Bandar Torkaman a must-see Iranian port city
Bandar Torkaman is an Iranian port city on the Caspian Sea, in the northeastern province of Golestan.
It has many fabulous tourist attractions such as beautiful nature, wetlands and sandy beaches.
Ashuradeh
Ashuradeh Island, west of Bandar Torkaman, is the biggest island in the Caspian Sea. It included three islands many years ago, but two of them have been submerged. About 40 percent of Iran’s caviar is caught near this beautiful island. A triangular castle remains in the north of the island as a cultural heritage. The island is one of the famous tourist attractions and an ideal place for bird-watching and seeing different species.
Gomishan wetland
The Gomishan wetland is located in the northwest of Gomishan district around Bandar Torkaman. It is the habitat of migratory birds that spend winter there. These migratory birds come to Iran from late October until late April.
Recreational pier
The recreational pier is situated in the west of Bandar Torkaman, where you can enjoy riding on motorboats. The coastal bazaar of Bandar Torkaman is near this pier. Watching the sunset on this pier is glorious.
History, culture and art
Turkmens make up the majority of the city’s population, although a small number of Tabaris, Kazakhs, Turks, Azeris and Sistanis also live in the area.
Iranian Turkmens speak Turkmen, which is a Ural-Altaic language. In addition to Turkmen, other languages such as Mazani, Sistani and Gorgani Persian are also spoken in this region.
Horseback riding in the spring attracts many people to this region every year. The wedding ceremonies of Turkmen people are held with special rituals which have maintained their traditional style.
Weaving carpets and rugs, embroidery, making Turkmen jewelry, felting and pillow-making are among the interesting handicrafts of Bandar Torkaman.
The Turkmen rug has important features such as being plain and simple, as it is woven in accordance with people’s needs. Nevertheless, some Turkmen rugs are more elaborate, have more intricate designs, and can be termed “luxury” rugs. Unlike other Iranian rugs, such as those woven in Tabriz, Kerman, Kashan or Qom, the Turkmen rug is limited in color; it mostly contains dark colors such as black, dark red, grey, navy blue, etc. Turkmen rugs usually measure between one to 12 meters in length.
The souvenirs and handicrafts of this city include quality caviar, local halva (a type of Iranian sweet made with flour), Turkmen scarves, silk products, special jewelry and Turkmen rugs.
One of the most beautiful local costumes in Iran belongs to Turkmens and spans a large cultural domain including countries such as Turkmenistan and Afghan Turkmens. Men and women’s outfits each have something different to say. Men’s clothing includes a whole variety of items, namely, various types of hats. And the striking feature of Turkmen women’s clothing is beautiful Turkmen scarves, which come in different colors and designs and are an integral part of Turkmen garments. In addition to scarves, different types of local outfits and decorative items are also used by Turkmen women.
Turkmen music
Turkmen music is an intangible culture shared across the geographical region of Turkmen Sahra. This rich music can be heard in Iran and neighboring Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
Local foods
Chekdermeh is very similar to Estamboli Polo (a type of food cooked with rice and tomato paste); it is specifically cooked in Bandar Torkaman and Aq-Qala City in Golestan Province.
Rice with peas and sultanas contains rice, green peas, sultanas, pomegranate paste, chicken or beef, onions, salt, pepper and other spices.
Tahchin is a type of rice cake with various ingredients including beef, eggplants, beans, etc., with a unique aroma and taste.
Boorak is very similar to doughnuts (piroshky) and is filled with different types of meat, eggplants, and vegetables; it is usually cooked during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Best travel time
If you are a nature lover, visit Bandar Torkaman during the spring and fall to enjoy its charming nature and spend memorable moments.