From: yaser@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Ala)
Subject: Iran's Cities - Towns around desert
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 22:52:36 GMT



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              Towns and villages around the desert

ARDAKAN
Around this town are found villages still untainted by the modern
age.  These are home to villagers who still know their original
culture and civilization and remember the habits of their
forefathers.  Their manner of speech has remained unchanged and
their clothing, especially the turban worn on their heads tells of
their link of older times.
In Ahmad Abad, a village near Ardakan the traditional farming is
concentrated round growing dyer's madder which is the traditional
crop there.  In recent times, sunflower has been grown between
madder farms and pistachio farming is also an old crop of the
region with several old orchards in the region.

AGHDA
In ancient times, this was a castle with high walls and numerous
towers and four main gates.  The region has often been the scene of
fighting with the neighboring people and the locals remember the
Baluchis and Farsis quite well/
The region is known for its excellent pomegranates and Pakaman
orchard is situated on top of a rocky hill.  From under the huge
rock run three small springs which pour into a large pond.  Next to
the pond stands a relatively well preserved caravansary from the
Safavid era, one of many inns built on the Yazd to Esfahan road.

NAIN
One of the tourist sights of Nain is the clock making workshops
situated mostly in shop basements carved under the ground to keep
warm in the winters and cool in summers.
The famous Nain rug is made in villages around Nain and the
tradition is extended as far as Khor O Biabanak villages.
One of the special materials which is no longer seen in Nain is
Domkhofti.  This was a small rug the size of a blanket and as thin
as gelims made of wool.  Two pieces would be sewn together and this
was handy on long journeys.

BIABANAK
Is a fully desert region with patches of salt fields and sand
dunes.  Its center is now Khowar which has replaced the older
Jandagh some sixty years ago.  Recently a road has been laid
between Khowar and Tabas of the earthquake fame following an older
camel trace.  From Jandagh, too, there are old routes to Shahrood
and Daamghan which were used by caravans to Yazd and Esfehan in
older days.  The road is being renovated these days.

DESERT
Once one leave Jandagh, one sees nothing but the desert for 130 km. 
The road goes through a sheer khaki color sand and soil expanse
with no high rises, plants, birds or visible life.  There is
nothing but emptiness of the desert.  Then after a hundred km of
travelling amidst the desert, one sees the outlines of Shahvar,
Chardeh and Kalateh mountains to the north.  But still the road
continues in the middle of the desert along a terrifying route
which people used to travel in three days and nights.  No
description of the awesome expanse of this region can compare with
hose given by Sevin Hedman, a Swede, and Frantz Gabriel, an
Austrian.