Razavi Khorasan province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in northeastern Iran. Its capital is the city of Mashhad, the second-most-populous city in Iran.
Razavi Khorasan is one of the three provinces created after the division of Khorasan province in 2004. In 2014, it was placed in Region 5 with Mashhad as the location of the region's secretariat. The adjective "Razavi" describes the province's association with Ali al-Rida, the eighth Imam of Twelver Shia Islam, who died in Tus in 818 and is buried in Mashhad.
History
The Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Turkmens brought changes to the region time and time again.
Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Ērānshahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for residence of the Aryan tribes after entering Iran.
The Parthian Empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. During the Sassanid dynasty, the province was governed by a Spahbod (Lieutenant General) called "Padgošban" and four margraves, each commander of one of the four parts of the province.
Khorasan was divided into four parts during the Muslim conquest of Persia, each section being named after one of the four largest cities, Nishapur, Merv, Herat, and Balkh.
In the year 651, the army of the Rashidun Caliphate conquered Khorasan. The territory remained under the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate until 820, followed by the rule of the Iranian Tahirid dynasty until 873, and the Samanid dynasty in 900.
Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on 29 September 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament of Iran (on 18 May 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on 29 May 2004) were Khorasan-e Razavi, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan.
Demographics
Population At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 5,515,980 in 1,426,187 households. The following census in 2011 counted 5,994,402 people in 1,716,314 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 6,434,501 in 1,938,703 households.
Ethnicity The major ethnic group in this region are Persians, there are other sizeable communities such as Khorasani Kurds, Khorasani Turks, Turkmens and Khorasani Baloch.
Religion According to the 2016 census, the Muslim population of Razavi Khorasan was 6,409,180, most of whom are followers of Shia Islam, with the shrine of the 8th Shi'ite Imam being located in Mashhad. A significant Sunni population also inhabit the province, forming the majority in cities such as Torbat-e-Jam and Taybad. Additionally, the 2016 census recorded that there were 7,159 Christians, 961 Zoroastrians and 135 Jews living in the province, with an additional 1,073 being recorded as following other faiths, and a further 15,993 not stating their religion.
Administrative divisions
The population history and structural changes of Razavi Khorasan province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.
+ Razavi Khorasan Province Counties 2006 2011 2016 Bajestan — 30,664 31,207 Bakharz — 53,582 54,615 Bardaskan 68,392 72,626 75,631 Chenaran 108,533 125,601 155,013 Dargaz 73,439 74,326 72,355 Davarzan — — 21,911 Fariman 86,428 93,930 99,001 Firuzeh — 42,739 37,539 Golbahar — — — Gonabad 106,158 80,783 88,753 Joghatai — 47,920 49,175 Joveyn — 54,139 54,488 Kalat 39,560 38,232 36,237 Kashmar 146,536 157,149 168,664 Khaf 108,964 121,859 138,972 Khalilabad 44,993 49,111 51,701 Khoshab — 37,914 37,181 Kuhsorkh — — — Mahvelat 47,068 48,900 51,409 Mashhad 2,848,637 3,069,941 3,372,660 Miyan Jolgeh — — — Nishapur 441,184 433,105 451,780 Quchan 179,613 179,714 174,495 Roshtkhar 57,247 60,632 60,689 Sabzevar 429,187 319,893 306,310 Salehabad — — — Sarakhs 85,524 89,956 97,519 Sheshtamad — — — Taybad 143,205 108,424 117,564 Torbat-e Heydarieh 261,917 210,390 224,626 Torbat-e Jam 239,395 262,712 267,671 Torqabeh and Shandiz — 58,483 69,640 Zaveh — 71,677 67,695 Zeberkhan — — — Total 5,515,980 5,994,402 6,434,501
Cities
According to the 2016 census, 4,700,924 people (over 72% of the population of Razavi Khorasan province) live in the following cities:
