Lenjovan Village

Lenjovan is a historic village in Sharbiyan Rural District, Mehraban District, Sarab County, East Azerbaijan Province, located in the southwest of Sarab County. It is regarded as one of the region's ancient settlements, and according to the available remains and evidence, its history goes back to the pre-Islamic era. There are several accounts of the origin of the name Lenjovan. According to one of them, the village was named after Lenj, the son of Khach and the local khan, and over time "Lenj Khan" turned into "Lenjovan". Another account attributes the formation of the name to the presence of Armenians in the distant past. Winters in Lenjovan are very cold, so late spring to early autumn is the better time to visit this mountain village.

The most important feature of Lenjovan is its historical background and ancient evidence, together with the village's clean mountain nature. Old cemeteries, a historic corpse-washing house (ghassal-khaneh) and ancient objects are among the signs cited as evidence that Lenjovan is several thousand years old. Among them, the account of some people being buried in a standing position is one of the village's distinctive and noteworthy features. The nature around Lenjovan, with plants such as thyme, salep orchid, licorice, yarrow and wild mint, also offers potential for nature tourism. Natural honey produced in the area and traditional animal husbandry are also part of the village's local life and economy, and local dairy products are among its goods. Among the villagers' handicrafts and traditional products, one can mention hand-knitted socks, khorjin (traditional saddlebags), copper vessels, stone mills, pipes (chopogh) and beehive-shaped lamps (cheragh-e zanbouri). In past years, the migration of some residents to Tehran reduced the village's population. However, the return of residents and their children for leisure and to build summer houses, along with projects such as water supply, electrification, road construction and the installation of a telecommunications tower, has helped Lenjovan thrive again.

To reach Lenjovan, take the routes leading to Sarab County, then enter the area of Sharbiyan Rural District in Mehraban District. The route to the village continues along the region's main roads, and it can be reached by private car. Given the severe winter cold and the mountainous conditions of the area, late spring to early autumn is the better time to visit Lenjovan, and during this period you can enjoy its nature, mountain landscapes and village atmosphere. When visiting the historic cemeteries, the corpse-washing house and other ancient sites, avoid moving objects, tampering with the sites or digging of any kind. In nature, do not harvest plants excessively or damage the vegetation. Keeping the area clean, taking your rubbish out with you, and respecting the villagers' lives and privacy are also important principles of responsible nature tourism in Lenjovan.