Shiraz Things to Do

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This 18th century mosque was in pocess of restoration, so therefore it looks like that on photos. It was built by Persian ruler Kharim Khan. He refused to call him as shah, he was called as regent. That's why the mosque is called Regent's Mosque.

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The citadel of Karim Khan is situated in the city centre, along Zand Boulevard. From the outside you will see brown walls with round towers, 14 metres high, in the corners. The tower in the south eastern corner is leaning and there has been no success in making the slope correct.
In the large courtyard there is a long pool and a lot of citrus trees. Restoration was going on and I was told there was going to be a museum here when it’s finished. When I visited there was an exhibition of old time photos and a small ethnographic display of clothes and old traditions.
As I arrived the man taking money for the entrance tried to get more and said it was IR 4000, but I could see the sign that clearly said it was IR 2000 (in English). I pointed to the sign and didn’t pay more than that.

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Karim Khan-e Zand Boulevard is the main street in Shiraz and it runs through the city from northwest to southeast for more than 2 km. Along this street you will find banks, exchange offices, shops, a cinema, eateries and much more. Many of the hotels in Shiraz are situated by Zand Boulevard, or near it.

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Nasir-ol Molk Mosque is a very beautiful mosque. At the entrance there was something that looked like a ticket booth, but no one was there, actually we didn’t see a single person as we walked around the mosque and it was very tranquil. Walking around the courtyard you will see exquisite work. In the winter prayer hall the columns are twisted, like in the Regent’s Mosque, and the stained glass windows are beautiful and colourful. There is also a museum with photos from old times.

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Regent’s Mosque is situated by the entrance to the bazaar. It was built in 1773 by Karim Khan, but most of the tiling is from the Qajar era. Women who enter get a chador to cover up more (but to me who is not used to it, it only made my scarf fall of). You enter to a courtyard with a pool in the middle and around the courtyard are beautiful tiled alcoves and porches. The prayer hall is large and it is covered with small cupolas. There are 48 twisted columns in the hall and a fine marble minbar (pulpit) with 14 steps.

On the way out from Shiraz, to the north, northeast stands the Quran Gateway. It is believed to have been built first in the 9th century. Karim Khan Zand had a room built over the arch where a quran was kept and anyone going on a journey was supposed to pass under the gateway, and quran. As new roads were built 70 years ago the gateway was thorn down, but after angry reactions it was built up again after five years.

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Bagh-e Naranjestan means Orange Garden. The garden is quite small, but what catches your eyes as you enter is the magnificent pavilion, which was built between 1879 - 1886. This is a fine example of an upper class house from late Qajar period. It is decorated with mirrors, inlaid wooden panels, tile work and colourful stained glass windows. In the late Qajar period this was the residence of the Governor. In the basement there is a museum.
Entrance fee is IR 3000 (July 2006).

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Very near Tomb of Hafez is Jahan Nama Garden. It is a walled garden and it has recently been restored. In the centre is an 18th century house and from the house is four avenues going out in each direction to the walking path going around the garden. It was already dark when I visited, people were slowly strolling round or sitting on benches talking with low voices. Between the avenues it looked like the flowers were planted in patterns.