Nishapur Souvenir : A Historical City in Iran

Nishapur is a city in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran, and the capital of Nishapur County. It is located on the slopes of the Binalud Mountains in the northeast of the country and is one of the most important tourist, industrial, and historical centers in Iran.

History

Nishapur’s history dates back to the Sassanian period and was the center of the Abarshahr satrapy, which was founded in the mid-3rd century by Shapur I. Nishapur was the capital of the Tahirid dynasty from 821 to 873 AD and then the capital of the first Seljuk Sultanate, chosen by Tughrul.

Scientific and Cultural Center

During the Islamic era, Nishapur was one of the major centers of science and culture in the Islamic world. It was home to many famous scholars, poets, and Sufis, including Omar Khayyam, Attar of Nishapur, and Farid ud-din Attar.

Nishapur Today

Today, Nishapur is a modern city with a population of over 260,000 people. It is a major center for agriculture, industry, and commerce. The city is also a popular tourist destination, with many historical sites and attractions, including the Mausoleum of Omar Khayyam, the Attar of Nishapur Museum, and the Nishapur Bazaar.

Souvenirs of Nishapur

Nishapur is famous for its handicrafts, including turquoise jewelry, pottery, and carpets. The city is also a major producer of saffron, which is one of the most expensive spices in the world.

Here are some of the most popular souvenirs from Nishapur:

Turquoise jewelry
Pottery
Carpets
Saffron
Dried fruits and nuts
Nougat

Tips for Buying Souvenirs in Nishapur

When bargaining, be sure to start at a price that is at least half of the asking price.
Be prepared to walk away if you cannot get a good price.
Be sure to inspect the quality of the goods before you buy them.
If you are buying jewelry, be sure to ask for a certificate of authenticity.

Nishapur Souvenirs: Turquoise, Calligraphy Pens, Rhubarb, and Traditional Markets

Turquoise

Nishapur is famous for its turquoise mines, and cutting and shaping this precious stone is one of the oldest professions in the region. Today, the turquoise mines are located in northwestern Nishapur and on the slopes of the Binalud Mountains. There are many different types of turquoise, including Arabic turquoise, shrub turquoise, Shrewam turquoise, Ajami turquoise (the best type of turquoise), Tokhal turquoise, and Chaghaleh turquoise.

Turquoise is most commonly used as a gemstone in rings and is also inlaid in rings, necklaces, and silver utensils. Turquoise is actually the most famous souvenir of Iran in this region and has a worldwide reputation. Nishapur turquoise, which is the best and most expensive type, is for this reason, this province, especially the city of Mashhad, is the center of cutting and wholesale trade of turquoise in the world; So that a large amount of turquoise extracted from mines in other countries is cut in Mashhad and exported from there to other world markets. Turquoise that is cut in Mashhad is known as Khorasan turquoise.

Calligraphy Pens and the Chain of Gold Hadith

According to oral tradition and some famous writings, Imam Reza (AS) in his historic migration from Medina to Merv entered Nishapur on his way and the high-ranking hadith of the Chain of Gold, which contains the essence of Shia history, was recited by the blessed tongue of Hazrat in the gathering of the people of Nishapur.

The people of Nishapur used pens to write down the words of the Prophet, and these pens were kept in beautiful pen cases. Although the art of pen case making is not as popular in Nishapur as it once was, it was one of the most popular arts in the region in the past.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb grows on the slopes of the Binalud Mountains and is known as one of Nishapur’s edible souvenirs. The natives grow rhubarb by placing stones around the stem, which makes the stem of the rhubarb grow taller.

Traditional Markets of Nishapur

Nishapur is one of the few cities in Razavi Khorasan that still has many traditional markets today. This covered market was built during the Safavid era and is located on Imam Khomeini Street (RA) and has many arcades, inns, crossroads, timchehs and baths. In the covered market, there are cells of traditional and local occupations such as carpet selling, copperware, coppersmithing, dyeing, blacksmithing, cloth selling and many other cells.

Other souvenirs and handicrafts of Nishapur include carpet weaving, pottery and glazing.