Khalid Nabi Cemetery

Khalid Nabi Cemetery lies in a mountainous area, 62 km northeast of Kalaleh, 6 km from the village of Gachi Su and 90 km from Gonbad-e Kavus. It stands on the summit of Mount Gogcha Dagh. The summit of Gogcha Dagh is 720 meters high and is known among the locals as the "Qodrat" (Power) peak or "Tangri Dagh". This mountain range is connected to Hezar Darreh on the north and west, to the Baba Shomlak mountains in Maraveh Tappeh on the east, and to the Panj Shir valley on the south. Because this 12-hectare site is located in remote highlands, the Khalid Nabi Cemetery can be reached from Kalaleh, Gonbad and Maraveh Tappeh.

A little beyond the Khalid Nabi shrine, on one of the hills in the area, several stone statues of strange shapes stand scattered close to one another, rising upright. According to historical evidence and documents, this ancient cemetery dates back a thousand years, and it is said that at one time there were about 600 of these stones. Some of the statues in Khalid Nabi Cemetery reach four meters in height. Many studies have been carried out on the reason for the strange and distinctive shape of these stones, and various theories have been put forward. Some believe that the tall, elongated statues symbolize the male sexual organ, and that they were built at heights of one to four meters depending on the social standing of the person buried. It is also said that the shorter statues symbolize the female gender, representing a woman's breasts and brassiere.

Choosing the right time to travel is very important for a destination like this. The region where Khalid Nabi Cemetery is located has hot summers and cold, rainy winters, and since the cemetery sits at altitude, right on the summit of Mount Gogcha Dagh, visiting it at any time of year may not be easy or pleasant. So if you want to enjoy your visit, we suggest choosing spring, from early Farvardin to late Ordibehesht (roughly late March to mid-May), for your trip.