Gele-Dari Bath (Hammam-e Geledari)

The Gele-Dari Bath is one of the most notable historic monuments of Hormozgan Province. It is located in the city of Bandar Abbas, in the central district of the county. The building stands in the Qaleh-Shahi neighbourhood, also known as the Ouzi neighbourhood, not far from the shore of the Persian Gulf. The Gele-Dari Bath was added to Iran's National Heritage List in 1374 (Solar Hijri) under registration number 2003, and it is currently used as the Anthropology Museum of Hormozgan Province. In the past it was the second bathhouse of Bandar Abbas after the Gap Bath, and contrary to popular belief, it was not the only historic bathhouse in the city. When piped water reached homes in the 1340s, the bath was abandoned. It was then revived and restored by the Cultural Heritage Organization in the 1370s, and it is now open to the public on even-numbered days.

The bath dates back to the Qajar era. It was founded by Haj Sheikh Ahmad Gele-Dari, a charitable merchant of the time, and endowed as a waqf to the Gele-Dari Mosque for the benefit of the community. According to Tayyeb Nikunam, a resident of the Qaleh-Shahi neighbourhood, the bath formerly operated in shifts for women and men, and women used it from morning to afternoon, following a particular ritual. The building follows the architecture of traditional Iranian bathhouses and includes sections such as the bineh (main hall), the sarbineh (entrance changing hall), the hot room (garmkhaneh) and the khazineh (hot-water reservoir). At the entrance of the bath there is a vestibule corridor (hashti), designed to regulate temperature and humidity. The bineh in the centre has an octagonal pool, surrounded by raised seating platforms. The miyandar lies between the bineh and the hot room; it is a cool, damp space reached by steam. The khazineh is a chamber for heating water, and its space is hot and dry; the hot water was carried to the other sections through stone or sarooj channels. The materials used in building the bath include sponge-like stones (to absorb moisture), local sarooj (a traditional waterproof mortar), hand-beaten plaster and brick flooring. The roof has several domes, with openings for light and ventilation to control temperature and humidity. It is worth noting that in earlier periods the bath's water was supplied from a well, and for a time an ox-wheel system was used to draw water up from the well.

To reach the Gele-Dari Bath, first get to Bandar Abbas and then head for the Qaleh-Shahi (Ouzi) neighbourhood, in the south of the city. The bath is close to the city's waterfront, so it can be reached by the streets leading to the shore. The best time to visit is usually spring and autumn, since the summer heat of southern Iran can make sightseeing difficult. When visiting this historic site, take care to protect the building: avoid touching delicate surfaces, applying heavy pressure, dragging objects along the walls, or causing any damage. Other important points include respecting the quiet of the place, not making noise or interfering with the interior spaces, and following museum rules.