Torbat Khaneh Hall, reminiscent of ancient past

Torbat Khaneh Hall is a precious reminiscent of ancient history inside the UNESCO-tagged Soltaniyeh Dome in northwestern Zanjan Province, Iran.

What is unique about Torbat Khaneh is that it is made using soil from the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, which were transferred to Iran during the Ilkhanid era.

The structure is located in the southern part of the dome and is adorned with verses of the Holy Quran which are written on the walls of the hall by the Torbat (grave dirt) of Imam Hussein (AS), a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and that’s why it is known as Torbat Khaneh.

Inscriptions in Kufi and Thulth can be seen all over the walls.

The south side wall, which was built and added to shortly after the construction and completion of the dome, hosts an attractive mihrab (a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that points out the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca).

The main door is decorated with tiles that are an exquisite element in the Islamic architecture.

The 14th-century UNESCO-tagged Soltaniyeh Dome is recognized as the world's largest brick dome.

 It is believed by the UN cultural bodies that Soltaniyeh Dome is an essential link and key monument in the development of Islamic architecture in central and western Asia. The dome is the earliest extant example of its type in the country and became an important reference for the later development of the Islamic dome.

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