benab | Explore Everything About Bonab City

In this article, we will tell you all about the city of Bonab. Bonab City is located in East Azerbaijan Province. Perhaps you’ve already associated this city with the delicious Bonab kebabs upon hearing its name. Bonab kebab is one of the gastronomic attractions of this city. To get acquainted with the natural and historical attractions of this city, you must definitely include a trip to Bonab County in your travel list. Bonab is one of those cities with a historical background, and archaeologists have discovered objects and places related to past centuries in it. Below, we’ll tell you more about the sights and tourist attractions of Bonab.

Soure Village: One of Bonab’s Attractions

Bonab’s villages are among the most beautiful villages in Iran. Some of these villages have a historical background, and some, besides their rich history, boast unique natural beauty. Soure Village is one of the villages of Bonab and is also counted among the sights of Bonab. The architecture of Soure Village’s houses is among the rocky architectures. The houses of this village are built in a beautiful valley, and the river passing through it provides water for the agriculture and livestock of the locals. The drinking water for the village residents is supplied through a spring in the village. The historical caves of the village are another attraction of Soure Village and, of course, one of Bonab’s attractions.

Panch Cheshmeh Bridge: One of Bonab’s Tourist Attractions

The Panch Cheshmeh Bridge is built on the Safi River route in Bonab City. The bridge dates back to the Safavid era. The bridge’s facade is made of bricks, and its floor is cobblestone. The bridge’s structure consists of five arched springs. Panch Cheshmeh Bridge was registered in the national heritage list in 1379.

Gara Gheshlagh Lake

Gara Gheshlagh Lake is a beautiful lake in Bonab City, which is famous for its scenic beauty and is known as the bride of Azerbaijani lakes. Due to its beauty, it serves as a habitat for many birds, being close to Lake Urmia. This lake is considered a prohibited hunting area in East Azerbaijan Province. The vegetation cover and the pleasant climate of the lake have made it a destination for tourists to visit and relax in the summers. One of the most beautiful lakes in northeastern Iran is Gara Qeshlaq Lake, a prominent tourist attraction in Bonab. It offers splendid views of various animal species, birds, and plants, making it a tranquil spot where you can spend hours admiring the scenery.

Address of Gara Qeshlaq Lake: East Azerbaijan Province, 13 kilometers from Bonab.

Totakhane Village

Another village of Bonab is the stepped village of Totakhane. This village is one of the stepped villages of Bonab and is located 15 kilometers away from Bonab County. This village has a very beautiful architecture, and alongside the architecture, the nature of the village is also very picturesque. The houses of Totakhane Village are located in the foothills of the Totakhane Mountains, and doors and windows are built small to prevent cold penetration. Also, by spreading mica soil on the village buildings, they all appear red.

Haj Fathollah Bathhouse

The historical building of Haj Fathollah Bathhouse belongs to the Qajar period. This bathhouse is one of the attractions of the old texture of Bonab City. This building used to be one of the most important bathhouses in the city, but unfortunately, it was abandoned for a long time, and the new owner demolished part of its dome and built a new bathhouse. However, most of the bathhouse building is still standing and needs repair and restoration.Another notable structure in Bonab is the Haj Fathollah Bathhouse, constructed by renowned architects. Located on the old Mahal-Gavudl road, which was once a significant trade route, this ancient bathhouse has undergone restoration but has one dome in ruins. Currently, it serves as a venue for workshops and handicraft training. The bathhouse was registered as a national heritage site in 1380.

Address of Haj Fathollah Bathhouse: East Azerbaijan Province, Bonab County, Kamaloo Street.

Kabud Mosque of Bonab

Another sight of Bonab is the Kabud Mosque in Bonab City. The mosque’s name is derived from its turquoise tiles and enamels, and in fact, the word “Kabud” refers to the blue color of the building. However, currently, many tiles are not visible in the mosque building, and it seems that these tiles have worn out over time and the original covering remains. Kabud Mosque of Bonab, Maragheh Gonbad, and Kabud Mosque of Tabriz are three religious and sacred sites of the Ilkhanate period located in the Azerbaijan region.

Zargar Mosque

Another noteworthy attraction in Bonab is Zargar Mosque. Situated west of the old Haj Taghi Bazaar and accessible from the Masgaran Bazaar, this mosque is a relic from the Safavid era. Its unique architecture, adorned with Quranic verses, adds to its beauty.

Address of Zargar Mosque: Bonab, Zargaran Street.

