Top Tourist Attractions in Qaen: Discover the Hidden Gems of South Khorasan

According to the latest archaeological findings, the history of settlement in the city of Qaen dates back to the Middle Paleolithic period, approximately 30,000 years ago. Excavations by an American archaeological team at the Khoonik Cave, located south of the city, uncovered several stone tools from the Middle Paleolithic era. These findings are of significant importance for archaeological and anthropological studies. Additionally, the numerous ancient mounds around Qaen, which show signs of prehistoric settlements, further prove the long-standing habitation of this region in Iran.

It is said that the city of Qaen was built by Key Lohrasp, the father of Goshtasp. In his travelogue, Marco Polo referred to this area as “Tonokain,” a name derived from the two major cities of the Qohestan region, namely Ton (modern-day Ferdows) and Qaen. Nasir Khusraw also visited this city and mentioned the city’s fortifications and its Friday mosque. During the Arab conquest of Iran, the Qohestan region served as a refuge for Zoroastrians. In the 8th century AH, Hamdullah Mustoufi reported on Qaen’s centrality to other settlements in Qohestan and its abundance of saffron and fruit. One of the most important historical monuments in Qaen is its Friday mosque, a structure dating back to the 8th century AH.

Qaen, or Qayen, is one of the oldest cities in South Khorasan Province. With a history spanning 30,000 years, it is not only the oldest city in South Khorasan but also one of the oldest cities in Iran.

This city is the center of Qaenat County and is internationally famous for its high-quality saffron, earning the nickname “Land of Red Gold.” Qaen has always attracted many tourists and travelers from around the world who come to see its purple saffron fields.

The Tomb of Bozorgmehr (Buzurjmehr)

Bozorgmehr Qayeni, also known as Buzurjmehr Qayeni, was a politician, scholar, mystic, and poet from the late 4th and early 5th centuries AH. He served in the court of Sultan Mas’ud Ghaznavi and was fluent in both Persian and Arabic. His poems, especially his famous “Spring Ode,” have been preserved. After the death of Sultan Mahmud, Bozorgmehr spent time in the court of Sultan Mas’ud until the fall of the Ghaznavid dynasty. He eventually moved to Qaen, where he passed away. His tomb is located four kilometers southwest of the city, at the foot of a mountain known as Abu Zar (Bozorgmehr) Mountain. The tomb, dating from the 6th or 7th century AH, is built in the shape of a cross and is constructed with beautiful architecture, using stone, gypsum, and brick. There is also a 700-year-old Pistachio tree next to the tomb, adding to its beauty.

Jama Mosque of Qaen

This mosque is a very old and magnificent building that, in addition to its spiritual significance, has an appealing and uplifting appearance. Even after 1,100 years, this structure remains the tallest building in Qaen. There is some debate regarding its original construction, but one of its foundations being built on a Sassanid fire temple indicates its ancient history. The mosque has been damaged and renovated several times due to earthquakes, as evidenced by inscriptions found on its walls. One inscription, dating back to 796 AH, mentions that the building was repaired by Jamshid Qaran, a notable member of the Qaran family who governed Qaen and was once the ruler of Sari and Damghan during the Timurid period.

Ethnological Museum of Qaen

The Ethnological Museum of Qaen is located on the ground floor of the historic Soltani House, a notable building in the city, and was inaugurated in May 2005. This old house belonged to the Soltani family, a wealthy family in Qaen. The original building dates back to the Zandiyeh period, with alterations made during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras. The museum showcases various traditional practices such as the Yalda Night ceremony (foot stamping), saffron cultivation, spinning and weaving, dairy production, and traditional weddings with local music and dance. The displays feature mannequins dressed in traditional local attire, highlighting the region’s customs and traditions.

Water Museum

The Water Museum of Qaen was opened in November 2007. The water reservoir, located at the end of the old stone alley that once housed the old market, is known as the “Bazaar Water Reservoir,” and it was fed by a qanat (underground water channel). The structure has all the characteristics of traditional water reservoirs, including a staircase leading to the cistern. Based on the architecture and historical evidence, the water reservoir dates back to the Timurid period. This museum, the only water museum in the province, displays the water systems of different historical periods, including images of water-related infrastructure (dams, reservoirs, qanats) and related documents.

