TEHRAN – Kashan has enormous potential to become an ultimate travel destination if attractions of the ancient oasis city are promoted effectively, Kashan’s governor said on Saturday.

“The tourism capacities of Kashan are unique, and the introduction of these treasured capacities will make this city an ultimate destination for tourists and travelers,” Mohammad-Sharif Zarei said.

Many travelers traditionally opt to bypass Kashan on their journeys between Tehran, Isfahan, and Yazd through the delightful city on the edge of the Dasht-e Kavir is one of Iran’s most alluring destinations.

Kashan enjoys countless capacities in terms of natural, cultural, and religious tourism fields. However, it is highly regarded as an intermediate city in the Tehran-Isfahan route, the official explained.

If the cultural, touristic, historical, natural, religious, and pilgrimage attractions of Kashan are correctly introduced, it will be chosen as the ultimate destination by tourists with different tastes, the official said.

Earlier this year, the Kashan tourism directorate announced plans to promote the ancient town and its surrounding villages as an ‘event-oriented’ tourism hub during the four seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter.

“Kashan and its surrounding regions are renowned for its subcultures, rituals, and a unique variety of historical, cultural, and tourist attractions,” the tourism chief said.

Kashan is situated on a route that connects Tehran to the giant destinations of Isfahan, Shiraz, and Yazd. Moreover, the ancient town is a gateway to many sights, stories, and surrounding attractive villages to discover. Amongst the highlights are the lavishly decorated houses of Brujerdi, Tabatabai, Ameri, and Abbasi.

Apart from cultural sites such as a domed bazaar, where travelers can find loads of Kashani traditions and souvenirs, they may escape the city for the UNESCO-registered Fin Garden, which is believed to be the epitome of Eden.

Kashan is highly famed for rosewater distillation ceremonies, which draw visitors from all over the country. Many believe traditionally distilled rosewater is of higher quality than that produced in factories, probably due to shorter time intervals between the harvest and distillation practices. Golab or rosewater is a fragrant distillate of Mohammadi roses, which is used in dishes to flavor them or consumed as a religious perfume as well.

In addition, Kashan embraces some archaeological gems. Most importantly, the Tepe Sialk yielded interesting pottery pieces, metal tools, and domestic implements made from stone, clay, and bone that date from as early as the 4th millennium BC.

The name Kashan is tightly bound to the UNESCO-designated Abyane, which is situated around 90 km in a southward direction. The ancient village is known for its gorgeous architecture, traditional clothing specifically from the inhabitants, and its old dialect of Persian that dates from the Sassanid era. Abyaneh is truly a living piece of history. Its people’s ways of life and traditions have survived almost unchanged for hundreds of years. It would be an unforgettable day trip for Kashan.

AFM