The Background of Bonab County

Bonab is one of the oldest cities in Iran, and many signs indicate this fact. Based on these signs and ancient artifacts found in Bonab, the historical background of this city can be estimated to be more or less six thousand years. Among these signs, we can mention the artifacts obtained from the excavations of Qareh Tepe, Gazavasht, and Qizlar Qaleh, which are counted as ninety-three ancient hills of Iran, as well as the existence of thirty-six caves belonging to each other (rock architecture of Soure), which indicate collective life in prehistoric times. Besides, ancient artifacts and vessels such as pottery, metal, and signs of urban civilization to a depth of several meters underground are evidence of the long history of Bonab County.

Geographical Location of Bonab County

Bonab County occupies the southwestern part of West Azerbaijan Province, situated in the Sahand Mountains, along the Safi Chay River, and among the fertile plains. Bonab is bordered by the city of Ajabshir to the north, Maragheh County to the east, Lake Urmia to the west, and Malekan County to the south.

Chaharsu Bazaar

Now, let’s move on to the sweet part of the journey: visiting the market for shopping and exploring. Chaharsu Bazaar, also known as Ozun Bazaar, is a historical site with a wooden ceiling. Despite experiencing incidents like fires, it has been restored and offers a variety of goods such as gold, household items, and quality products.

Address of Chaharsu Bazaar: Bonab, Imam Hossein Square, Shahid Beheshti Street.

Soor Historical Village

Located 24 kilometers from Bonab, Soor is a local village with a rich historical background. With over 25 to 30 households, it features ancient stone structures dating back over 3,000 years. Surrounded by mountains, the village’s houses are built by carving into the rocks, showcasing remarkable architectural ingenuity.

Amir Farhangi Pigeon Tower

This historical building, located on Bahonar Street, consists of three floors: the top floor for guarding, the middle floor for pigeons, and the bottom floor for a garden house. Although it was damaged during World War II, it was reconstructed by architect Abbas Ali Amir Farhangi. Amir Farhangi’s dovecote belongs to the late Qajar period and is located on Shahid Bahonar Street in Bonab. With three stories, the top floor of the building was used as a guardhouse, the middle floor for pigeon keeping, and the ground floor as a garden house.

During World War II, this dovecote was targeted by Russian warplanes, assuming it was a military outpost watchtower, but fortunately, it did not sustain serious damage. According to inscriptions on the walls of the building, its history is estimated to be around 1280 AH.

Ismaeil Beyg Mosque

A mosque from the Safavid era awaits your visit. Its architecture resembles other mosques seen in Bonab. With wooden columns, notable domes, and colorful stained glass windows, it offers a delightful and unique sight.

Address of Ismaeil Beyg Mosque: Bonab, Beheshti Street, behind Bonab Education Department.

Mehrabad Mosque, Bonab

Mehrabad Mosque in Bonab is one of the few attractions that is open for visits at any hour of the day. According to the inscription on the mosque’s door, it was built during the reign of Shah Tahmasb I by Bibi Jan-e Mansour Begum. This mosque holds architectural value, with intricately carved ceilings, columns, and capitals inside. Each tile adorning its ceilings is beautifully engraved, a rarity among historical buildings in Iran.

Blue Mosque of Bonab

This building is located in the famous alley known as Saif al-Alma and is considered one of the sights of Bonab and the Safavid period monuments. The southern façade of the nocturnal is composed of three iwans, with the central iwan located behind the mihrab of the nocturnal. Inside the two side iwans, two tall windows are inserted. At the entrance of the mosque, next to the southern side of the nocturnal, is located.

The western side of the nocturnal, overlooking Saif al-Alma Alley, consists of five iwans, each containing five small windows and five doors that are closed. The surface of the nocturnal is higher than the courtyard level, and at the entrance to it, there is a shoe rack where the syrup house and the staircase to the balcony are located. The nocturnal is rectangular in shape with a flat timber-covered roof, like other mosques of the Safavid era in this region; however, no patterns or designs are seen on the arches and roof here; instead, interesting patterns and designs are drawn on the hexagonal columns with black and red colors.

Tuta Khaneh Village

The rocky architecture of Tuta Khaneh village is unique and fascinating in its kind. This village is one of the most beautiful sights of Bonab, with 117 households and a population of 529 people located in a 15-kilometer distance from Bonab city. Tuta Khaneh village is situated in a mountainous area surrounded by high mountains and hills.

