Sari, Iran
| Sari ساری Zadracarta | ||
|---|---|---|
| city | ||
.jpg) | ||
| ||
  Sari | ||
| Coordinates: 36°33′48″N 53°03′36″E / 36.56333°N 53.06000°ECoordinates: 36°33′48″N 53°03′36″E / 36.56333°N 53.06000°E | ||
| Country |
 Iran | |
| Province | Mazandaran | |
| County | Sari | |
| Bakhsh | Central | |
| Human Settlement | About 75,000 Years | |
| Founded | Antiquity | |
| Refoundation | By Farrukhan, Daboyans Dynasty of Tapuria | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Mehdi Obouri | |
| Elevation | 5 northwest up to 50 in southeast m (15 – 150 ft) | |
| Population (2006) | ||
| • Total | 259,084 | |
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) | |
| • Summer (DST) | IRDT (UTC+4:30) | |
| Postal Code | 48xxx-xxxxx | |
| Area code(s) | 0151 | |
| Vehicle Plate | IRAN 62 | |
| Website | www.sari.ir www.sarycity.ir | |
Sari (
pronunciation (help·info)) (/Sārī/ Mazanderani: ساری, Persian: ساری; also Romanized as Sārī; also known as Shahr-i-Tajan and Shari-i-Tajan)[1] is the provincial capital of Mazandaran and former capital of Iran (for a short period), located in the north of Iran, between the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and southern coast of the Caspian Sea. At the 2006 census, its population was 259,084, in 71,522 families.[2]
Location
The Mazandaran Sea provides a beautiful coastline in north of Sari; northeast of the city is Neka. Qa'emshahr (Formerly known as Shahi) is to its south-west, Juybar is to its north-west, and Kiasar, Damghan, and Semnan are cities located to the south.
History
Early history
Excavations in Hutto cave present evidence for the existence of settlements around Sari as far back as the 70th millennium BC.[3] The Muslim historian Hamdollah Mostowfi attributes the foundation of Sari to king Tahmoures Divband of the Pishdadian Dynasty. Ferdowsi mentioned the name of the city in Shahnameh at the time of Fereydun and Manuchehr when Manuchehr is returning to Fereydun's capital, Tamisheh in Mazandaran, after victory over Salm and Tur:[4]
ز دریای گیلان (مازندران) چون ابر سیاه / دمادم به ساری رسید آن سپاه / چو آمد به نزدیک شاه آن سپاه / فریدون پذیره بیامد به راه
Coming from this and other similar evidences in Shahnameh, native people of Sari have a folklore that the city was populated when Smith Kaveh (native of city) revolted against the tyranny of Zahak. After that success, Fereydun of Pishdadi (From Tamishan) feeling indebted to Kaveh, chose this city so as to live near him until his death. For this reason, when Touraj and Salam murdered Iraj (son of Fereydun), they buried him here. Espahbod Tous-e Nouzar (great-grandson of Fereidun) systematically founded it to remain as family monument.[5] Also recognition by Greek historians goes back to the 6th century BC (Achaemenid dynasty) when they recorded it as Zadrakarta (Persian name Sadrakarta),[6]
According to Arrian, this was the largest city of Hyrcania. The term signifies, " the yellow city "; and it was given to it from the great number of oranges, lemons, and other fruit trees which grew in the outskirts of that city. Hence it is by D'Anville, Rochette, and other geographers, identified Saru, which Pietro Della Valle says, in his "Travels", signifies "The yellow city". It is probable that Zadracarta and Saru are the same with the Syringis of Polybius, taken from Arsaces ii. by Antiochus the Great, in his vain attempt to reunite the revolted provinces of Hyrcania and Parthia to the Syrian crown. Han Way, who visited Saru in 1734, mentions of four ancient Magian temples as still standing then, built in the form of several rotundas, each thirty feet in diameter, and about 120 in height. However Sir W. Ouseley, who had traveled to the site in 1811, has speculated that these to be masses of brick masonry of the Mohammedan age. Out of four, one of the rotunda is still standing and the