The Maranjab desert, located near Kashan city is one of the ancient desert cities of Isfahan province. It named by a castle around there from Safavid dynasty. It has a typical climate of hot and dry in summer, cold and dry in winter and very little rainfall during the year.
Maranjab one of the most beautiful desert areas of Iran. Long sandy hills and forests of the area worst beautiful arch. Salt Lake Aran Island Bidgol wandering around the area are spectacular. Needs to be wandering in the ocean desert island, except for one or two months of the year due to the rainfall in the region is visible, the rest of the year will be converted to salt marsh. Dastkan historical wells in the East Desert, Caravans of camels had been drinking. Maranjab castle, caravanserai on the Silk Route is in the desert and the caravan for a trip to Khorasan, Isfahan, Rey and vice versa passed this way. The sand desert area subparagraph (stiff competition in the local dialect) desert area north of the city of Isfahan Badrod continue sabulous large sand dam, the tallest sand dunes East is about 70 meters.
The average height of about 850 meters Maranjab sea level and the highest point of the island is about 880 meters above sea level, and needs to be security, relative moderation, variety of tourism attractions, the diversity of animal species and vegetation in desert areas a good place for tourism and investment in this area has provided and draw many tourists to the area. Much of the desert is covered with dunes and sabulous. Maranjab is very rich in terms of vegetation. The main vegetation consists of salt-friendly plants including tamarisk trees and bushes arch and is Qych.
Aran O Bidgol salt lake and Wanderer island are other spectacular parts of the desert. When you watch the island from far away, the two ends of it disappear in the horizon and the landscape looks like a ship adrift in the ocean desert, that’s why it’s called Wanderer island. The island, only one or two months of the year due to rainfall in the region are visible and the rest during the year converts to salt marsh. Other attractions of the Maranjab, is a caravanserai on the Silk Road, which is located in the desert. Maranjab desert average height of sea level is 850 meters and the highest point of this desert measures about 880 meters of sea level.
Maranjab Caravanserai one of the most famous caravanserais in Iran, was built by the order of Shah Abbas Safavid. Maranjab castle, caravanserai was located on the silk route. In Past there used to be always, 500 soldiers on top of the castle to watch over the caravans trading from China to Europe. Maranjab Caravanserai has a Qanat having fresh water which, is a phenomenon in a desert full of salt lakes. Today Maranjab caravanserai is used as a guest house. It has 29 rooms and accommodates tourists visiting this wonderful desert. The rooms don’t have beds so you should have sleeping bags. Each room accommodates one or two people and the bigger ones accommodate seven people. It doesn’t have shower facilities, but there is water in the toilets located outside the main building, about 3mins walk. The caravanserai has also a small restuarant that serves food. The around area of Maranjab Caravanserai is safe, and is a great place for camping.
Another attraction of Maranjab desert is the sand dunes. The tallest sand dunes on east, are about 70 meters. On the southern side of Maranjab Caravanserai there is a mountain, known as “Kolang Mountain” surrounded by sand hills. If you are looking for a little adventure, With a 15 minute walk you can reach the top, the view of the desert from the top in just breathtaking. The moving sand dunes create a wonderful landscape in the desert. You can enjoy walking on the sand dunes with bare feet. Since the temperature rises in desert in the midday it’s better to walk on the moving sand dunes in the early morning or late afternoon.
Mid-Autumn and late November are the best times due to dryness of the path, mild weather and the lack of insects. Hipersia almost every week has a one-day tours to visit the desert.
Maranjab: Where Sands Whisper Tales and Stars Paint the Sky
Maranjab, nestled amidst the parched embrace of the Isfahan province, isn’t just a desert; it’s a poem etched in sand, a symphony of silence punctuated by the wind’s mournful song. It’s a landscape where dunes dance under the scorching sun, and stars paint the night sky with a million shimmering brushstrokes. This ancient jewel, named after a Safavid-era castle that stands sentinel amidst the shifting sands, whispers tales of caravans past, of resilience carved by nature, and of a beauty that blooms even in the harshest of environments.
A Canvas of Sand and Salt:
Step into Maranjab, and you step onto a vast canvas painted in shades of ochre and gold. Towering sand dunes, sculpted by the desert’s capricious hand, rise and fall like silent giants, their crests tinged with the rose-gold blush of dawn or the fiery orange of dusk. Salt lakes, shimmering mirages under the relentless sun, shimmer in the distance, their shimmering surfaces reflecting the endless sky. The Wanderer Island, a mirage made manifest, peeks from the salt crust, disappearing and reappearing with the whims of the seasons, luring you with its enigmatic charm.
Whispers of the Silk Road:
Maranjab isn’t just a playground for the wind and sand; it’s a living memory of history. The crumbling walls of the Maranjab Caravanserai whisper tales of weary travelers traversing the Silk Road, seeking riches and respite under its protective arches. Imagine the clanging of camel bells, the murmur of bartering merchants, the flickering glow of oil lamps casting long shadows upon the sun-baked courtyard. Today, the caravanserai, restored to its former glory, beckons weary souls not with trade, but with the promise of a night under the desert sky, serenaded by the whispers of the past.
A Sanctuary for Wanderers:
Beyond the historical echoes, Maranjab offers solace for the modern adventurer. Hiking through the undulating dunes, feet sinking into the warm sand, one feels dwarfed by the immensity of the landscape. Yet, there’s a strange comfort in this vastness, a sense of liberation in the absence of boundaries. Sunrise yoga amidst the dunes, limbs painted gold by the first rays of dawn, becomes a communion with nature’s raw power. Sandboarding down the steep slopes, adrenaline tingling in every vein, is a playful defiance against the desert’s stoicism.
A Symphony of Starlight:
As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues, Maranjab transforms once more. The canvas of sand yields to an inky expanse adorned with a million diamond-bright stars. Each twinkle whispers a story, each constellation an ancient map unfolding above. Under this breathtaking canopy, campfires crackle softly, casting dancing shadows that stretch into the infinite. Stories are shared, laughter mingles with the desert’s haunting melody, and a sense of wonder washes over even the most jaded soul.
Beyond the Sands:
Maranjab’s magic extends beyond the dunes and stars. The nearby Dastkan wells, their cool depths whispering of a hidden oasis, quench the thirst of both man and beast. The rich tapestry of desert flora, from salt-resistant tamarisk trees to the delicate Qych plant, speaks of nature’s tenacious spirit. Even the harsh sunlight, filtering through the desert air, acquires a golden warmth, painting the world in a unique, ethereal glow.
More Than a Destination:
Maranjab is not just a desert to be crossed, a box to be ticked on a travel list; it’s an experience to be absorbed, a melody to be felt. It’s a place where silence speaks volumes, where stars whisper ancient secrets, and where dunes dance to the rhythm of the wind. It’s a reminder that beauty can bloom even in the harshest of landscapes, a testament to the human spirit’s enduring quest for adventure, and a sanctuary for those who seek solace in the vastness of the unknown.
Visiting Maranjab is not just a holiday; it’s a pilgrimage, a journey into the heart of Iran’s natural splendor and its rich historical tapestry. It’s a chance to disconnect from the noise of the world, reconnect with the raw power of nature, and discover a universe within the vast emptiness of the desert.
