Introduction to Vakil Bazaar
If you are a marketer and you are seeking to go to a traditional bazaar, then we suggest the Vakil Bazaar, which is reminiscent of Karim Khan. Shiraz Vakil bazaar is one of the most identifying customary bazaars of Iran, where it is not only a place to buy and sell but also one of the prime attractions and economic heart of Shiraz that is built to embrace a different business environment by Karim Khan Zand.
History of Vakil Bazaar
Since the time of Karim Khan Zand’s rule and being chosen as the capital of countries, Shiraz has become one of the most important cities in Persia in which Karim Khan decided to build a bazaar similar to the Qeisarie Bazaar in Lar city to become a place for business and economic affairs. It took the Vakil Bazaar about 21 years to build. Karim Khan’s goal was to create a bazaar to trade, sell, and lend. By lending, it meant that people would give their belongings to the trustees and get them back when they need them, like using the safe box in the Bank.
Vakil Bazaar, like other old bazaars, includes many seras, rastehs named after the type of activity of the shops. This bazaar has been one of the phenomenons of the Safavid era and the most impressive bazaar in Shiraz that has maintained its economic prosperity over the years and is turning the heart of Shiraz’s economy.
The Bazaar Architecture
The structure of Vakil Bazaar is a cruciform and vaulted arch with five main entrances where rows are located in north, south, east, and west directions. The main branches of the bazaar are its northern and southern, parts where the northern row is well-known for the hat and to the west is Four Souqs, where is the center of sales of all kinds of handicrafts to the eastern the Four Souqs is dedicated to carpet and pharmacology and the southern row is devoted to colorful fabrics with high quality and low price.
About Charsuk, Streets, and Cells of the Bazaar
One of the most attractive parts of the bazaar is the Chahar Souk (Foursquare), where is at the center of Vakil Bazaar, located at the intersection of two bazaars with identifying decoration, ChaharSouk due to its distinctive architecture and earrings, vaults, and arches. One of the features of Vakil bazaar is its low street level, whereas until a few decades ago, there was a divide of 14 stairs between the bazaar and the Streets around, which became 5 to 6 steps by time passage.
In addition to this feature, the high roof of the rows next to cells distinguish the bazaar as a spectacular architected structure, which is usually elevated above the ground and connect the platforms to the cells which actually serve as the counterpoint to modern shops and provide a good distance between buyers and sellers for interaction and dialogue.
About Saray-e Moshir (Golshan) in Vakil Bazaar
At the end of the southern district of Vakil bazaar and in the eastern part, we come to a place which is famous as Saray-e Moshir or Golshan, while locals consider this part of the bazaar as the most crowded spot for purchasing goods.
The entrance to Saray-e Moshir is very magnificent, the octagonal structure and the head tile is very spectacular, either there is an inscription with unique Nasta‘līq (Nastaliq; a very predominant style of Persian calligraphy) which explains the constructor in the lower part of tiled works. It is good to know that Saray-e Moshir was built by Mirza Abolhassan Khan Moshir al-Molk, who was one of the ministers during the reign of the Qajar era.
About Seray Timcheh Gul in the Bazaar
Part of the exterior of the Vakil Bazaar, next to one of the entrances to the bazaar and next to the Vakil Mosque door, is known as the Seray Timcheh Gul. This area transfers a relaxing atmosphere with a variety of shops and crafts at dusk and night.