Esfarayen

For the administrative subdivision, see Esfarayen County.
"Isfarain" redirects here. For the nearby village also with that name, see Jowshaqan, Esfarayen.
Esfarayen
اسفراین
city
Esfarayen

Location of Esfarayen in Iran

Coordinates: 37°04′35″N 57°30′36″E / 37.07639°N 57.51000°ECoordinates: 37°04′35″N 57°30′36″E / 37.07639°N 57.51000°E
Country  Iran
Province North Khorasan
County Esfarayen County
Bakhsh Central
Population (2006)
 • Total 51,321
Time zone IRST (UTC+3:30)
 • Summer (DST) IRDT (UTC+4:30)
Website esfarayennews
Esfarayen at GEOnet Names Server

Esfarayen (Persian: اسفراین‎, also Romanized as Esfarāyen; formerly, Meyanābād, Mīānābād, and Mīyānābād)[1] is a city in and the capital of Esfarayen County, North Khorasan Province in Iran. At the 2006 census its population was 51,321, in 13,376 families.[2]

Esfarayen is one of the focal points for residence of Aryan tribes after entering Iran.

Etymology

According to the medieval Arab geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi, the original name of Esfarayen was Asbarayin, which meant "the shield-bearers".

History

After the Islamic conquest of Persia, Esfarayen flourished greatly; after the fall of the Abbasid caliphate, in spite of attacks and destruction, was reconstructed.

The town was completely ruined at the time of ruler Ebrahim Afshar.

Sport

Esfarayen is home to a wrestling tournament called Bachokheh or Koshti Bachokheh. This tournament is held in the open air.

References

  1. ↑ Esfarayen can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3062173" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
  2. ↑ "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)" (Excel). Islamic Republic of Iran. Archived from the original on 2011-11-11.

Sources