Tuta Khaneh’s elevation above sea level is about 1920 meters, and it has a moderate mountainous climate. Its climate is moderate and pleasant in spring and summer, while its winter is cold, snowy, and long. To protect the houses from winter cold, most of them have small windows and doors. The lush green pastures, beautiful and enchanting landscapes, and unique pristine nature of this village, especially in spring and summer, make it very attractive.

Most of the income of the people in this village comes from agriculture and animal husbandry activities. Some of the villagers are also employed in service sectors and handicraft production. Various carpets with diverse colors and local designs are the most important handicrafts of Tuta Khaneh. Nuts and legumes are also among the souvenirs of this village with its pristine nature.

Sowr Underground City

The underground city located in the village of Sowr, although not seriously explored and studied, is truly unique in its kind and seems to have a much longer history than beehives and the like. Sowr village is situated in a valley near Bonab, with a river passing through the middle of the village, and people have built houses in the style of current Iranian villages on both sides of the river.

It seems that everything has been foreseen and considered in the architecture of this underground city so that its inhabitants could live for long periods and even whole seasons in this underground colony without the need to exit. In this underground city, besides the amenities provided for humans, places for keeping livestock, storing fodder for livestock, and so on were also provided, and remnants of them still exist.

Mehrabad Bathhouse, Bonab

This ancient bathhouse, remaining from the Safavid era, is a complete example of valuable historical architecture in Azerbaijan. Spanning an area of 342 square meters, it stands opposite the historical Mehrabad Mosque, forming a complete urban complex. Owned by the municipality of Bonab and entrusted to the East Azerbaijan Cultural Heritage Organization for restoration, it was registered as a national heritage site in 1378. Restoration work continued until 1382, and afterward, it was considered for conversion into a museum of ethnography for Southern Sahand.

Doosh Dam

Doosh Dam is one of the famous attractions of Bonab, providing water for the agricultural lands and rural areas. This dam is built on the Chovan Chay River. When visiting Bonab, make sure to bring your camera to capture beautiful photos of the fascinating wildlife and birds living here.

Address of Doosh Dam: East Azerbaijan Province, northeast of Bonab city.

Safavi Museum (Seyf al-Ulama House)

The Safavi Museum was established in 1390 in the historical Seyf al-Ulama House in Bonab. All the artifacts in this museum, from coins to paintings, belong to the Safavid period and its kings. This house, once owned by Sheikh Ali Qazi, was built during the Qajar period, inspired by the architecture of the Ismail Beyg Mosque in Bonab, dating back to the Safavid era.

The Seyf al-Ulama House has a brick facade facing south, with its main materials being wood, brick, and clay. The house covers an area of 450 square meters, with a courtyard of about 490 square meters in front of the building. It is a two-story structure, with the upper floor precisely replicating the architecture of the first floor. One notable architectural feature of this building is the ornamentation on its facade. Located in an old neighborhood on Shahid Beheshti Street in Bonab, it is registered as a national heritage site in Iran.

Bonab Souvenirs

Bonab is one of the richest cities in Iran in terms of souvenirs and local products. Among the handicrafts of Bonab, we can mention carpet design, carpet weaving, metal engraving on copper, and wood carving. In addition to this, prominent agricultural products include grapes, cucumbers, and onions. Also, dried fruits and traditional Bonab kebabs are globally renowned and attract many people to this county. Apart from these, Dou-Shab (grape syrup) and various types of Bonab sweets such as Sari Halva, Bozorg Halva, and Nokhodli Halva, as well as various handicrafts and sweets such as nougat and Baqlava, are well-known and popular. Bonab kebab, mentioned earlier, is one of the best Iranian foods, and its fame has spread throughout Iran, and according to rumors, this kebab is on the verge of being internationally registered. Besides kebabs, Bonab County is also known for Samanu, and it offers some of the best Samanus in Iran to the city’s residents and travelers.

How to Get to Bonab County?

It doesn’t matter whether you want to travel by land or air; you can open your way to this beautiful county in any way. If you want to travel to Bonab by road and by car, you have to pass through the land route of Tehran, Qazvin, and Zanjan and then head to Bonab via the Zanjan-Tabriz freeway. If you want to go to Bonab by air, Sahand Airport in Maragheh can help you, and Bonab Railway Station is also for those who want to go to this historical county by train.

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We’ve taken a tour of Bonab’s attractions and indulged in the delicious kebabs the city is famous for. Known as the city of bicycles, Bonab boasts diverse weather that can create memorable moments during your trip. Now, tell us, have you ever experienced visiting this charming city?