Khorasan Razavi Province (Persian: استان خراسان رضوی, [Khorāsān-e Razavī]) is located in the northeast of the country, bordering Turkmenistan on the north and Afghanistan on the east. The important heights of this province include Mount Kappeh Dāgh, Mount Ālā Dāgh and Mount Bīnālūd.
Other important cities of the province include Ghūchān, Dargaz, Kalāt, Chenārān, Neyshābūr, Sabzevār, Sarakhs, Farīmān, Torbat-e Heydarieh, Kāshmar, Khalīl Ābād, Torbat-e Jām, Tāybād, Khāf, Rashtkhār, Gonābād, Ferdos, Bardeskān, Meh and Lāt.
This province plays an important role in the production of farming yield. Saffron is the most prominent one followed by cereal and various flowers. Husbandry is a common activity as there are rich lawns in the mountains. The precious mines of Turquoise of Neyshābūr are located in the northwest of Neyshābūr at the foothills of Bīnālūd Mountains. In many workshops of Neyshābūr, turquoise is cut into different forms and is used for making rings, necklaces and different kinds of ornaments. The province is active in food, clothing, textile, leather, chemical, oil, plastic and automobile production industries. The souvenirs of this province include saffron, perfume, barberry, candy, turquoise or opal rings, carved stones, silk clothing, etc.
During the Islamic period, many movements arose against the Arab rulers from this area. It has always been one of the key regions of Iran during the rule of different monarchies.
Immigration of the eighth Shiite Imam Ali Ibn Mūsā al-Rezā in the 8th century CE increased the importance of this area and after his martyrdom, Khorāsān achieved a special religious reputation. This land also witnessed attacks of Mongol invaders and was in ruins for many years.
The ethnic mixture of the province consists of Persian, Kurdish, Āzarī and Turkmen people. The local music and traditional dances of Torbat-e Jām is a notable example of Iranian folk culture.
Khorāsān Razavī is one of the most visited provinces by Iranians and international tourists as the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. The province also has many other historical, cultural and natural attractions. The most important attractions of this province can be categorized as follows:
Astān-e Ghods-e Razavī Compound
After the martyrdom of Imam Rezā in the 8th century CE, his followers buried him in the middle of a large garden and many beautiful buildings were later constructed in the area. Today it has become a huge complex with unique architectural designs. It consists of many parts, namely Goharshād Mosque, Parīzād Mosque, Eyvān-e Talā, the Astān-e Ghods-e Razavī Museum, Atīgh Courtyard, Āzādī Courtyard, Jomhūrī Courtyard, etc.
Cultural Attractions
Mausoleum of Ferdosi, who was an epic poet of the 10th century CE, is located in the village of Tūs. Attār, Khayyām and Kamāl ol-Molk are also buried in the town of Neyshābūr. Molla Hādi Sabzevārī and Seyed Hasan Modarres are buried in Kāshmar and Colonel Pesiān in Mashhad.
Natural Attractions
The countryside of Torghabeh, Shāndīz and Akhlāmad in Mashhad, the villages of Kher and Dorūd in Neyshābūr, the village of Baghestān Oliā in Ferdos, the valley of Shamkhāl in Ghūchān, the tourist resort of Kūhsorkh in Kāshmar, the country of Laīn Kalīt, the thermal spring of Shahr-e Kohneh in Ghūchān, the lake of the dam of Torogh in Mashhad, Lake Bezengān in Sarakhs, Band-e Nā deri in Kalāt, Vakīl Ābad Natural Park, Tondūreh Natural Park, Shīr Ahmad Natural Park in Sabzevar, etc.
Khorāsān-e Razavī can provide visitors with various facilities such as hotels, an international airport, standard highways, express train services and numerous shopping centers.
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