rest were overturned by an earthquake. This and other remains of similar buildings, bear the names of Firedoon, Salm, Toor, and other mythical figures, M^hose celebrity had been established about 2000 years prior to their erection. One of them Avas called the tomb of Kaus, and was supposed to contain the ashes of Cyrus the Great. Sir William Ouseley thinks it was that of Kabus, or Kaus, the son of Washmakin, who governed Mazanderan in the fourth century of the Hejira. It was at Saru that the ashes of the youthful hero, Sohraub, were deposited by his father, Roostum, after he had unwittingly slayed Sohrab in a hand to hand battle. Saru is celebrated for its abundance of gardens, which emit a pleasing fragrance in the vernal and summer months. Oriental hyperbole declares, that the gates of paradise derive sweetness from the air of Saru, and the flowers of Eden receive their fragrance from its soil. The city was again a regional capital in the Sassanid dynasty era.[7]
Capital of Tabaristan local rulers
In the seventh century, Farrukhan the Great of the Dabuyid dynasty reconstructed the city, and because his son's name was "Sarouyeh", he called it by this name. Sari once again became the capital of Tabaristan during that century (Amol was the capital previously ).
After invasions by the successors of Mongols, Timur the Lame of Uzbeks, Turcoman, and Tatars the city lost its high status and was periodically burnt to ashes.
Integration into the national administration
Because Shah Abbas I's mother was from Behshahr (Ashraf),
he merged Mazandaran into his empire, and founded Farahabad as his alternate capital of Persia in the north of the city and created the gardens in Ashraf.
After the Safavid dynasty, until rise of Agha Mohammad khan to power there is no evidence of any notable events in Sari.
Early 20th century
Major developments took place after the Qajar dynasty. During Reza Shah Pahlavi reign, face of the town was changed drastically. Sari Rail Station and most of the streets and Government buildings date from that era. During World War II the Soviet army occupied the city, but left it after the war.
About Sari
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The Clock Tower, in the Clock Square (Meydan-e-Sa'at) located in downtown Sari, attracts visitors and has become a famous landmark. Sari also contains the tombs of the Muslim cleric leaders Yahya and Zayn Al-Abedin, Emamzade-ye Abbas, and Shazdeh Hussein the architecture of which are from the 15th century.
Economy
The economy of Sari is based on food production such as milled rice, dairy products, canned meat and cookies. Sari is a major citrus fruits especially orange, tangerine and lemon producer. Oil seeds such as soybean and rape being cultivated in vast lands around villages for producing of vegetable ghee and cooking oil. During the 1950s and 1970s the large factory of MM company was the city's largest industrial complex and was one of the country's biggest vegetable oil producer. After 1979 revolution, the company was nationalized but went bankrupt and closed later on. [8]Other sources of economy include, but not limited to, paper, wood, fabrics and construction material. Mazandaran Wood and Paper Industries, the biggest factory of its kind in the middle east, is situated in a 2000 acre ground on Semnan Road. Mazpaper is presently producing more than 20% of country's paper requirements and is a major economical entity not only for the city but also for the province. The MWPI's major subsidiary is the NEKA CHOUB Co., that is manufacturing plywood and chipboard. Among smaller setups is Alipour Lighting manufacturing company (Techno Light), the first in designs & producing handmade chandelier in North of Iran since 1970, that is also engaged in export and import of decorative lighting. The company's main office is on Amir Mazandarani Ave.
