Mahallat
Encyclopedia
Mahallat is a city in and the capital of Mahallat County
, Markazi Province
, Iran
. At the 2006 census, its population was 35,319, in 10,285 families.
In ancient times it was an important location for Zoroastrianism
. It has a cold climate, and strong winds during spring and summer. The city is one of the major producers and exporters of flowers in Iran. Every September the city holds a flower festival. In addition, the area surrounding the city is rich with travertine deposits, which are refined into tiles in nearby factories.
There are remains of Hellenistic architecture from Alexander the Great's time in Mahallat as well as fire temple ruins back from the Zoroastrianism era. The city is famous for a large warm water spring flowing from mountains in North into the plain areas of South used for agriculture as well as the urban water supply. There are also hotsprings not so far from the city which has been a source of local tourism since old times due to its assumed medical benefits. Dialect spoken in Mahallat is a version of bigger branch of dialects spoken in central Iran (Yazd, Isfahan, Khonsar) with several words having an eye-catching connection to old Persian.
Mahallat was formerly divided into three major parts. The northern part was Mahallat-e Bala, the area of the Sadat-e Mahallat, the families descending from the prophet Mohammad. In the middle Mahallat-e Ghaleh, originally a vast open space with fields, but in the 18th century two brothers from Sabzevar and their soldiers and servants built castles here and developed the area. The family was later known as Amiri, Amirkhani, Elahi and Khosrovani (Mahallati). The southern part was named Mahallat-e Pain and this was where the Aga Khan
built his huge castle.
The First Iranian to become a US citizen, Hajj Sayyah Mahallati
and Aga Khan II
, a religious leader were born in Mahallat.
Mahallat County
Mahallat County is a county in Markazi Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Mahallat. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 48,458, in 14,139 families. The county has one district: the Central District. The county has two cities: Mahallat and Nimvar.-References:* اطلس...
, Markazi Province
Markazi Province
Markazi Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. The word markazi means central in Persian. Markazi lies in western Iran. Its capital is Arak. Its population is estimated at 1.35 million...
, 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...
. At the 2006 census, its population was 35,319, in 10,285 families.
In ancient times it was an important location for Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
. It has a cold climate, and strong winds during spring and summer. The city is one of the major producers and exporters of flowers in Iran. Every September the city holds a flower festival. In addition, the area surrounding the city is rich with travertine deposits, which are refined into tiles in nearby factories.
There are remains of Hellenistic architecture from Alexander the Great's time in Mahallat as well as fire temple ruins back from the Zoroastrianism era. The city is famous for a large warm water spring flowing from mountains in North into the plain areas of South used for agriculture as well as the urban water supply. There are also hotsprings not so far from the city which has been a source of local tourism since old times due to its assumed medical benefits. Dialect spoken in Mahallat is a version of bigger branch of dialects spoken in central Iran (Yazd, Isfahan, Khonsar) with several words having an eye-catching connection to old Persian.
Mahallat was formerly divided into three major parts. The northern part was Mahallat-e Bala, the area of the Sadat-e Mahallat, the families descending from the prophet Mohammad. In the middle Mahallat-e Ghaleh, originally a vast open space with fields, but in the 18th century two brothers from Sabzevar and their soldiers and servants built castles here and developed the area. The family was later known as Amiri, Amirkhani, Elahi and Khosrovani (Mahallati). The southern part was named Mahallat-e Pain and this was where the Aga Khan
Aga Khan I
Aga Khan I The Imam Hasan Ali Shah was born in 1804 in Kahak, Iran to Shah Khalil Allah, the 45th Ismaili Imam, and Bibi Sarkara, the daughter of Muhammad Sadiq Mahallati , a poet and a Ni‘mat Allahi Sufi...
built his huge castle.
The First Iranian to become a US citizen, Hajj Sayyah Mahallati
Hajj sayyah
Mirza Mohammad Ali , better known as Hajj Sayyah , was a famous Iranian world traveler and political activist.-Biography:...
and Aga Khan II
Aga Khan II
Aga Khan II , was the title of Aqa Ali Shah , the 47th Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims. A member of the Iranian royal family, he became the Imam in 1881. During his lifetime, he helped to better not only his own community, but also the larger Muslim community of India...
, a religious leader were born in Mahallat.