Attar of Nishapur Mausoleum

The Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur is one of the historical and cultural monuments of Nishapur in Razavi Khorasan Province. It stands at the western end of Erfan Street, near Shadiyakh Boulevard. The building was constructed in the Timurid period, on the orders of Amir Alisher Navoi, over the grave of Attar of Nishapur. It was fully restored during the reign of the second Pahlavi and received a minor restoration in the 1370s (Solar Hijri). The mausoleum was registered on Iran's National Heritage list on 18 Azar 1354 under number 1173, and today it is regarded as one of Nishapur's most important cultural and literary attractions. The Tomb of Kamal-ol-Molk is also located in the same grounds, and having the two tombs side by side adds to the cultural and artistic importance of the complex.

The present building has an octagonal plan, a tiled dome and four entrances, and four tiled alcoves can be seen on its exterior. At the center of the shrine stand Attar's gravestone and an octagonal column 3 meters high. The building is made of brick, tile, stone, plaster and wood, and its interior floor is covered with marble. The dome is decorated with geometric patterns, floral motifs, and Kufic and Mo'alla inscriptions in green, yellow, lapis blue and white, and Attar's black gravestone is adorned with verses in Thuluth script. Alongside the building's architectural value, the greenery and garden around the mausoleum provide a pleasant setting for getting to know Attar and his literary works, and visitors can stroll through the garden and read his poetry.

To reach Attar's Mausoleum, after arriving in Nishapur you can follow Erfan Street toward its western end. The mausoleum lies on the road from Nishapur to Mashhad, and it can also be reached from the Khayyam Tomb. City taxis and private (dar-bast) cars are among the ways to get to the complex. Spring and summer, with their more favorable weather, are good times to visit, and on 25 Farvardin, which coincides with Attar Commemoration Day, special programs are usually held at the complex. When visiting, please avoid littering in the garden and around the building, damaging the vegetation or the monument, and writing graffiti, so that the historical and environmental value of the site is preserved.