Climate
Sari has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa).[9] Winters are cool and rainy whilst summers are hot and humid. Sari's 2005–2006 statistical weather information, in comparison with that of other Mazandaran cities, shows that Sari has an average climate, but it is somewhat sunnier and has more spring rain. However, recent rainfall in Sari has declined.
| Climate data for Mahdasht, Sari | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 30.2 (86.4) |
31.2 (88.2) |
35.0 (95) |
37.0 (98.6) |
39.0 (102.2) |
44.0 (111.2) |
39.0 (102.2) |
40.5 (104.9) |
39.0 (102.2) |
38.0 (100.4) |
34.0 (93.2) |
30.0 (86) |
44.0 (111.2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
20.9 (69.6) |
25.2 (77.4) |
29.2 (84.6) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.2 (88.2) |
28.5 (83.3) |
24.1 (75.4) |
19.0 (66.2) |
14.4 (57.9) |
21.8 (71.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.3 (37.9) |
3.4 (38.1) |
5.0 (41) |
9.4 (48.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
17.8 (64) |
20.7 (69.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
18.6 (65.5) |
13.8 (56.8) |
9.3 (48.7) |
5.2 (41.4) |
11.8 (53.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) |
−5.0 (23) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
1.0 (33.8) |
2.0 (35.6) |
4.0 (39.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
10.0 (50) |
2.5 (36.5) |
0.0 (32) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−5.0 (23) |
−5.0 (23) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 105.2 (4.142) |
91.5 (3.602) |
100.6 (3.961) |
60.5 (2.382) |
53.2 (2.094) |
36.2 (1.425) |
35.5 (1.398) |
58.8 (2.315) |
88.9 (3.5) |
98.1 (3.862) |
104.4 (4.11) |
114.4 (4.504) |
947.3 (37.295) |
| Avg. rainy days | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 83 |
| % humidity | 77 | 76 | 76 | 72 | 69 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 73 | 75 | 76 | 76 | 72.7 |
| Source: Iranian Meteorological Organization[10] | |||||||||||||
City districts
Sari's major districts are:
Mirzazamani, Azad Goleh, Bagher Abad,Booali & Posht-e-Hotel(both located in Pasdaran Blvd.), Barbari Mahalleh, Bazaar-e Nargesiyeh,
Bazaar-e Rooz, Chenar-Bon, Gol-Afshan, Golma, Kooy-e Azadi,
Kooy-e DadGostari, Kooy-e Daneshgah, Kooy-e Djahad, Kooy-e
Golha, Kooy-e-Karmandan, Kooy-e Mahyar, Kooy-e MirSarorozeh,
Kooy-e Qelich, Lesani, Mehdi-Abad, Na'l-Bandan,
No-Tekiyeh, Peyvandi, Pir Tekiyeh, Pol-e Gardan, Posht-e Nim-e
Shaban, Posht-e Zendan, Rahband-e Dokhaniyat, Dokhaniyat, Kooy-e Etehad, Rahband-e
Sangtarashan, Sang, Sari Kenar, Sarvineh Bagh, Seyyed AlShohada,
Shafa, Shahband, Shazdeh Hossein, Shokr Abad, Tabaristan,
Tavakkoli, Torki Mahalleh, Torkmen Mahalleh, etc.
Previous districts
Sari's old city structure changed in the first Pahlavi era. New avenues and streets in the city center date from that period. In the Qajar dynasty, Sari had famous neighborhoods identified as follows:
Afghoun Mahalleh, Bahar Abad, Balouchi Kheyl, Balouchi
Mahalleh, Birameter (Bahram-Ottor), Chaleh Bagh, Dar Masdjed,
Isfahouni Mahalleh, Kohneh Baq Shah,Kurd Mahalleh, Mir Mashad Mahalleh, Mir Sar Rozeh, Na'l Bandan, Naqareh Khaneh, Ossanlou Mahalleh, Paay-e Chenar, QelichLi Mahalleh, Sabzeh Meydan, Shazdeh Hossein, Shepesh Koshan, Shishehgar Mahalleh
Telephone area codes
Sari's area code is 151 (+98151 outside of Iran). Also Sari has the internal area codes as shown below, three digits are the beginning of seven-digit numbers (e.g., 221-xxxx):
| 22 System | 23 System | 24 System | 32 System | 34 – 37 System | 38 System |
| 221 Downtown (2003)D | 233 | 243 | 321 North of Downtown (2004)A | 340 Northeast of Downtown (2006)D | 381 |
| 222 Downtown (First)D | 234 | 244 | 322 Far South (2005)D | 382 | |
| 225 Northwest of Downtown (2005)D | 235 | 245 | 323 South of Downtown (2002)D | 383 Sari's Primary Industrial Area D | |
| 223 Southwest of Downtown (2000)D | 236 | 246 | 324 North of Downtown (1997)D | 384 Dangesarak, Koula A | |
| 227 Far West (2002)D | 237 | 247 | 325 North of Downtown (1998)D | 385 | |
| 238 | 248 | 326 West of Downtown (2003)D | 387 | ||
| 328 Far East (2000)A | 388 Wood Industries | ||||
- Numbers in parentheses show the year the phone office was established.
