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The regal city of Isfahan, or Esfahan, is a place that seems like it was pulled right out of a postcard. Visually, the city will exceed your expectations as it will douse you with patterns, lines and marvelous architecture. Isfahan will supply you with various ideas to bring out exclamations of wow and fun, and it will certainly make you love it more intensely.
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Here, you will experience the simplistic appeal of tree-lined pavements, the gentleness of relaxing cafeterias and the concept of thinking ahead by fusing business and industry. Isfahan will answer everything that you need for a basic urban life that’s just difficult to let go of.
Location
Specifically, Isfahan is positioned in the blessed plains of the Zayanderud River, immediately at the foot of the famous Zagros mountain range. Isfahan is nearest to the so-called Mount Soffeh, which is just at the southern part of the city. At its northern tip, Isfahan is unblocked for a good 56 miles, making it susceptible to frigid winds.
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Isfahan is 5,217 feet above sea level and spans a total urban area of 190.66 square miles. As of the last census, there is a total of 1,945,765 inhabitants living within Isfahan, and this is expected to grow in the coming years.
Climate
Due to the Isfahan’s location on the map, the city experiences an arid climate according to the Koppen Climate Classification. All year long, there’s an observable high temperature felt all over the city, with the highest record at 43.0-degrees Celsius. The hottest months per year will start in June and can last as far as September, while temperatures drop when the Holidays kick in at -0.9-degrees Celsius.
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The coldest temperature to have been recorded within a year is at -19.4-degrees Celsius due to the 7.8 snowy days felt in a year. Isfahan accumulates a total of 4.4 inches of rainfall and 3,252.5 hours of sunshine annually.
Transportation
If you’re coming in via air travel, you’re likely to be served by the Isfahan International Airport. Flights for both local and selected international trips are catered by the well-known Turkish Airlines. Some of the destinations included are Istanbul, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait.
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If coming in from a different Iranian city, Isfahan is reachable through three railway lines namely, Isfahan-Tehran, Isfahan-Yazd and the recently opened Isfahan-Shiraz.
What to See
Bazar-e Bozorg
Never will you find a place in Isfahan as busy as the Bazar-e Bozorg and you’ll be delighted to experience the thrill and excitement of simply shopping for souvenirs and other important things you might need.
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Known as one of the oldest markets in the world, this place is a maze of turns, domes and passageways all leading to locally-produced goods, fresh vegetation for sale and people from different walks of life that you’d never see this compressed within a trade area.
Zayandeh River Bridges
Aside from the tranquility you’ll experience by just being close to the Zayandeh River, one of the most exhilarating activities that you can perform is to cross the frequented Zayandeh River Bridges.
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Though it might sound a bit odd, tourists swear by the fun they have experienced just by walking on these man-made bridges. There are a total of 11 bridges for you to choose from, all of which are physically satisfying and gratifying at the same time.
Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Literally translated as ‘pattern of the world’, the illustrious Naqsh-e Jahan Square is the fulfillment of Shah Abbas the Great’s vision.
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Completed in 1602, the whole square is home to Isfahan’s most prized possessions such as the Masjed-e Shah, the Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah, the Kakh-e Ali Qapu and the so-called Qeysarieh Portal.
See More:
Esfahan – Lonely Planet
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/iran/central-iran/esfahan
Isfahan: Iran’s Hidden Jewel | People & Places | Smithsonian
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/people-places/isfahan-irans-hidden-jewel-116221512/
Images:
(1) http://elevation.maplogs.com/
(2) http://www.landbeauties.com/
(3) http://1001mosques.blogspot.com/
(4) http://elevation.maplogs.com/
(5) https://www.flickr.com
(6) http://kasksu.com
(7) https://steppingoutofbabylon.wordpress.com/
(8) http://theiranproject.com/
Paul Intalan