Jujeh Cave

Located 25 kilometers east of Qaen and 5 kilometers southwest of the village of Khonik Aliya, Jujeh Cave is one of the most impressive natural caves in Qaen. It is of significant archaeological importance. Despite its name, it is one of the largest caves discovered in South Khorasan, though its end has been sealed off due to an earthquake or stone erosion. The cave entrance is situated approximately 80 meters above the floor of the valley, facing east. The entrance measures 2×4 meters, and the cave’s height reaches 40 meters. The cave consists of a main hall with beautiful crystal and cauliflower-like formations on the walls and floor. Stalactites and stalagmites can also be found in parts of the cave. Fragments of pottery can be found scattered throughout the cave. At the entrance, there is a pool made of stone and mortar. Just before the cave, to the left of the river path, there is a rocky hill with an opening called Kal Zago, which has a width of 3.5 meters and a height of 3 meters. The cave requires climbing equipment to explore, and only 600 meters of the cave is accessible due to its blockage.

Khoonik Cave

Khoonik Cave is located northeast of the village of Khoonik, perched on the heights overlooking the village. Stone tools discovered in this cave date back nearly 30,000 years, including various types of stone blades crafted by humans during the Middle Paleolithic period. The evidence of life in Khoonik Cave spans from the Paleolithic era to the Islamic period. These artifacts have been uncovered from layers of the cave that were disturbed by an earthquake, further confirming the ancient age of the cave. The cave’s walls are made of Taurus stones, which add a special beauty to its interior. Khoonik Cave, a notable attraction in Qaen, was registered as a National Heritage Site of Iran on August 17, 2003, with registration number 9592.

Afín Village

Afín Village, with its combination of natural and man-made spaces, offers a beautiful landscape that showcases the harmonious coexistence of nature and humans. This unique feature led to Afín being named one of the five target tourist villages in South Khorasan Province in 2005. Attractions in the village include a castle, mosque, mill, and the Mausoleum of the Four Domes, among others. Additionally, Afín is one of the largest producers of barberries in Iran and a key export hub for this fruit, with its barberry orchards becoming a tourist attraction in themselves.

Where is Afín Village?

Location: South Khorasan Province, Zirkuh County, Zahan District, 78 kilometers southeast of Qaen
Afín Village is one of the most attractive villages in the Zahan District of Zirkuh County, South Khorasan Province, located 78 kilometers southeast of Qaen. It is 122 kilometers from Birjand.

Access to Afín Village
If you are traveling from Qaen to Afín, you can reach the village via the Zirkuh-Qaen road, then the Zahan-Asfeden road. From Birjand, the route goes through the Qahestan-Zahan road, Zahan-Asfeden road, and finally the Afín-Zardan road to reach your destination.

Qaen Mountain Castle

Qaen Mountain Castle is a historical site from the Seljuk period and is one of the prominent attractions of Qaen. It was one of the main strongholds of the Ismaili Fidai during the Seljuk era. Located three kilometers south of Qaen, it sits atop a mountain overlooking the city, bounded by the mountains to the south and east, and by the Qaen plain to the north and west. This fortress is one of the largest in South Khorasan and was the center of government for the rulers of the Qohestan region. The castle served as a strong defensive fortress, capable of housing thousands of soldiers, allowing its inhabitants to withstand several centuries of attacks from invaders.

The design of this fortress is similar to the Eagle’s Nest Castle of Firuzabad from the early Sassanid period. The architecture, arches, and niches confirm its Sassanid roots, though some believe it might be a remnant of the Achaemenid period. Qaen, known as Kain in the Sassanid era, was an important military and administrative region. It is clear that the current castle was built on the ruins of an older one and was restored during the Seljuk era under the direction of Qazi Hossein Qayeni, a figure sent by Hassan Sabah to promote the Ismaili sect in Qohestan and Khorasan. In the late 5th century AH, this castle was chosen as the command center for overseeing other fortresses in the Qohestan region, highlighting its significance and invulnerability.

