A brief introduction about Behshahr
Behshahr is one of the oldest cities in Iran. Before the Safavid period, the name of Behshahr was Tamishan, Khargoran, Namieh, Panj Hazare, Asyabsar.
Because Shah Abbas's mother was from Behshahr, he traveled to Behshahr and made it his summer capital and changed its name to Ashraf al-Balad, the best and most honorable cities. He built palaces and mansions in Behshahr. Rocnol -Asfar, one of the courtiers of the Nasiri period, mentions another name for Ashraf in his travelogue. He believes that when Shah Abbas built this city in a modern way, some of the courtiers said "this is Ashraf, men Farahabad" and this word was welcomed by the Shah.
In general, the southern region of the Caspian Sea has long been of great political, historical and military importance.
Studies and excavations on the shores of the Caspian Sea in places such as the Hutu Caves and Kamarband have dated the area to the cave-dwelling period, around 10,000 BC. Besides, other researches have displayed that in the ancient era of the region, there was one of the most important areas of civilization before and after Iran's history.
Research from historical texts shows that in the middle of the third century AH, Islam has been infiltrated in the shape of the Alevis.
The city of Behshahr was originally known as one of the most important villages named Namayyah, Kobeh-e-Jameh, Temizheh, Qarat-e-Taqan five millennia, and Washarr.
During the Safavid period, prosperity of this area increased. The interest of the Safavi's kings in this area made the city the second capital of the Safavid.
After the construction of the city, Shah Abbas moved several thousand Georgians to Ashraf City.
When he came to Mazandaran, he preferred Ashraf to other parts of it.
Ashraf al-Balad was damaged and repeatedly damaged as a result of the civil wars of Turkmen, Afghans and the attacks of the Zionist armies.
Nader Shah spent some time in the city when he was deploying the Battle of the War. Mohammad Hassan Khan Qajar was very interested in it and he often stayed in this city, The inhabitants of this city were composed of different tribes; among the Georgian immigrants that Shah Abbas had moved them from the Caucasus, were also a group of Taleshi Langaran families who came from the coast of the Caspian Sea, and a group of Persians who were one of the Iranian tribes.
Today Behshar is a beautiful and attractive city with many natural and historical places. Safi Abad Palace is located above the mountain overlooking Behshahr. This palace is one of the historical and magnificent buildings of the Safavid period, which was completely destroyed during the Qajar period due to neglect, but in the Pahlavi era, it was rebuilt with the same architecture and features of the Safavid era by the order of Reza Shah. The beautiful city of Behshahr is one of the cities of Mazandaran province, limited to the north to the Gulf of Miyankaleh, east to the city of Kurdkoh , south to the slopes of Alborz and Damghan, and to the west to the cities of Sari and Neka.
Behshahr has always been a popular destination for tourists, charisma, nature and kings and locals due to its mild and temperate climate. Many palaces in this spectacular area of Mazandaran province are testimony to this claim.
Gohar Tappeh
One of the large prehistoric sites in northern Iran is located in Mazandaran province, Behshahr city, 2 km northwest of Rostamkola city or 30 km of Sari-Behshahr road. Humans who lived in the ancient caves of Mazandaran , such as Gomishan cave , Hotu cave and kamarband cave , after leaving the cave , they gradually created Gohar Tappeh , a man- made hill. That is, over time, the inhabitants have come to higher places with the disappearance of the previous places. In the Neolithic age, the life form was as a village and in the Bronze ages it was changed to urbanization. It was probably until the middle Bronze Age that residential space and burials were in one place. But in the late Bronze Age (4000 years ago), the size of the city was reduced and the cemetery was moved out of the residential area. Between the Bronze and Iron ages about 200 years, the area became uninhabited and the Iron Age, the cemetery was taken out of the residential area and they chose a place with a slope not to see the infiltration of water. The relatives of this area after the collapse of the city and move to mountainous areas took the bodies of their ancestors to Gohar Tappeh for burial in their home town and they buried in this area with rituals.
Cheshmeh Emarat
It belongs to the Safavid period and it is located in Behshahr, Shahid Hasheminejad Blvd, Pasdaran St, next to the water and Sewerage office, and this monument with registration number 948 has been one of the national monument of Iran. The architecture of this building has two floors and now the ground floor and part of the first floor remain. Water supply system is one of the architectural features of this building. In the middle of the ground floor there is a fountain. Using clay cladding, water is directed to the first floor pools and after overflowing, it flows as a waterfall to the ground floor spring and the pools around the building. This building was in the days of prosperity decorated with colorful paintings and there were various tiles. The reason for naming it is boiling a spring from the heart of the earth on the ground floor of this historic mansion.