- D = Digital System, A = Analog System
Population
The population density of some neighborhoods in downtown (for example: Mirzazamani, Peyvandi, Sang) is greater than 20,000 per square kilometer. Note that before 1950, the population of the city during the summer was less than in winter. This influenced estimations, such that an estimate done in summer might be inaccurate.
- 1808 = 21,000 est.
- 1827 = 19,000 est.
- 1832 = 20,000 est.
- 1850 = 15,000 est.
- 1856 = 9,000 est.
- 1872 = 15,500 est.
- 1874 = 16,000 est.
- 1883 = 16,100 est.
- 1905 = 25,000 est.
- 1923 = 35,000 est.
- 1956 = 26,278 cen.
- 1966 = 44,547 cen.
- 1976 = 70,753 cen.
- 1986 = 141,020 cen.
- 1996 = 195,882 cen.
- 2006 = 262,627 est.
- 2008 = 300,000 est.
People and culture
Local residents are known as Saravis or Sariyan. The population is a mixture of native Mazandaranis, Persians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Balochis, and Turcomans. Whereas neighborhoods were identified during the Qajar dynasty by the ethnicity of their inhabitants, this is no longer so. Historically, some areas were labeled as being home to immigrants from Kurdistan and Balochistan. Sari, as well as other regions in northern Iran, is well known for its hospitality. Most residents speak Mazandarani and the Saravi dialect. Sari used to be the home of Georgians, Armenians, and Zoroastrians, but today their percentage of the population is low. Local languages are spoken in some neighborhoods, but almost everyone understands and uses Persian as second language.
Zoroastrians from Sari who migrated to India in the 10th century founded there a city which they named "Navu Sari" (English: "New Sari"), a name which was by now shortened to Navsari; the town is still a center of the Zoroastrian Parsi community of India.
Transport
Arriving
By air
Sari is served by Dasht-e Naz International Airport, that is located in the Northeast of the city. List of arrival and departure flights can be found in the Airport's website or through this address http://www.sariairport.ir/fids/dailyda.asp
By train
The city is connected to Gorgan and Tehran by Shomal Railway route. That is a major branch of the Iran's Railroad. The Sari train station is the country's first modern rail station that was inaugurated during Pahlavi dynasty. Currently, there are three major passenger trains (Sari Exclusive Train, No. 220, and No. 221) everyday to Sari. Travelling to Sari from Tehran, one may use the Gorgan train, which runs in the evening and as in some major express trains have announcements in English. The fare is $3.5 USD, and the trip takes approximately 7 hours from Tehran to Sari but 7 and 1/2 hours from Sari- to Tehran. Because the terrain is mountainous and slope is towards North. For more than 60 years, Sari's exclusive passenger train has been arriving at about 4 pm.
By boat
The port of Amir Abad is located on the southern coast of the Mazandaran Sea.
By car
Local highways have been well developed after the Iran–Iraq War. Sari area is served with No. 62W Freeway, which has the Qa'emshahr exit and No. 62E, which has the Neka exit. You can travel from Sari to Tehran via Firoozkooh in less than 4 hours.
