Khader Village

Khader is a historic highland village in Mashhad County, Razavi Khorasan Province, about 20 to 30 kilometres northwest of the city, within Shandiz Rural District. The village lies deep in a mountain valley, which gives it a distinctive climate, fairly strong winds and a landscape quite different from the surrounding areas. Its setting in the valley, together with its unusual vegetation and rocky scenery, gives the village a different and mysterious atmosphere.

Besides its unique natural setting, Khader has a history of around a thousand years, which sets it apart from the other villages around Mashhad. Its main attractions include natural springs, a historic fire temple, the cave dwellers' dakhmeh (burial chamber) and the Sorfeh Aghol (Sorfeh sheepfold). The historic Qajar-era cemetery, with its old gravestone inscriptions and epitaphs, is also one of the most important cultural monuments in the area. A group of hand-carved structures in the mountainside, including dakhmehs, steps and stone basins, shows how people lived here in the past and has great archaeological value.

You can reach Khader village via the Shandiz road, with about 20 kilometres of driving from the Torqabeh and Shandiz area. The route is easy, and you enter the village once you reach its entrance sign. The best time to visit Khader is spring and summer, when nature is at its greenest and the local vegetation is at its most striking. When visiting the village, it is especially important to practise responsible nature tourism, protect the historic sites and avoid harming the natural environment.