Hamadan 
Hamadan (or Hegmataneh as it was known in the antiquity) is one of the oldest capitals of Iran and is shown in the oldest extant maps of the Middle-East. Hamadan is a city located in the Midwest of Iran 318 km away from Tehran. Hamadan is also among the cities in Iran with the largest share of the lucrative handwoven rug industry. But handicraft isn’t the only prosperous business in Hamadan. The ancient history of the region together with unique natural sights have placed Hamadan among the most popular cities in Iran for global tourism. Isfahan has its expansive desert area such as Garmeh and also its old city with numerous stunning historic monuments. Kerman has Arg-e Bam and the gigantic Ganjali Khan Complex in the city. Yazd has its windcatchers and fire temples. And Hamadan has inscriptions carved in the heart of mountains and a cave which is the gaping mouth of the underworld.
Hamadan welcomes thousands of tourists every year. Along with the deluge of sightseeing tourists, Hamadan is also one of the main destinations for special interest tourism (SIT). Thanks to the latter potential, Archaeotourism, caving tourism and nature tourism play a pivotal role in the promotion of the city’s tourism industry. In order to handle such a massive number of visitors every year especially during the tourist season (in the early spring and summer) Hamadan is well-equipped with all types of accommodation including great hotels. One of the most popular of Hamadan hotels is Hamadan Ali Sadr Tourist Hotel. Located right next to the entry of the largest water cave in the world, Hamadan Ali Sadr Tourist Hotel is the first choice for the cavers and specially those who value location and ease of access to the cave, to facilities, and high level of luxury. The hotel is pretty small; it has got 27 rooms but they are impeccably neat and cozy. There is also ample parking space and an amazing restaurant with the capacity of over 120 people. But if you prefer to reside in the city, the best hotel you can opt for is definitely Hamadan Parsian Hotel. Three fancy restaurants, a coffeeshop with a great homey atmosphere, 24-hour taxi service and fully-furnished elegant rooms and lobby are the main assets of Hamadan Parsian Hotel. Cheap hostels are another choice of accommodation in Hamadan. The long list of Hamadan hostels and guesthouses shows the immense popularity of hostels in Hamadan among the tourists. Spending a night in one of Hamadan’s many hostels and traditional guest houses is an opportunity to get to know the people from all over the world.
Hamadan tours are important parts of our Iran tours. Upon visiting our website, you will find Hamadan tours under the link entitled Iran Tour Packages. Hamadan had been the abode of one of the oldest civilizations in Iran. Remnants of this ancient culture (some dating back to 1100 BC) are kept in Cultural Heritage and Tourism Base of Hegmataneh. Other significant aspects of Hamadan are the abundance of the monuments and relics attributed to the religious minorities. Hamadan tours include visits to churches, fire temples and synagogues some of which are among the most sacred places of the aforementioned religions (for instance Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, venerated by the Jewish people).
Hamadan is one of the most popular spots in the world for speleologists and cavers as it boasts the largest water cave in the world, Ali Sadr Cave. Thousands of visitors come to Hamedan every year to participate in Ali Sadr Cave tours. Iran is the paradise of cavers. The spectacular diversity of these caves and their geographical distribution has made Iran a favorite of cave tours and a major destination for cavers and other nature enthusiasts. Each one these wonders of nature, included in the packages of Iran cave tours, is famous for one distinct feature. Yafteh, Bisitun, Darband, Do-Ashkaft, Qaleh Bozi, Wezmeh, Huto and Kamarband for their archeological remains from the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Pre-Neolithic ages, Dashkasan for its Dragon Temple, Deragon, Ghar Parau (one of the deepest caves in the world) and Joujar for their depth, Eshkaft-e Salman for its ancient reliefs and inscriptions, Shapur cave for its colossal statue of Shapur I and finally Ali Sadr and Quri Qala for their massive length. But in this partial list of famous caves in Iran, Hamadan’s world-famous Ali Sadr Cave has a special place. Ali Sadr Cave tours are famous for other reasons beside the international significance of the cave as the largest water cave in the world. A boat ride in Ali Sadr is like a journey to the underworld.
