Fariman, a popular tourist destination in Khorasan Razavi Province
Fariman, a city in Khorasan Razavi Province, is located two hours from the provincial capital city of Mashhad, which is home to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH), the eighth Imam of Shia Muslims.
This city is neighbor to Mashhad from the north and west, Torbat Heydarieh and Zaveh from the south and Torbat-e Jam from the east, ISNA wrote.
Thanks to its appropriate climate and strategic geographical location, Fariman is regarded as one of the main tourist destinations of the province. The city, which is located on the main road linking Mashhad to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, produce various agricultural and horticultural crops including wheat, barely, sugar beets, tomatoes, potatoes and apples.
With an industrial township and several small and large factories and mines, Fariman is known as a city with significant economic potentials.
Natural attractions
Maragheh village, located 45 kilometers from Fariman, has a beautiful valley with a permanent river running through it. The surrounding areas, which are green and full of trees, can be a desirable destination for those interested in hiking and ecotourism.
Bagh Abbas is another village which lies 17 kilometers from southern Fariman. The village has numerous natural attractions including mountains, springs, rivers and various types of fruit trees. An asphalt road has been built from Fariman to Bagh Abbas.
Zarkak Resort is an amazing natural site, which is situated 17km from Fariman. The resort, which lies between two mountains, has a green nature and numerous springs, drawing a large number of tourists and nature lovers every year.
Moreover, Fariman’s Shahan Garmab Thermal Spring is among the unique potable springs of the country, having therapeutic properties. A huge number of Iranian and foreign tourists travel to the area to benefit from its therapeutic effects. The thermal spring is in a village with the same name, 63km from Fariman.
Historical attractions
A public bathhouse was built there in 1087 CE, upon the order of Soleiman, a Safavid king; fortunately, a large part of its building remains intact.
Fariman Dam is an ancient historical structure, but the exact date of its construction is not known. However, some historical documents show that the dam dates back to the Ilkhanid era (1256-1353 CE). The dam, which is 27 meters high, has a 100-meter long crown. With its surrounding green areas, it is one of the most well-known natural sites of Fariman.
An ancient site, called Sangbast, is located in the region. It is home to the remains of several structures built by Arsalan Jazeb, the governor of Tus during the reign of Mahmoud Ghaznavi (998-1041 CE). One of the oldest brick minarets of the country and a number of monuments dating back to the early Islamic era were discovered on the site. In ancient times it was known as a place linking important historical cities including Merv, Neyshabur, Herat and Tus to each other.
Souvenirs
The most important souvenir of Fariman, sugar cubes, are produced in an old factory, to be distributed in various cities of the country. Thanks to its high quality, the sugar cubes are exported to numerous countries.
Fert-bafi (a type of traditional cloth weaving), moaraq-kari (wood carving), carpet weaving and kilim weaving are among the main handicrafts of Fariman.