Limited northward by Babolsar, eastward by the cities of Qaemshahr and Savadkooh, westward by Amol and southward by the Alborz mountain range, Babol is one of the central cities of Mazandaran province. It includes two cities of Babol and Amir-Kola, three districts of Central, the eastern and western Bandpei and ten hamlets.
……….Tourist Attractions……….
Natural Attractions
Shiyadeh Dam
Due to its favorable climate and presence of forests in its four sides, the virgin zone of Shiyadeh Dam is a proper place for walking, holding one-day excursions, climbing, Loochoo wrestling, fishing and boating.
Sheikh Mousa Village
In the eastern Bandpei district of Babol where the forest covering is lessened and the lower resort area emerges, in a village called Haj Sheikh Mousa on the slopes of Central Alborz and on the eastern side of Sajru River (with the official name Sajjad-Rood) there is the mausoleum of a great man who is considered the moral predecessor of the people of this land; a man who is known as the oldest resident of this area. That militant Muslim man is Hazrat Haj Sheikh Mousa.
Nirasem Mountain
It is one of the mountains of Bandpei district with pleasant climate which originally belongs to the great Sama Koush clan. The mountain has an altitude of more than 2600 meters above the sea level. It is located after the villages of Sheikh Mousa, Leheh and Shaling-Chal.
Arezoo Mineral Warm Water Spring
The mineral warm water spring of Arezoo is located in a village by the same name, in the eastern Bandpei district. Having natural views, it is good for the treatment of various skin diseases.
Natural Tourist Attraction of Babol-Kenar (Bez-Chaft Village)
The Tourist Mountainous Area of the Northern Alborz Mountain Range:Located 30Km of Babol, the area includes villages, springs, rivers, mineral water springs, etc.
Nooshirvani Park of Babol
……….Historical and Cultural Attractions……….
Old Bazaars
Babol (Barforush) was an important commercial center of Mazandaran and Gilan during the reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah, with chapters of the Imperial Bank and the Russian Loan Bank being first opened in this city, and its mint, sugar plant and post office began their activities soon after.
Emamzadeh Qassem
The holy shrine of Emamzadeh Qassem is located at the center of Babol, in the Astaneh district. Two descendants of imams, Qassem-Ebn-e-Moosa and his brother, Hamzeh, are buried in this monument. Dating back to the 9th century, this tomb tower has an octagonal conical dome, blind arches and decorative moqarnas (stalactites). An additive mosque exists on the eastern side of the building. It is adorned with tile and mirror-work. The main entrance is located on the side adjoining the mosque. Housing two carved panels with arabesque patterns, it bears two inscriptions.
Right panel: “Allah, Mofatteh-ol-Abvab”, (a phrase in Kufic script), Hossein-Ebn-Ostad (the commissioner) and Ahmad (the carpenter).
Left panel: “Allah, Vali-ot-tofigh” (a phrase in Kufic script), Moharram 870 AH (the date of construction).
Having two carved wooden cases, the main one’s inscription bears the date of construction (888 AH) and gives the name of its carpenter (Ostad Ahmad Najjar Saravi).
Jame‘ (congregational) Mosque
The Jame‘ mosque is located in a district by the same name, at the center of Babol. It was built upon the order of Maziyar-Ebn-e-Qaran, in 160 AH.
The monument was restored in the Safavid period.According to historic inscriptions, the western entrance portico was destroyed by an earthquake during the reign of Fath-‘Ali Shah, the Qajar monarch, and rebuilt by order of the Shah under the supervision of Mirza Mohammad Shafi, his chancellor, and the mosque’s administrator, Mir Mohammad Hassan, in 1225 AH. Facing to the south, the aivan and the main prayer hall features five prayer- niches decorated with tile-work and an inscription in masons’kufic script.
Molana Mosque
Located in Zargar Mahalleh district, it was built by Sayyed Hassan Molana, one of the well known merchants of Barforoosh. Having a small yard, it is famous as Ranandegan mosque.
Khan Beik Mosque
The small mosque of Khan Beik is located in the courtyard of Beikaee familyʼs tomb.
Mohaddesin Mosque
Located in Toqdar district, it is the burial place ofMolla Nasira and Sheikh-e Kabir. The native inhabitants believe that the prayer-niche of this mosque was built upon the order of Mohammad Ebn Hassan al-Mahdi, the final Imam of the Twelve Imams.
Toqdar-e Ben Mosque
The mosque is located in Toqdar-e Ben district. Having a prayer-niche on its southern edge of the small yard, it is decorated with tile-work and an inscription in nasta‘liq script. The present-day monument was rebuilt in 1970 by Haj Mohammad ʻAli Imani.
Qahharieh Mosque
Located near Shohada district, it was built by Qahhar Qoli Khan,the governor of Barforoosh in the Qajar period. Having a prayer-niche on its southern edge of the small yard, the old construction was destroyed in 1998.
Tekieh of Pir ʻAlam (Morad Beik)
The old tekieh is located in Morad Beik district. It was built by Morad Beik, the brother of Kazem Beik, the commissioner of a mosque by his name.