Iran Sightseeing Tours is the largest category in our packages and includes tours to most of the major tourist destinations in Iran. Hamadan Sightseeing Tours is within this category and is among its busiest packages especially during early spring and summer when Hamadan one-day tours are mostly fully packed. Hamadan Sightseeing Tours include visits to the major tourist spots inside the city of Hamadan. The historic and natural sights covered in the course of the tour include Ganjnameh and its enchanting waterfall, Avicenna Mausoleum, the tomb of the legendry Iranian medic, philosopher and scientist Avicenna and Alavian Dome, a historic edifice dating back to the 14th century.
As one of the oldest cities in Iran, it is only natural that Hamadan should have a good deal of historic tourist attractions. Iran has all kinds of natural and historic attractions but some spots in Hamadan are truly unique even in the scale of a country as vast and historic as Iran. Hamadan tourism industry isn’t a modern phenomenon. As one of the most ancient and important cities in Iran, Hamadan has always worked as a tourist magnet by showcasing its numerous marvels. Hamadan, among the major cities in Iran, might be the city with the highest diversity of points of interest for tourists. Now you are probably saying stop this verbosity and tell us what is there to see in Hamadan! Well, let’s begin our list of Hamadan tourist attractions with Alavian Dome, a masterpiece of Iranian architecture of the 14th century when Iran was under the rule of Seljuk dynasty. Originally built as a mosque under the auspicious of the House of Alavian, the edifice later became the resting place for the members of the family. Gorgeous plasterwork and extraordinary design of Alavian Dome are the most prominent features of the edifice. The second attraction we will introduce here is at the foothills of Alvand, the second highest peak in Iran right next to a beautiful cascade. Ganjnameh is the general name for two ancient inscriptions carved on a rock by the orders of the Achaemenid kings, Darius the Great and Xerxes the Great. They tell us about the eminence of these kings and their lineage, the greatness of their territory and include a eulogy of their god Ahura Mazda. Besides the obvious archeological and historic significance of Ganjnameh, the place and its surrounding are also the main recreational ground for the people of Hamadan who pine for a whiff of fresh air and the soothing sight of Ganjnameh waterfall after their working week. Iran has produced great men in the history of the mankind. From the towering figure of Cyrus the Great who ordered the issue of the first declaration of human rights in the 6th century BC to great men of letter such as Ferdowsi, Rumi and Hafiz, Iran has always led the way to further the course of human civilization and culture. But among all these great men, there is one that excelled in all the sciences of his age and penned books that remained as the pillars of Eastern and Western academia centuries after his demise. This imperishable name in the history of human thought is Avicenna. Two of his book namely The Canon of Medicine and The Book of Healing had been taught in universities of the world until the 18th century, more than 800 years after they were written. Avicenna Mausoleum in Hamadan has gained the status of a pilgrimage site for the science aficionados and the people who have set his accomplishments as their model in life. The design of Avicenna Mausoleum is the work of the modern Iranian architect Hooshang Seyhoun and is considered a modern triumph of form. Apart from being the resting place of Avicenna, the mausoleum also holds some of the personal belongings of the great man as well as some of the oldest editions of his oeuvres. Do you fancy a trip to the underworld? You won’t meet Hades nor Persephone 120 meters under the mountains but the sights you will come across in Ali Sadr Cave are of almost a mythical scale. As the largest water cave in the world, Ali Sadr Cave needs no introduction. Due to the utter absence of natural light in the labyrinthine corridors and massive halls of Ali Sadr, there is no sign of life accept for the people on the boat taking photos of the natural chandeliers (gigantic sedimentary protrusions) and the eerie cone-shaped formation of the cave. If you are lucky and could explore the cave away from the bustle and noise of visitors, you will be awarded with a near transcendental experience of absolute silence interrupted only by the sound of tiny drops lighting on the depthless lakes of Ali Sadr, this stupendous marvel of nature.
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