Khorasan - former province in Iran

Khorasan is a region in the north-east of Iran. It was a single province until 2004, when it was split into three provinces: North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan and South Khorasan.

Cities

• Mashhad – the capital of Markazi (Central) Khorasan (also called Razavi Khorasan)

• Bajgiran

• Birjand – the capital of South Khorasan

• Bojnourd – the capital of North Khorasan

• Esfarayen

• Ferdows

• Gonabad

• Kashmar

• Khaf

• Neyshabur

• Qayen

• Sabzevar

• Torbat Heydarye

• Torbat Jam

Other destinations

Understand

In Middle Persian, Khorasan literally meant "where the sun rises"—a fitting name as this region at the northeastern tip of Iran is where the sun is seen earliest in the country every day. Apart from the hard-to-miss holy city of Mashhad, here you will find ancient buildings and artifacts from various empires that ruled the region throughout the history intermingling with a diverse array of ethnicities (Turkmens, Afghans/Pashtuns, Baluchis, and Arabs depending on where you are).

Whether you are on an overland tour of the world west to east, or are following the steps of Marco Polo along the Silk Road, Khorasan can be a great gateway to Central Asia. In addition to the transportation links to West Afghanistan and Turkmenistan the region has, and the consulates of Central Asian countries conveniently based in Mashhad, traditional _yurt_s of nomadic Turkmens dotting the Khorasani countryside (especially on its northern reaches) will make you feel you are at the gate of something different from now-familiar Persian heartland.

The three provinces and their constituent counties are:

• North Khorasan - comprising 6 counties: Bojnourd; Esfarayen; Garmeh Jajarm; Maneh Semelghan; Shirvan; Farooj
• Razavi Khorasan (between North Khorasan and South Khorasan) - comprising 19 counties: Bardaskan; Chenaran; Dargaz; Fariman; Ghouchan; Gonabad; Khaf; Kalat; Kashmar; Khalil Abad; Mashhad; Neyshabour; Roshtkhar; Sabzevar; Sarakhs; Torbat-e Jam; Torbat-e heydariyeh; Taybad; Mahvelat
• South Khorasan - comprising 8 counties: Birjand; Darmian; Ferdows, Nehbandan; Qayenat; Sarayan; Sarbisheh; Boshrooyeh

Get in

Birjand International Airport (IATA: XBJ)

mashhad hasheminejad airport (IATA: MHD)

Get around

See

• Diri-Baba and Ag Gunbaz mausoleums
• The cave dwellings of Maraza
• Shamakhi Astrophysical Observitory
• Akbarieh Gardens in South Khorasan province, one of nine world heritage Persian gardens.

Do

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Go next