Godgaz Village

Godgaz is a village in the Gudeh region, part of the Central District of Bastak County in western Hormozgan Province. It lies about 21 kilometres north of the town of Bastak, behind the Shur Gudeh River. The village has taken shape among hills and reaches the mountain to the south, a natural setting that gives it a distinctive landscape. Godgaz is regarded as one of the old villages of the region, and its settlement history is tied to farming, date palm cultivation and the use of traditional water sources. The village lies between Galuyeh, Mowrd, Mardnow and Marva, and at the 2016 census (1395 in the Solar Hijri calendar) it had a population of 549 people in 179 households.

One of Godgaz's key features is its history of farming and date palm cultivation, which is reflected in the village's natural and cultural fabric. In the past the village had two qanats (underground water channels), each used to supply water to farmland, and its extensive palm groves held thousands of irrigated and rain-fed date palms. Today a considerable part of the palm cultivation relies on wells and motor pumps, but old palm trees remain a defining element of the village landscape. Other features of Godgaz include 18 water ponds, three mosques, a school, and a large earth dam built north of the village. The village's name is also connected to its nature and terrain: the old village lay in a hollow among the northern hills, and tamarisk (gaz) trees surrounded the houses so densely that it could not easily be seen from a distance. The old village was completely destroyed in the 1956 (1335 in the Solar Hijri calendar) Gudeh earthquake, and after reconstruction the residents moved to a new site about 500 metres to the south.

To reach Godgaz, head north from the town of Bastak and, after about 21 kilometres, you arrive in the village area. The village's position behind the Shur Gudeh River is one of the key geographical landmarks for finding it. The best time to visit Godgaz is the cooler months of the year, especially autumn, winter and early spring, because summer heat in the low-lying inland areas of Hormozgan can make outdoor activities difficult. When visiting, travellers should respect the village's character, the privacy of homes and residents' daily lives, avoid damaging the palm groves, qanats, ponds and other natural and historic features, and take their rubbish with them. A responsible visit to Godgaz can, alongside an introduction to the palm grove landscape and rural way of life, help preserve the natural and cultural heritage of this region.