Esfeden Plain

Esfeden Plain, located in Qaen County, is formed by the joining of consecutive alluvial fans and is surrounded by elevated terrain. The plain features numerous agricultural wells. In addition to attracting a large number of tourists annually, this area is considered one of the most important regions for wildlife conservation in the province. Covering more than 41,000 hectares, the Esfeden Plain is registered as a protected hunting area.

Daq Petragan

Daq Petragan, a significant attraction of Qaen, covers more than 5,000 square kilometers in the eastern part of Zirkuh, a sub-district of Qaen County. The area has an elevation of 610 meters above sea level. “Daq” refers to flat areas where no vegetation grows, and the ground is hard and compacted. Daq Petragan acts as the drainage network of the region, with most of it located within Iran’s borders. The vegetation in the area is sparse, consisting mainly of tamarisk and saltwort, with small dunes forming at the base of these bushes due to the movement of sand dunes. A vast expanse of salt flats is also visible in this region. During rainy periods, the surface of the Daq is covered with a sticky mud, making it almost impossible to traverse.

Qaen Water Museum

The Qaen Water Museum was inaugurated in November 2007 in a historic water reservoir. This reservoir is located at the end of a stone alley where the old bazaar once stood and was originally fed by a qanat (an ancient underground water system). The structure of the reservoir includes all the key features of traditional water reservoirs, with a staircase leading to the “pashir” (water distribution area). Based on the architectural features and historical evidence, this water reservoir dates back to the Timurid period. As the only water museum in the province, it is a major tourist attraction in Qaen, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about historical water systems, including qanats, dams, and water reservoirs, as well as viewing a collection of images and documents related to water infrastructure and related endowments.

Nig Village

Nig Village is a popular tourist destination and one of the attractions of Qaen in South Khorasan Province, located about 30 kilometers northwest of the city. Most of the villagers are engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. The village is particularly known for producing barberry and saffron. Other local products include dairy, jujube, and handicrafts.

Nig Village hosts several tourist attractions, the most important of which is the underground fortress of Nig. This fortress is considered the largest and most extensive of its kind in eastern Iran and dates back to the Timurid period. Other notable sights in Nig include the Mausoleums of Morad and Baqir, as well as the village’s qanat (underground water channel).

Laki Esfior Cave

Laki Esfior Cave, also known as Laki Aspoor Cave, dates back to the Paleolithic period, with evidence that Neanderthals lived in it around 30,000 years ago. The findings in the cave suggest human habitation through to the Islamic era. Based on the tools discovered, the inhabitants of this shelter were hunters. The cave has an opening of about two meters, with an interior that is 1.5 meters long and 3 meters wide. Located among the tourist sites of Qaen, this cave was registered as a national monument of Iran on August 17, 2003, under registration number 9592.

Dev Warzaq Cave

Dev Warzaq Cave, located near the village of Warzaq in Qaen County, is a beautiful and difficult-to-access cave. The entrance to the cave is only half a meter wide, and it is challenging to enter. The cave is approximately 100 meters long, and its floor is covered with sand and stunning stalactites. The stalagmites in Dev Warzaq Cave, with their unique formations and untouched natural beauty, create a remarkable landscape. This cave is therefore considered one of the main attractions in Qaen.

Shahik Qanat

Shahik Qanat is one of the valuable qanats in South Khorasan Province and one of the tourist attractions of Qaen. It is 2,000 meters long and has 25 wells. A unique feature of this qanat is its constant water flow, even during drought years when other water sources might dry up. Upstream of the main well, there are two dams, and within these dams, there are injection wells designed to allow most of the floodwater to seep into the wells. This helps to enhance the groundwater table and maintain the qanat’s water supply. Due to its historical and cultural significance, Shahik Qanat is also registered as a national monument of Iran.