Razavi Khorasan Province

History

The Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Turkmens brought changes to the region time and time again.

Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Ērānshahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for residence of the Aryan tribes after entering Iran.

The Parthian Empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. During the Sassanid dynasty, the province was governed by a Spahbod (Lieutenant General) called "Padgošban" and four margraves, each commander of one of the four parts of the province.

Khorasan was divided into four parts during the Muslim conquest of Persia, each section being named after one of the four largest cities, Nishapur, Merv, Herat, and Balkh.

In the year 651, the army of the Rashidun Caliphate conquered Khorasan. The territory remained under the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate until 820, followed by the rule of the Iranian Tahirid dynasty until 873, and the Samanid dynasty in 900.

Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on 29 September 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament of Iran (on 18 May 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on 29 May 2004) were Khorasan-e Razavi, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan.

Demographics

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 5,515,980 in 1,426,187 households. The following census in 2011 counted 5,994,402 people in 1,716,314 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 6,434,501 in 1,938,703 households.

Ethnicity

The major ethnic group in this region are Persians, there are other sizeable communities such as Khorasani Kurds, Khorasani Turks, Turkmens and Khorasani Baloch.

Religion

According to the 2016 census, the Muslim population of Razavi Khorasan was 6,409,180, most of whom are followers of Shia Islam, with the shrine of the 8th Shi'ite Imam being located in Mashhad. A significant Sunni population also inhabit the province, forming the majority in cities such as Torbat-e-Jam and Taybad. Additionally, the 2016 census recorded that there were 7,159 Christians, 961 Zoroastrians and 135 Jews living in the province, with an additional 1,073 being recorded as following other faiths, and a further 15,993 not stating their religion.

Administrative divisions

The population history and structural changes of Razavi Khorasan province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.

Cities

According to the 2016 census, 4,700,924 people (over 72% of the population of Razavi Khorasan province) live in the following cities:

The following sorted table lists the most populous cities in Razavi Khorasan according to 2016 Census results announced by Statistical Center of Iran. After Mashhad, Nishapur, Sabzevar, and Torbat-e Heydarieh are the most populous cities of the province.

Archaeological sites

The main archeological sites discovered in this province include:

Kohandezh hills

Excavations conducted by an American team between 1935 and 1940 in Nishapur discovered museum-worthy objects, which were shared with the government of the Shah. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's publications document its own Nishapur ceramics from those excavations. For half a century after 1945 the site of Nishapur was ransacked to feed the international market demand for early Islamic works of art. Nowadays, the Kohandezh hills reveal the remains from those excavations.

Shadiyakh

Shadiyakh was an important palace in old Nishapur up to the 7th century, and became more important and populated after that. The palace was completely ruined in the 13th century. It was the home of notables such as Farid al-Din Attar, whose tomb is found in Shadiyakh.

Attractions

This province contains many historical and natural attractions, such as mineral water springs, small lakes, recreational areas, caves and protected regions, and various hiking areas.

Besides these, Khorasan encompasses numerous religious buildings and places of pilgrimage, including the shrine of Imam Reza, Goharshad mosque and many other mausoleums and Imamzadehs which attract visitors to this province.

The Cultural Heritage of Iran lists 1179 sites of historical and cultural significance in all three provinces of Khorasan.

Some of the popular attractions of Khorasan-e Razavi are:

Mashhad

Imam Reza Shrine

Goharshad Mosque

Tomb of Nader Shah

Tomb of Khajeh Rabie

Tomb of Ferdowsi

Haruniyeh Dome

Nishapur

Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur

Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám

Tomb of Kamal-ol-molk

Tomb of Heydar Yaghma

Shadiyakh

Jameh Mosque of Nishapur

Sabzevar

Khosrogerd Minaret

Pamenar Mosque, Sabzevar

Jameh Mosque of Sabzevar

Tomb of Hadi Sabzevari

Tomb of Boghrat

Kashmar

Arg of Kashmar

Tomb of Hassan Modarres

Imamzadeh Seyed Morteza

Imamzadeh Hamzeh, Kashmar

Imamzadeh Mohammad

Grave of Pir Quzhd

Jameh Mosque of Kashmar

Haj Soltan Religious School

Haji Jalal Mosque

Atashgah Manmade-Cave

Atashgah Castle

Kohneh Castle, Zendeh Jan

Rig Castle

Amin al-tojar Caravansarai

Talaabad Watermill

Yakhchāl of Kashmar

Khalilabad

Jameh Mosque of Khalilabad

Kondor castle

Kondor Ab anbars

Torbat-e Jam

Sheikh Ahmad-e Jami mausoleum complex

Gonabad

Forud castle

Qanats of Gonabad

Kūh-Zibad

Sarakhs

Ribat-i Sharaf

Tomb of Baba Loghman

Bardaskan

Tomb of Abdolabad

Aliabad Tower

Firuzabad Tower

Firuzabad area

Seyyed Bagher Ab anbar

Darone Cave

Sir Cave

Rahmanniyeh Castle

Qal'eh Dokhtar, Khooshab

Qal'eh Dokhtar, Doruneh

Bajestan

Jameh Mosque of Marandiz

Taybad

Abbasabad Complex Taybad

Karat Minaret

Rivash

Qal'eh Dokhtar, Kuhsorkh

Nameq Village

Shahi Dam

Gabar Hesar castle

Baghdasht Peak

Band-e Qara Bathhouse

Natural Yakhchāl of Band-e Qara

Colleges and universities

Asrar Institute of Higher Education

Bahar Institute of Higher Education

Comprehensive University of Applied and Practical Sciences, Khorasan

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Gonabad University of Medical Sciences

Hakim-e Sabzevari University of Sabzevar

Imam Reza University

Islamic Azad University of Bardaskan

Islamic Azad University of Ghoochan

Islamic Azad University of Gonabad

Islamic Azad University of Mashhad

Islamic Azad University of Neishabur

Islamic Azad University of Sabzevar

Islamic Azad University of Torbat e Jam

Islamic Azad University of Torbat Heidariyeh

Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Payame Noor University of Bardaskan

Payame Noor University of Mashhad

Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences

Sadjad University of Technology