Ferdows
Encyclopedia
Ferdows also Romanized as Ferdos, Ferdous, and Firdaus; named Toon or Tūn until 1929) is a city in and the capital of Ferdows County
, located in the northwest of South Khorasan Province in Iran
. It is about 345 kilometres (214.4 mi) south of Mashhad
and 200 km northwest of Birjand
. At the 2006 census, its population was 23,405, in 6,538 families..
After dividing the Khorasan province into 3 provinces, Ferdows County was initially a part of Razavi Khorasan province
, but was incorporated within the borders of South Khorasan Province
in March 2007.
dynasty, Ferdows is currently a small town. It was a large and famous city in ancient days. There is an unproven theory that the town's name in ancient days was "Taban" (or shining; تابان in Persian
).In Islamic days it deformed to Toon. Ferdows was named Toon until 1929, when was changed to Ferdows.
The first people who inhabited Ferdows were a group of Sagartians. Toon was a famous and thriving city before Islamic era and also in Islamic era until the raid of Mongols
. It was one of the most cities of Ghohestan along with Qaen. Nasir Khusraw
cited Toon as a large city in 11th century. Toon was plundered and destroyed by Mongols
in 1239. After the invasion of Mongols, Toon grew and became one of the major cities of Ghohestan again. Marco Polo
cited south khorasan region as Toonoqaen means Toon & Qaen.
Ferdows, was a famous city in Khorasan at the beginning of the 20th century and the Municipality of Ferdows, opened at 1925, was one of the first Municipalities of Khorasan province. But Ferdows destroyed in a huge earthquake
in 1968 and after that, It lost its high status significantly.
, lies just 3 km northeast. Ferdows placed on the main route from southern Iran to Mashhad
and hosts more than 6 million pilgrims annually on their way to Mashhad.
Major visitor attractions of Ferdows are:
Ferdows County
Ferdows County is a county in the northwest of South Khorasan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Ferdows. The population of this county is about 40,000...
, located in the northwest of South Khorasan Province in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. It is about 345 kilometres (214.4 mi) south of Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
and 200 km northwest of Birjand
Birjand
Birjand is the east Iranian provincial capital of South Khorasan and the centre of the county Birjand resp. Quhestan, known for its saffron, barberry, rug and handmade carpet exports....
. At the 2006 census, its population was 23,405, in 6,538 families..
After dividing the Khorasan province into 3 provinces, Ferdows County was initially a part of Razavi Khorasan province
Razavi Khorasan Province
Razavi Khorasan Province is a province located in northeastern Iran. Mashhad is the centre and capital of the province.Other cities and townships are Ghouchan, Dargaz, Chenaran, Sarakhs, Fariman, Torbat-e Heydarieh, Torbat-e Jam, Taybad, Khaf, Roshtkhar, Kashmar, Bardaskan, Nishapur, Sabzevar,...
, but was incorporated within the borders of South Khorasan Province
South Khorasan Province
South Khorasan Province is a province located in eastern Iran. Birjand is the centre of the province. The other major cities are Ferdows and Qaen....
in March 2007.
History
Founded in the MedesMedes
The MedesThe Medes...
dynasty, Ferdows is currently a small town. It was a large and famous city in ancient days. There is an unproven theory that the town's name in ancient days was "Taban" (or shining; تابان in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
).In Islamic days it deformed to Toon. Ferdows was named Toon until 1929, when was changed to Ferdows.
The first people who inhabited Ferdows were a group of Sagartians. Toon was a famous and thriving city before Islamic era and also in Islamic era until the raid of Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
. It was one of the most cities of Ghohestan along with Qaen. Nasir Khusraw
Nasir Khusraw
Abu Mo’in Hamid ad-Din Nasir ibn Khusraw al-Qubadiani or Nāsir Khusraw Qubādiyānī [also spelled as Nasir Khusrow and Naser Khosrow] Abu Mo’in Hamid ad-Din Nasir ibn Khusraw al-Qubadiani or Nāsir Khusraw Qubādiyānī [also spelled as Nasir Khusrow and Naser Khosrow] Abu Mo’in Hamid ad-Din Nasir ibn...
cited Toon as a large city in 11th century. Toon was plundered and destroyed by Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
in 1239. After the invasion of Mongols, Toon grew and became one of the major cities of Ghohestan again. Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
cited south khorasan region as Toonoqaen means Toon & Qaen.
Ferdows, was a famous city in Khorasan at the beginning of the 20th century and the Municipality of Ferdows, opened at 1925, was one of the first Municipalities of Khorasan province. But Ferdows destroyed in a huge earthquake
1968 Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquake
Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows Earthquake, were two successive earthquakes, which hit Dashte Bayaz, Kakhk and Ferdows, Iran.The first earthquake occurred on August 31, 1968, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale and destroyed 5 villages totally in the Dasht-e Bayaz area, and at least half of the buildings...
in 1968 and after that, It lost its high status significantly.
Geography
Ferdows, is located between a desert (in south and west) and a mountainous region (in north and east). Most of villages around Ferdows, are situated in the mountainous region in north and northeast. The nearest town, EslamiehEslamieh
Eslamiyeh is a city in the Central District of Ferdows County, in South Khorasan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 5,167, in 1,515 families. Islamiyeh is located in about northeast of Ferdows....
, lies just 3 km northeast. Ferdows placed on the main route from southern Iran to Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
and hosts more than 6 million pilgrims annually on their way to Mashhad.
Climate
Ferdows climate is mild in the spring, hot in the summer, cool and rainy in autumn and cold in the winter. Locating near the deserts, the temperature difference between day and night and also summer and winter is high. The majority of precipitation occurs from mid-autumn to mid-spring. The hottest month is July (mean minimum temperature 21.8°C, mean maximum temperature 36.6°C) and the coldest is January (mean minimum temperature -1°C, mean maximum temperature 10.3°C)Main sights
- Ferdows Hot Mineral Spring: one of the most important attractions of Ferdows for Iranian and International tourists
- Ferdows Religious SchoolFerdows Religious SchoolFerdows Religious School is a historic school with octagonal design, located in the southwest of Ferdows city, in the center of the ancient city of Toon, in South Khorasan province, Iran....
(belonged to Safavid dynastySafavid dynastyThe Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
) - Ferdows Congregation MosqueFerdows Congregation MosqueThe Jāmeh Mosque of Ferdows is the grand, congregational mosque of Ferdows, South Khorasan Province, Iran. The mosque is located towards the southwest of city, in the center of the ancient city of Toon.-History:...
(Jame' Mosque of Ferdows) (belonged to Seljuk dynasty)
Notable people
- Badiozzaman ForouzanfarBadiozzaman ForouzanfarBadi'ozzamān Foruzānfar was a scholar of Persian literature, Iranian linguistics and culture, and an expert on Molana Jalaleddin Balkhi and his works...
- Mohammad Jafar YahaghiMohammad Jafar YahaghiMohammad Jafar Yahaghi is a celebrated Persian writer, literary critic, editor and translator and distinguished professor of literature at Ferdowsi University of Mashad...
- Mulla Alaul Maulk TuniMulla Alaul Maulk TuniMulla Alaul Maulk Tuni was an Iranian architect. He was born in Ferdows in 17th century.He cooperated with Ali Mardan Khan in the construction of the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore in 1641 C.E....
- Fazel Tooni
- Nesari Tooni
- Qotboddin Heydar Tooni
- Seyed Mohammad Hakim-Elahi