By bus
There are five bus terminals, but one, Terminal-e Dowlat, is more popular. The others serve cities that are located within 150 kilometers from Sari; Gorgan, Nowshahr, Chaloos, Kiyasar, and etc. are within this range.
| By Train | By Road | ||||
| Gorgan | 153 km* | 138 Kilometers | Neka, Behshahr, Gaz, Nokandeh, Gorgan | ||
| Bojnourd | ----- | Behshahr, Gorgan, Minoodasht, Ashkhaneh, Bojnourd | |||
| Mashad | 1152 km* | 730 Kilometers | Behshahr, Gorgan, Bonjnourd, Quchan, Mashad | ||
| Babol | 45 Kilometers* | Qa'emshahr, Babol | |||
| Nowshahr | 170 Kilometers | Jouybar, Babolsar, Fereydoon Kenar, Nour, Royan, Nowshahr | |||
| Lahijan | Babolsar, Nour, Nowshahr, Shahsavar, Ramsar, Chaboksar, Lahijan | ||||
| By Train | Via Savadkooh Road/ | Via Kiasar Road | Via Azadshahr Road | Via Haraz Road | |
| Tehran | 354 km* | 265 Kilometers* | ----- | ----- | 245 Kilometers |
| Semnan | 354 km* | ----- | ----- | ||
| Shahroud | 555 km* | ----- | |||
* indicates that destination is actually nearer than the figure shown
Getting around
The layout of the city renders occasional use of taxis. There is a wide choice of taxi systems including limousines, wireless radio taxis, airport or rail station taxis, and telephone taxis. City buses are also popular because they connect Sari's suburbs to the center of city, providing a low cost and convenient means of transportation to and from the town for people living in those neighborhoods. Although Sari is considered a safe city for pedestrians even at night, nevertheless care should be taken when walking around.
Outdoors
Sari is balmy and pleasant. Most major places of interest are listed below:
- Farah Abad Coast
- Gohar Baran Coast
- Darya Kenar Coast
- Khezer Shahr Coast
- Dehkadeh Aramesh Tourist Village
- Tajan River Park
- Zare' Forest Park
- Salardareh Forest Park
- Dasht-E-Naaz National Park
- Pol-e-Gardan hiking trail
- Nemashoun Lake
- Lak-Dasht Lake
- Soleyman-Tangeh Lake
- Bam-e-Shahr Hill (offers a great panoramic view of the city)
- Qor-Maraz (natural spa, Neka)
- jamaloddin kola(damaneh kohe shahdezh)
Colleges and universities
In the course of history, Sari was once one of the most cultured cities in the history of Iran. The scientific knowledge of Saravis were noted throughout history and recorded by Pietro Della Valle and other famous visitors. Today, the universities are as follows:
- University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources
- Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (MazUMS)
- University of Natural Science
- Islamic Azad University of Sari
- Imam Mohammad Bagher University of Technology
- Sarian University of Art & Architecture
- Payam-e-Noor University
- University of Tech & Engineering (Khalil Moqadam)
- University of Tarbiyat-e Moallem
- Sama Technology Faculty of Azad University
- Rouzbehan University
- Science and Research Branch Islamic azad university
- Hadaf University
Sports Facilities
Many sport complexes are in Sari. Most popular are Jahan-Pahlavan Takhti Sports Complex, located on Farhang Street; Hashemi-Nassab Sports Complex, located on the railway side of the autobahn; and Montazeri Sports complex, located in Shahband neighborhood. Sari's Mottaqi football stadium is one of the oldest sports field in the country but nowadays it is seldom used in major soccer matches.
Wrestling
Sari is the birthplace of many popular wrestlers and athletes. Notable wrestlers from Sari include Asgari Mohammadian, Majid Torkan and Morad Mohammadi. The town was the host and scene of 2006 Wrestling World Cup Competitions.
Cultural attractions
Although Sari is the most important cultural place in the north of Iran, earthquakes and other causes destroyed most of its cultural heritage and ancient monuments. Still, Sari has been described as Safa City (City of Curvet).
