Kharraqan Towers pleasant looking architectural art

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6 Minutes

Suitable For

Duration Of Visit
1 To 2 Hours

Best Seasons To Visit

Hesar-e Valiyeasr Village, Kharraqan Rural District, Avaj County, Qazvin Province, Iran

Visitors Are Allowed

Also known as

Kharaghan Twin Towers (also transliterated as Kharraghan, Karraqan and Kharrakhan)
Kharraqan Dual Towers
Qosha (Ghosha) Imam

Geographical location of Kharraqan Towers

It is one kilometer away from Hesar-e Valiyeasr village of Western Kharraqan Rural District, Central District, Avaj County, Qazvin Province, Iran.

History and culture of Kharraqan Towers

They were built respectively 1067 and 1093 by Muhammad ibn Makki al-Zanjani and Abu'l-Ma'ali ibn Makki al-Zanjani according to the epigraphs in Kufic Arabic on the towers' entrances, right above arches. the first epigraph is hanged with three chains and recounts” blessing to its owner” and the other is a stylized design of birds sitting in the branches of a pomegranate tree.

Some locals believe that the towers are Imamzadeh (mausoleum) and they refer to them as “Qosha Imam” (two Imam). Others, on the other hand, believe that they belonged to Saljuq (Saljuk) Rulers. Even Muhammad I Tapar (In Turkish, Tapar means “he who obtains, finds”) son of Seljuq Sultan Malik Shah I, hold Kharraqan as his royal office.

Architecture of Kharraqan Towers

These towers are located in 29 meters’ distance from each other. As I said before the second tower was built in 1093, the high point of Saljuq brickwork; an octagonal brick tower with exquisite geometric designs that perfectly represents the talent of its architect who died about a thousand years ago. Kharraqan towers have octagonal chambers and are made of thick brick walls and Each of the eight facades of the two towers is adorned with a decorative panel. The east tower has a north-east facing entrance while the West tower's entrance is to the north. Two of the buttresses at the eastern tower contain spiraling staircases within them. This is different at the Western tower where only one buttresses contain a staircase. Both tombs were built with double domes; the exterior domes have not survived. The bases of the towers have suffered great damage due to the rising water table and have only informally been repaired by the local people. The western tower, having had the structural advantage given to it by the elimination of a second stair inside its buttress, has survived more intact. One of the most wonderful trait of the towers is twenty-five different figures of brickwork all used in one round on towers.

Tips and ideas

Kharraqan Towers is a perfect spot for people who are into architecture and love elegant brick art. It is also a great location for photographers to capture the magnificent architectural art of the century. On the other hand, if you are more into nature and enjoy seating on the grass in quietness with a cup of tea in your hand and the sound of singing birds in your ears, try the place in spring and summer. Bring a picnic or you can try the sandwich shop on the road through.

Wondering around the place you can’t help but questioning yourself about the wonderments you see in front of you. Think about the time when these towers were being used by kings and had seen so many guests walking around and admiring them in their own way or just ignoring the art of the builders because they were used to such captivations.

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Natioal Heritage Date: 1977/06/13

National Heritage Number: 1396

Address Of Kharraqan Towers: Hesar-e Valiyeasr Village, Kharraqan Rural District, Avaj County, Qazvin Province, Iran