Zarabad Village, Qazvin

Zarabad is a village in the Eastern Alamut district of Qazvin County and one of the attractions of Qazvin Province, located about 75 km northeast of the city of Qazvin. The village lies in Moallem Kalayeh Rural District at an elevation of 1,730 m above sea level. Zarabad is bounded by Mount Khorto to the southwest, Gerdeh Kuh to the northwest, Vakeh Valley to the west and Abiabān Valley to the south, and the seasonal Zarabad River flows through its western part. Besides its natural scenery, the village has special cultural and religious importance because of the Imamzadeh Ali Asghar ibn Musa al-Kazim (AS) and its ancient plane trees, especially the Khunbar ("bleeding") plane tree. Most residents of Zarabad work in farming, orcharding, animal husbandry and small local industries, and the area produces crops such as wheat, barley, beans, grapes, walnuts, hazelnuts, sour cherries and cherries.

The main attractions of Zarabad include the Imamzadeh Ali Asghar, the Khunbar tree and the natural scenery around the village. The Khunbar plane tree of Zarabad, which stands next to the imamzadeh shrine, holds a special place in the beliefs of the locals. It is said that every year at dawn on Ashura, a red, blood-like substance seeps from some of its branches, which has become one of the village's well-known cultural and religious features. The people of Zarabad hold their Ashura mourning ceremony beside the imamzadeh and the Khunbar tree, and this ritual is regarded as an important expression of the region's religious traditions. Alongside these religious attractions, the extensive orchards, surrounding mountains, slope pastures, streams, springs and the views around Lake Avan offer good potential for nature tourism. In spring, the growth of barberry, wild almond, terebinth (baneh), medicinal plants and many kinds of wildflowers gives the countryside around the village a lush, colourful look. Kilim weaving is one of Zarabad's main handicrafts, and hazelnuts and walnuts are among its well-known local souvenirs.

Zarabad can be reached by an asphalt road. The village is reported to be about 15 km from the nearest town and about 75 km from the provincial capital. Given the region's natural conditions, spring and summer are good times to visit the scenery, orchards, pastures and springs around the village, and the area's different landscapes can also be enjoyed in other seasons. To visit the religious sites and take part in traditional ceremonies, especially the Ashura rituals, you should plan your trip to coincide with these events. While exploring nature in Zarabad, please avoid damaging vegetation, picking plants excessively, leaving litter and polluting the areas around springs, streams and orchards, and respect the sanctity of the religious setting and local beliefs when visiting the imamzadeh and the Khunbar tree.