Notable are Famous Houses such as Kolbadi House and Amir Divan House (Ramedani House) , Archeological sites including
Hutto Cave (70th millennium BC), Kamarband Cave (70th-millennium BC); also the Resket Tower from the House of Karen era[citation needed] and the Farahabad Palace Complex from the Safavid era.
Statue of Arash Kamangir (Arash the Archer) on his chariots in Emam Square was destroyed by the Islamic regime. 'Arash the Archer', a legendary hero, in Shahnameh was believed to have thrown his demarcating arrow from Sari.
Arts & Calture
Khosrow Sinai (born 19 January 1941 in Sari) a renowned film director of the country was the first Iranian film director to win an international prize after the Islamic revolution in Iran. He is also known as an Iranian scholar and has been awarded the prestigious Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
Music
Seyed Abdolhossein Mokhtabad-Amrei (born 1966 in Sari) is an Iranian composer and singer of Persian Classical music. He received his vocal training under supervision of renowned and legendary maestros and since his professional debut in 1991, has performed numerous concerts in Iran and abroad, including most European Countries, South East Asia and Northern America "Canada & United States" and produced more than 20 sets of music albums.
Authors and Poets
Sari has raised many authors and poets. Mina Assadi is probably the most famous one. She was born and raised in Sari but then moved to Teheran to study journalism and work as a journalist at newspapers like Kayhan. Today Mina Assadi lives in exile in Stockholm, Sweden.
Mohsen Emadi (born 29 October 1976 in Sari) is another Persian poet and translator.
Religious sites
- Emamzadeh Yahya (son of Imam Moosa-ibn Jafar)
- Emamzadeh Abbas (son of Imam Moosa-ibn Jafar)
- Emamzadeh Abdollah, Koula
- Masjed-e-Jaame' Mosque (constructed before Islam by Zoroastrians, where many important kings and heroes of Persia such as Iraj,
Touraj, Salam, Fereidun, Sohrab (son of Rostam) that Ferdowsi recalls them in shahnama are buried near this place).
- Emam-Sajjad Mosque (formerly Shah-Qazi, initially was called Marqad-'Ala-Adolleh School but Rostam Shah Qazi reconstructed it in 1169 and renamed it to Shah-Qazi during the Qaznavi era)
- Haaj Mostafa Khan Mosque (Sourteci)
- Reza Khan Mosque (Hozeh Elmiyeh)
- Molla-Majd-Addin Place
- Shazdeh-Hossein Place
- Pahneh-Kalla Place.
Sister cities
Mayor
- Mehdi Obouri
Notes
- ↑ Sari, Iran can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3082809" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
- ↑ "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)" (Excel). Islamic Republic of Iran. Archived from the original on 2011-11-11.
- ↑ Subterranea of Iran: Huto and Kamarband Cave
- ↑ Shahnameh/Book of Kings by Abu'L Ferdawsi, edited by Dr. jalal Khaleghi-Motlagh
- ↑ Iran’s Cultural Heritage News Agency (CHN), http://www.chnpress.com/tourism/Attractions/mazandaran
- ↑ Persien: Das Land und seine Bewohner : ethnograph. Schilderungen 2 Teile in 1 Bd, by Jakob Eduard Polak, (Olms, 1976)
- ↑ Britannica Article for Zadracarta
- ↑ حسین اسلامی: تاریخ دوهزارساله ساری (دارالملک مازندران)، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی قائم شهر، ۱۳۷۲.
- ↑ "Climate: Sari - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ↑ http://www.irimo.ir/english/statistics/climanormals/mazandar/MAHDASHT.txt[]
References
- About Sari, Author: Dr. Hussein Eslami, Year: 1995, Special Municipal Research & Cultural Center for Sari
- Sari, My Lovely City, Author: Ali Hessami, Year: 2006, 23965 Sari Primary Library
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sari, Iran. |
- Sari in Encyclopædia Britannica
Sari travel guide from Wikivoyage
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