Qom province is located south of the capital and center of the country and is one of the smallest provinces in Iran. Qom city, the center of this province, is one of the most important religious cities in Iran. Qom is home to The Shrine of Fatima Masoumeh and the Jamkaran Mosque, two of the most important religious buildings in our country.
History
Based on the historical evidence, the history of Qom city dates back to the Sassanid period. However, much of the province's history was shaped after the advent of Islam in Iran. One of the most important historical events in the city of Qom is the arrival of Fatima Masumeh, the Imam Reza’s sister, to this city. Hazrat Masoumeh became seriously ill on this journey and eventually passed away in the city of Qom.
Due to the sanctity of The Shrine of Fatima Masoumeh throughout history, the area around the shrine has become the resting place of many famous and important figures.
Qom was one of the most important centers of protests against the government during the Pahlavi period, and this city played an important role in the struggles of that time.
Geography
Qom province is bordered by Tehran province to the north, Semnan province to the east, Isfahan province to the south and Markazi province to the west.
Except for the south and west of this province, other parts of Qom are desert.
Climate
Most parts of Qom province have a hot and semi-arid climate. Therefore, summer is not a good time to travel to this province. Of course, given the altitude difference in different parts of the province, you can also experience mountainous and semi-desert climates in other parts of Qom province,
Cities in Qom Province
Qom city is the most important city in this province, which can be considered the second most important city in Iran after Mashhad in terms of religious tourism.
The Shrine of Fatima Masoumeh is the most significant religious building in the city of Qom. In addition to the tomb of Hazrat Masoumeh, the Jamkaran Mosque is one of the remarkable religious monuments in Qom. The Jamkaran Mosque is located about 10 kilometers away from the city of Qom and according to the traditions, it was built by order of Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Mahdi.
El-Khader the Prophet Mountain (Kuh-e Khezr-e Nabi) is one of the heights on the outskirts of the city which has an old sanctuary and is attributed to Hazrat Khezr Nabi. A hiking trail has been built to reach the summit of this mountain and to visit El-Khader the Prophet, which is also one of the recreational areas for the people of Qom, which can be visited at night, too.
Qom Salt Lake is one of the natural tourist attractions of Qom province, located east of Qom city. Hoz-e Sultan Lake is another natural attraction of this province, located on the side of the Qom-Tehran highway. In the presence of water in the Hoz-e Sultan Lake, a huge natural mirror is formed, which creates attractive landscapes.
Ghadir Asb Kavir or Ghadir Asb Salt Lake is another natural and untouched sight of the province.
Accommodations
The Qom International Hotel and the Olympic Hotel are among the best hotels in Qom province. Safa Hotel and Zahra Hotel are three-star hotels in Qom. There are many other lower-ranked hotels in Qom which are comfortable for accommodation.
The Pasangan Caravanserai Eco-lodge is also one of the traditional accommodations in Qom province.
Restaurants
The Seyrang Revolving Restaurant is one of the most modern restaurants in Qom city. Arg-e Salarieh Restaurant is also one of the best restaurants in this city. Mortezaei, Alborz, Khadem and Madaen restaurants are among the other well-equipped restaurants in this city.
Among the foreign and fast-food restaurants, we can also mention the Qom Macaroni House, Shahr-e Ma Fast Food and Bama Fast Food.
Local Food
Ghonbid Abgoosht is one of the traditional and popular foods of Qom province. Chickpeas, white beans, potatoes, Ghonbid (Qom cabbage), Oman lemon, tomato, meat, onion and spices are the ingredients of this food. Ghonbid Ash is another local food of Qom province which is prepared with chickpeas, beans, lentils, onions, Qom cabbage, vegetables and spices. Mashab, Mash Mashak, Patleh Ash and Hovej (carrot) Barge Abgoosht are other local foods of Qom province.
Souvenirs
Sohan is the most famous souvenir of Qom province. There are many Sohan workshops in Qom city that produce different types of this sweet. Sohan Loghmeh, Sohan Gazi and Sohan Asali are some of the different types of Sohan.
Halva Ardeh is another cuisine of Qom province that people of this province mostly use for breakfast.
Handicrafts
Handmade carpet is one of the most notable handicrafts of Qom province. Cutting precious and semi-precious stones and making rings are also common in Qom province. Making Kharmohreh, wood carving, marquetry and woodturning are other common handicrafts in Qom province.
Customs and Traditions
The commemoration of the arrival of Hazrat Masoumeh in Qom is one of the spirited rituals among the people in Qom. According to traditions, Hazrat Masoumeh entered Qom on 23 Rabi al-Awwal 201 AH when people passionately welcomed her. The servants of Hazrat Masoumeh, in a symbolic move, go to welcome her on the anniversary of her arrival and celebrate this day.
Sarderakhti is another ceremony that is held in the village of Veshnavah in early spring. In this ceremony, the villagers buy a cow and tie a green scarf around its neck. Then they parade the cow around the village and finally sacrifice it in the Imamzadeh to cook Halim with its meat. This ceremony is held to protect the gardens against the cold.