Saqqanefar Kija Tekieh
Located in the western Hamzeh-Kola district, near the public graveyard, in Babol, Kija Tekieh is one of the most beautiful saqqanefars in Mazandaran. It is a wooden two-story-high construction with tiled roof, surrounded by fired brick walls. The first floor features ten wooden pillars with engraved spiral decoration, “dragon-mouth”-shaped capitals and paintings depicting religious and epic stories.The second floor houses fourteen pillars and capitals adorned with wooden carvings of “dragon-mouth” patterns and the phrase “Ya qazi-ol-hajat”.
Having a plank and beam ceiling, it is decorated with paintings depicting parts of some religious, legendary stories, feature life beliefs, human patterns and genre scenes. Its inscription bears the date of construction (1306 AH) and gives the name of the commissioner (Mashhadi Mohammad ‘Ali Khan) and carpenter (Mashhadi Dadash Navaee).
Kazem Beik Mosque
Located in the Hammam-Sar district, this mosque stands on the southern side of a large yard. It was built by Haj Kazem Beik in 1092 AH. According to stone inscriptions and poems, the construction was restored in 1101-1169 AH.
Its main entrance is located on the northern edge of the building. Having a rectangular plan, the yard features several small aivans on the eastern and western sides that were later modified. The main part of the monument is its prayer hall, which houses herring-bone-shaped arches and a prayer niche located at its center.The prayer hall is divided into three parts and located south of the mosque. Featuring a herring-bone-shaped arch, the entrance was recently restored.
Golshan Mosque
Dating back probably to the Safavid period, the mosque is located near Golshan district and Bisar Tekieh mosque, on the Shohada crossroads.
Bisar Tekieh Mosque
Located in Bisar Tekieh district, it dates back to the Qajar period. The mosque features a small yard and a beautiful minaret.
Chal Mosque
Famous as Haji Mirza Baba mosque, it is located in the Chahar-Sooq district. Chal mosque has a courtyard, twelve chambers and a prayer-niche on its yardʼ southern edge. The monumentʼs inscription bears the date of construction (1323 AH) and gives the name of its commissioner (Aqa ʻAli) and calligrapher (Sheikh Mohammad Reza).
Mohammad Hassan Khan Bridge
Mohammad Hassan Khan bridge is located across Babol river, 3 kilometers south of Babol, on the old road from Babol to Amol. It was built at the cost of 12000 Tumans by Mohammad Hassan Khan, the grandfather of Aqa Mohammad Khan Qajar, in the second half of the 12th century AH (during the reign of Karim Khan-e Zand).Having eight spans, it was adorned with tall blind arches and a band of fired brick small blind arches. This bridge was restored once by Mohammad Hassan Haj Malek and again by Mohammad Sadeq Shafizadeh, concurrently with the 1920 coup detat. Another bridge was built near the main one, in order to protect it and control the heavy traffic.
Babol Palace
It is located in a pleasant garden, south of Babol. During the reign of Nasser-ed-Din Shah, Kossious (a Russian merchant of Greek origins) bought a piece of land and built a magnificent garden there, which became known as Kossious garden.
Later Reza Khan Sardar Sepah, bought it for his son, Mohammad Reza, and built a beautiful monument in this garden, which became known as Shahpoor Palace. After this, numerous additions were made in it and today the complex houses the medicine college. The most important parts of the complex are the entrance portico, watchtower, central library (Reza Khan’s palace) and management office.
Babol Museum
Located in Modarress street in Babol, it was built in 1928 AH and used as the city hall. The structure consists of three stories. Its main entrance is located on its southern side. The first floor includes a central hall surrounded by chambers and access to the top of this building is gained through a staircase. Both of the stories have a same plan. Covered by tinplate gable roof, its domed light aperture allows air current. In 1995, it came under the authority of the Cultural Heritage Office of Mazandaran. After its restoration, it was inaugurated as the Babol Museum in 1996. (Registration No. : 1526)
Tomb Tower of Soltan Mohammad Taher
Located 3km east of Babol, on the Babol-Kiakola road, it is an octagonal construction crowned by an octagonal conical dome. A band of blind arches, blue tiles, denticulated decoration and moqarnas (stalactite) adorn the building. The monument’s interior is decorated with two bands of blind arches and inscriptions.
Its construction was commissioned by Amir Morteza Al-Hosseini, the son of Seyyed ‘Ali and the grandson of Mir Bozorg. After his death, his sons finished the job in 875 AH.
Sheikh Moosa and Emamzadeh ‘Abdollah mausoleums
The mausoleums of Sheikh Moosa and Emamzadeh ‘Abdollah are located 80Km south of Babol, in the eastern Bandpei district, in Sheikh Moosa village. Having carved wooden cases, doors and inscriptions, these monuments are the religious and cultural attractions in Mazadaran.The popular wrestling of Loochoois performed in this place on 26th Day of Aid-e Mah.
Some of the other historical and cultural attractions of Babol are:
Moqri-Kola Tekieh:25Km of city center, in Moqri-Kola village (Qajar Period)
Mineral Warm Water Spring of Azeroo Village
Tomb Tower of Darvish Fakhr-ed-Din: Mooziraj district(9th century AH)
Serest Dome: Serest village (9th century AH)
Shiadeh Saqqanefars: 30Km south of Babol, Shiadeh village
Molla Mohammad Shahr Ashoob Mausoleum:Bengar-Kola village (Qajar Period)
Sayyed Zain-ol-‘Abedin Mausoleum:(Qajar Period)
Hasir-Forooshan Complex and Rasteh Bazaar:(Qajar Period)
