhabitants were Zoroastrians before converting to Islam. Here the lands are covered with walnut, pomegranate, fig and mulberry trees. The tombs of Pir Shalyar (Peer Shahriar) is one of the creditable pilgrimage sites of the people, which was a Zoroastrian celestial before the advent of Islam.

Visit Iran | Marivan Imam Castle

Marivan Imam Castle

Marivan Khan Ahmad Castle

During the Safavid period (1737-1502 AD), this castle has been the ruling center of Kurdistan and has played a major role in the historic events of the region. However, due to negligence and also the establishment of a stone quarry and factory nearby, this historical site is now being destroyed.

Iran Attractions | Marivan Garan Bridge

Marivan Garan Bridge

Historical bridge of Garan

Garan historical bridge dating back to Safavid dynasty (1501 to 1736) and being built by Rulers of Ardalan. It was registered as a national site in west of Iran, in 2000.

Marivan Border Market

Bashmagh Border Market in Marivan

Today, providing sustainable livelihood for villagers is a priority for rural development planers. This issue in rural border areas is crucial because of centralization principle in the allocation of resources and facilities which causes suffer and pressure so that the main goal is to survive in many border villages. In this regard, benefiting from the advantages of the trading in these areas by opening border markets is a good strategy which has the ability to evolve and change the livelihood of the villagers. Bashmagh Border Market in Marivan is in The frontier between Iran and Iraq. International boundaries have their own specific characteristics. They have some benefits and some threats. You can buy Marivan souvenirs from this border market.

Marivan Pir Shalyar Festival

a festival with ritualistic Dance

The festival of Pir Shalyar is an old traditional ceremony (goes back to over 950 years), still alive in Uraman Takht between the cities of Marivan and Paveh. It is held in the 40th day of winter. The celebration is held in three stages, each in a day. The legend is about a wise man, called Pir Shalyar. His fame had reached as far as Bukhara (in today’s Uzbekistan), where its king was searching for a wise medicine man to cure his daughter. After knowing about Pir Shalyar, the king decided to send her daughter to Uraman. As she got close to the destination, she heard the frightening roar of a demon. When she arrived the house of the Pir, the massive demon fell down the cliff and died at the Pir’s door. By this event, king’s daughter suddenly started to speak and everyone saw it as the miracle of Pir Shalyar.

The people of Uraman celebrate the wedding for 950 years

The beautiful princess became Pir’s wife and people of Uraman celebrated the wedding for several days. This festival is filled with rhythmic music, religious chants and ritualistic dances. The ceremony is segregated into two main parts, first is the wedding celebration, held in early February. On this day, kids pick walnuts from Pir Shalyar’s garden to distribute around town. Children go door to door, give walnut to the families and announce that the celebration is coming; people of the house give them sweets and treats instead. The next morning, some cattle, selected by their owners to sacrifice, will be taken at the door of Pir Shalyar’s house. The meat of the animals will be used for a very large feast soup and the rest will be distributed among the people.

Dance of Dervishes to the music of Daf

While people in charge of cooking are preparing the traditional soup, the rest of the village go on their rooftops to watch the ritualistic dance of Dervishes to the music of Daf. This dance is very unique, as the young and old dervishes bend to the rhythm, flying their long hair. The second part is celebrated in early May each year, with celebration of spring, more Daf drumming and ritual dances, and finally by chipping a piece from a large stone at the graveyard where Pir Shalyar’s tomb is located. People believe that this little chip can help healing the ill, and it grows back on the main stone till next year. What’s interesting about the ceremony of Pir Shalyar, is that two main religions of Zoroastrianism and Islam merge here.

Marivan Negel Village

Ancinet Quran of Negel village

This village is located 60 km west of Sanandaj and along the Sanandaj-Marivan route. The village is famous for a volume of the Holy Quran in the 'Kufic' script. This Quran dates back to more than 1000 years. The beginning and number of verses of this Quran are gilded. It is decorated with plant designs that have added to its beauties. The discovery of this book in the Safavid period has provided a new life to the people of Negel village. The large Folio Quran is 38 cm in length, 21 cm in width, and 13 cm in diameter. Its cover is from leather with dark brown color. The Papers of which the Quran pages are made are thick and because of the similarity to the skin, it is known as “deer’s skin” among the people. Negel Quran is being kept inside the historic mosque of the village.