Atashkadeh Kusan
Related to the early centuries of Post-Islamic historical periods and it's located in Behshahr city, Koohestan village, and this ancient monument registered on 25 Esfand 1380 with the registration number 5410 as one of the national ancient monuments of Iran. According to history, the village now known as Koohestan once was called Tusan founded by Tus Nozar, a member of the Kianian dynasty.
Sefid Chah Cemetery
It is known as Espeh Chah and belongs to the Timurid period and it is located in Behshahr, Yaneh Sar part, Sefid Chah village, and this ancient monument registered on 17 Esfand 1381 with the registration number 7845 as one of the national ancient monument of Iran. It was a customary in the village of SefidChah that they engraved on tombstones of the dead according to their job. But after the death of the last surviving stonecutters and engravers, the life of engraving on the stone is also over and the new dead of the village are buried with today's stones.
Hotu Cave (Ghar Hotu)
The cave has a long history and important ancient monuments about early human's life have been found there. This cave is located at the hillside of Alborze Mountain, to the west, at the beginning of the entrance of Behshahr city and at a distance of 50 meters from its pair. It has two entrances at two different heights and a ventilation hole in the roof. This cave and Kamarband cave are famous over the world by discovering the human's skeleton about 10 thousand years old. In some cases, the cave is known as the gold mine of Anthropologists due to the importance of the cave and the ancient monuments discovered in it. The most important of these discoveries is known as the "Hotu man"; the three skeletons consist of the skeletons of an adult male and female with the skeleton of a young woman. Pictures of these discoveries, made in 1951 under the supervision of Professor Carlton Stevens Koon, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, are available in the archives of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology.
The Economy of the region
Some products including sweet and sour Pomegranate, Tangerine, Orange, Rice, Sunflower oil seeds, Rapeseed are popular in Behshahr. This city is one of the centers of seed production, vegetable oil and soap in Iran; and Chitsazi Factory had a long history. Amirabad Port special economic zone is also one of the growing economic areas near Behshahr city. Behpak Factory as another huge producer of vegetable oil and Soyabeans in the Middle East have given a special reputation to this beautiful city. It is noticeable that this factory produces some products such as Laden vegetable oil and Bahar and Sobhan Soyabeans. Also, Amirabad port of Behshahr is one of the big ports in the north of the country which is connected to the railway.
Colorful Souvenirs
The souvenirs of Behshahr city including traditional food, fruits and handicrafts of the city, can be mentioned as follows:
Traditional food of Behshahr includes
Naz Khatoon, Ash Gazneh (Gazneh Ash), Ash Kadu, Ash Tursh(Tershi Ash), Ash Dogh, Tahchin, Fesenjan, Anar Tim Kheresh, Khursh Morgh Tursh, Baghala Polo, Morgh Shekampoor, Kadu Polo(Kahi Pela), Akebar Jojeh, Mahi Shekampoor, and so on…
It should be noted that Khorsht Fesenjan has a sweet taste due to the use of sweet pomegranate. (Sweet+ Sour = Malas taste)
Bread & Sweets:
Tandir Noon(Nan Mahali), Halva Gerdu (Aghoz Helva), Sohan Konjed (Peshte Zik), Brenjak (Bahardaneh), Pis Gandleh, Ghatalmeh, Komaj, Nasiri and so on …
It should be noted that (Gatlmah) is mostly used during the Holy month of Ramadan and on the Eftar time.
Turshi:
Bademjan Torshi (Pickled Eggplants), sir Torshi (Pickled Garlic), Haft Bijar, Torshi Yaralmasi, Naz Khatoon, Vingom Zalak, Hali Tourshi, Abghoreh, Ab Narange (Orange Juice ) and …
Jam:
Cherries, Peas, Raspberries, Apple, Orange, Figs, Carrots, Spring Oranges, etc.
Syrup:
Spring Orange, Cherry, Pomegranate…
Fruit:
Sort of Fruits, Figs, Jungle Medlar, (Kenes), Wild Japonica, Wild Raspberry, Zard Kija (Kind of Edible Mushroom), Nettle and Walnuts, Gourd, Sesame, Wild Persimmon, Rice, soy, Rapeseed, Leek, Green Tomato, Tobacco,…
Handicrafts:
Wood Industry, Furniture making, textile, mat weaving, kilim weaving, jajim weaving, sock weaving, fabric weaving, pottery,…
