By Syma Sayyah, Tehran

During our recent trip to Mahallat, we had a great time when our driver, who came from Isfahan and knew the area, took us to see and enjoy the (cold) spring garden (baghe cheshmeh or Sarcheshmeh), before we headed back home to Tehran.

I liked this garden a lot because it was a 'Persian garden' for me where all kinds of people go to sit, relax and spend a pleasant time alone or with friends and family as it should be.  We have some pictures here for you to enjoy and hope you will be able to visit when your travels take you to Mahallat.

If you would like a list of places to see when you go there please check this site for good information you could find it at:  http://www.iccim.org/English/Iran/markazi/index.htm

About Mahallat:

Source: Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries & Mines (ICCIM)

Located 362 kilometers from Tehran, the City of Mahallat is situated on the slope of the mountain enjoying a mountainside climate.

Mahallat is amongst the ancient residential areas in Iran, In Safavieh time, the most commercial exchanges were mainly made with Isfahan. Mahallat have been one of the most important bases of Ismailieh movement. In the limits of present city. Two villages of Khorheh and Nimvar are much older than Mahallat and hold several historical monuments.

Nimvar has been one of the important religious centers of Iran Plateau in the ancient time. Khoheh is amongst very old villages that its history dates back at least to Seleucidian time.

The important natural, historical and religious monuments of the city are as follows:

• Thermal springs of Shafa, Solaymani, Mahallat spring and recreational area,
• The caves of Azad Khan, Shah Babol, Soorakh Gav, Yekehchah, Goldar Kalcheshmeh, Sarcheshmeh and koshteh Riz,
• The castles of  Jamshidi, Aghakhan Mahallati, and Khosravani,
• The caravansaries of Dodehak (Safavid), and Joun-Abad (Safavid),
• Dodehak bridge (Safavid),
• Historical inscription of Khorheh (seljukian),
• Seleucidian temple of Khorheh (4^th  century BC),
• The Fire-Temple of Atashkooh (Sassanide), and Milmilouneh,
• Sassanide Dam of Nimvar,
• Statue of Amr or Amreh (pre-Islamic time),
• Nimvar ice house,
• Jame' mosques of mahallat (early Islamic time) and Nimvar,
• Imamzadehs of Yahya, Fazolreza, Shahzadeh Mousa, and Shahzadeh Ismail.