Introduction to Niasar Village
Niasar Village is one of the touristic city gardens of Persia, where is 20 meters away from Kashan and is famous for its pre-Islamic architecture, historical monuments, and the preservation of the region’s indigenous culture. The current city was a village that gradually grew, contains many gardens. The stone tools found in Niasar belonged to the Middle Paleolithic period, date the human presence to 4,000 years ago. Niasar was an ancient village and was mentioned in the relics of the 6th and 7th centuries. Niasar is a word belonging to ancient Persian, which means shadow and coldness; quite a proper name according to the city’s climate. The city has been considered by kings and rulers, especially Sassanid kings, because of its colder climate than other parts of Kashan and the Kavir desert of Persia.
Niasar Four Arches
Such an ancient building that is left from the late Parthian or early Sassanid period (the duration of Ardashir I of Sassanid rule) is one of the oldest and healthiest Chahartaqi (Four arches) in Persia. Also known as the Sassanid fire temple, the Chartaqi is located in Niasar, near the Alexandria spring. Although the building is generally known as a fire temple, researchers analyze various functions for it, such as a signpost, a monument, a fireplace, and the insulator of the elders. The Niasar Chahartaqi is perched on a cliff and stands out from a distance. The building is architectured as a room with 14 x 14-meter sides and a dome. The Sassanid fire temple also had other roles; for instance, it was used as a city symbol at night for caravans.
Niasar Village spring and waterfall
There is a historical spring a few meters below the Chartaqi in Niasar, known as Alexandria spring. It has clear and refreshing water, locating a few kilometers northwest of Kashan. The whole history and antiquity of the ancient village are due to the existence of the blessed spring. Niasar waterfall, which is one of the most famous spots of Niasar, actually originates from this ancient spring. You can also see astonishing stalactites and stalagmites on the waterfall’s surface which have been formed because of the limestone dissolution over the years. Niasar waterfall has the lowest amount of water in autumn and the highest amount in spring.
The Cave of the Chief
Niasar Cave is one of the artificial ones created by humans, used to perform particular religious customs. Scholars date the cave to the early Parthian period and even consider it the religious rites’ site of the Anahita and Mitra followers in ancient Persia. The cave consists of three floors, and also there are tunnels, long and narrow corridors, and numerous wells. The depth of these wells is so great that access to the bottom is not possible without using modern equipment. The cave is so tortuous that it is not recommended to go all the way without a guide.
Historic baths and mills of Niasar Village
Another historical monument of Niasar in the bath and watermill that researchers, due to research they have done, and the type of its architecture, estimated its antiquity is related to the Safavid era. The architecture and the system water is transferred into the bath are extremely interesting and remarkable. The waterfall water was directed into the octagon and the bath by mud coils and then transferred to the whole bath. The fuel for the bath is firewood. The watermill is also rotated using waterfall water and works when the water is store in ovens, poured on the mill wheel through a narrow coil to caused the millstone to move. The watermill usage was to grind wheat and barley. The mill’s architecture style is similar to that of a bath, and in terms of antiquity, they both probably belong to the same period.
Making Rosewater (Golab Giri) ceremony
When hearing about rosewater making, we usually think only of Kashan, however, due to the specific geographical location of Niasar, Mohammadi flowers (Damas Roses) bear fruit earlier than other parts of Kashan, and the Golab Giri ceremony takes place from mid-May to mid-June. Next time you travel to Niasar, in addition to visiting the historical and ancient spots of the city, also go for the astonishing and fragrant Rosewater Making Ceremony, bringing a few bottles of rosewater as a souvenir.