Marivan Dare Tafi Village

Dare Tafi village, one of Marivan districts of Kurdistan Iran, is known as the village of storks. Every year in the spring, this village hosts storks that stop here on their way to the tropical regions of Saudi Arabia and Jeddah. These birds, which the villagers call Haji storks, build nests on top of electric poles and oak trees in the village and create unique landscapes. This beautiful village is considered one of the sights of Marivan.

Marivan Kani Sanan Village

Kani Sanan village is located at the foot of the mountain and in front of the beautiful Zarivar lake. The houses of this village are built in a row, right behind each other and without any of them facing the other. The beauty of this village has made it one of the tourist destinations of Marivan.

Marivan Goyleh Waterfall

Beautiful Waterfall

A beautiful waterfall to discover in Kurdistan. It is amazing location for picnic, one of the best place to get natural breath. A great weather for the summer as the heat won't be felt here.

Marivan Bell Waterfall

Bell waterfall is located in a village with the same name, in the Oramanat region of Kurdistan, and is one of the sights of Marivan. The water of this waterfall comes out of the mountain gap with great volume and pressure and creates a magnificent view.

Marivan Tourist Attraction- Forests

Marivan Forests

Marivan Tourist Attraction- Daraki Village

Marivan Daraki Village

Daraki village, which is one of the scenic spots and natural attractions of Kurdistan, Iran, includes pristine and untouched natural areas. If you want to have the river, spring, forest, plain, grass, waterfall, snow, mountain, the sound of water, the sound of birds and overturned tulips at the same time, Daraki Valley is the place you are looking for. The people of the village are very hospitable, kind and hardworking, who offer the products of their garden to the passers-by. The products of the gardens in this area include walnuts, strawberries, dried berries, almonds, apricots, and plums. All kinds of local dairies can be found in this village. The local bread of this region is called Kalane, which is made with chives and ivy, greased with local butter, and served with yogurt, buttermilk or local buttermilk. The smell of this bread is wonderful.

Kurdistan Tourist Attraction- Palangan Village

Kurdistan Palangan Village

Palengan is a village with terraced architecture in a mountainous area that is divided into two parts by a raging river. This charming and wonderful village, which is considered one of the natural attractions of Kurdistan, Iran, includes lush gardens, bubbling springs, watery waterfalls, etc. Also, Palangan Castle, which is located on top of the mountain, adds to the charm of the village.

Kurdistan Tourist Attraction- Khosrow Abad Mansion

Kurdistan Khosrow Abad Mansion

Khosroabad mansion, which is one of the historical attractions of Kurdistan Iran, includes various parts such as the royal palace, porch, bathroom, porter's room and servants' room. This mansion was built during the Qajar period and was used as the seat of government of Ardalan governors.

Kurdistan Tajvanchi Caravanserai

Tajvanchi Caravanserai, which is one of the tourist attractions of Saqqez city of Iran, dates back to the Zandieh period. This building was built during the reign of Khosrow-Khan-I. The design of the two-story caravanserai includes a rectangular courtyard, cylindrical brick columns, square brick pillars, a water view in the center of the courtyard, and cells and chambers around it.

Sanandaj Amjad al-Ashraf Mansion

Amjad al-Ashraf mansion is one of the old buildings and places of interest in Sanandaj, which was built according to the order of an Isfahani businessman with the art of Isfahan-i architects and masters.

Sanandaj Glass Bath

The Glass Bath, which is one of the famous places in Sanandaj, is not glass at all, and like all other historical baths, is made of stone, plaster and mortar. Beautiful colored glass is used in this bathroom and therefore it is famous with this name. Considering that most of the historical baths were built during the Zandieh period, probably the age of this bath also belongs to the Zandieh period.

Kurdistan Khosrow Abad Mosque

Khosroabad Mosque is located in Gros village of Bijar city. This mosque, which is considered one of the country's single-evan mosques, was probably built by Khosrow Khan Ardalan.

Divandarreh Karaftu Cave

Karaftu Cave is one of the important caves in Iran located in Kurdistan. It is one of the most attractive ancient Iranian tourist sites created with no electric tools and only with hand.