City Population Ahmadabad-e Sowlat 8,326 Anabad 6,186 Bajestan 11,741 Bajgiran 594 Bakharz 9,044 Bar 3,765 Bardaskan 28,233 Bayg 3,545 Bidokht 5,501 Chapeshlu 2,374 Chekneh 1,381 Chenaran 53,879 Dargaz 36,762 Darrud 5,717 Davarzan 2,744 Dowlatabad 9,329 Eshqabad 1,993 Farhadgerd 8,442 Fariman 39,515 Feyzabad 18,120 Firuzeh 5,884 Golbahar 36,877 Golmakan 8,373 Gonabad 40,773 Hemmatabad 1,274 Jangal 6,650 Joghatai 9,268 Kadkan 3,719 Kakhk 4,625 Kalat 7,687 Kariz 11,102 Kashmar 102,282 Khaf 33,189 Khalilabad 12,751 Kharv 13,535 Kondor 6,460 Lotfabad 1,865 Mashhad 2,987,323 Mashhad Rizeh 10,105 Mazdavand 1,241 Molkabad 2,056 Nashtifan 9,176 Nasrabad 7,460 Neqab 14,783 Nilshahr 7,371 Nishapur 264,375 Now Khandan 2,634 Qadamgah 3,010 Qalandarabad 4,880 Qasemabad 5,145 Quchan 101,604 Razaviyeh 8,850 Rivash 5,687 Robat-e Sang 1,551 Roshtkhar 7,514 Rud Ab 4,028 Sabzevar 243,700 Salami 7,555 Salehabad 8,625 Sangan 12,443 Sarakhs 42,179 Sefid Sang 6,129 Shadmehr 3,825 Shahrabad 2,083 Shahr-e Zow 3,745 Shandiz 13,987 Sheshtomad 3,108 Soltanabad 5,932 Taybad 56,562 Torbat-e Heydarieh 140,019 Torbat-e Jam 100,449 Torqabeh 20,998 Yunesi 3,426
The following sorted table lists the most populous cities in Razavi Khorasan according to 2016 Census results announced by Statistical Center of Iran. After Mashhad, Nishapur, Sabzevar, and Torbat-e Heydarieh are the most populous cities of the province. +Most Populous Urban Areas in Razavi Khorasan Province Rank City County Population1MashhadMashhad2,987,3232NishapurNishapur264,3753SabzevarSabzevar243,7004Torbat-e HeydariehTorbat-e Heydarieh140,0195KashmarKashmar102,2826QuchanQuchan101,6047Torbat-e JamTorbat-e Jam100,4498TaybadTaybad56,5629ChenaranChenaran53,87910SarakhsSarakhs42,179
Archaeological sites
The main archeological sites discovered in this province include:
Kohandezh hills Excavations conducted by an American team between 1935 and 1940 in Nishapur discovered museum-worthy objects, which were shared with the government of the Shah. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's publications document its own Nishapur ceramics from those excavations. For half a century after 1945 the site of Nishapur was ransacked to feed the international market demand for early Islamic works of art. Nowadays, the Kohandezh hills reveal the remains from those excavations.
Shadiyakh Shadiyakh was an important palace in old Nishapur up to the 7th century, and became more important and populated after that. The palace was completely ruined in the 13th century. It was the home of notables such as Farid al-Din Attar, whose tomb is found in Shadiyakh.
Attractions
This province contains many historical and natural attractions, such as mineral water springs, small lakes, recreational areas, caves and protected regions, and various hiking areas.
Besides these, Khorasan encompasses numerous religious buildings and places of pilgrimage, including the shrine of Imam Reza, Goharshad mosque and many other mausoleums and Imamzadehs which attract visitors to this province.
The Cultural Heritage of Iran lists 1179 sites of historical and cultural significance in all three provinces of Khorasan.
Some of the popular attractions of Khorasan-e Razavi are:
Mashhad Imam Reza Shrine Goharshad Mosque Tomb of Nader Shah Tomb of Khajeh Rabie Tomb of Ferdowsi Haruniyeh Dome
Nishapur Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám Tomb of Kamal-ol-molk Tomb of Heydar Yaghma Shadiyakh Jameh Mosque of Nishapur
Sabzevar Khosrogerd Minaret Pamenar Mosque, Sabzevar Jameh Mosque of Sabzevar Tomb of Hadi Sabzevari Tomb of Boghrat
Kashmar Arg of Kashmar Tomb of Hassan Modarres Imamzadeh Seyed Morteza Imamzadeh Hamzeh, Kashmar Imamzadeh Mohammad Grave of Pir Quzhd Jameh Mosque of Kashmar Haj Soltan Religious School Haji Jalal Mosque Atashgah Manmade-Cave Atashgah Castle Kohneh Castle, Zendeh Jan Rig Castle Amin al-tojar Caravansarai Talaabad Watermill Yakhchāl of Kashmar
Khalilabad Jameh Mosque of Khalilabad Kondor castle Kondor Ab anbars
Torbat-e Jam Sheikh Ahmad-e Jami mausoleum complex
Gonabad Forud castle Qanats of Gonabad Kūh-Zibad
Sarakhs Ribat-i Sharaf Tomb of Baba Loghman
Bardaskan Tomb of Abdolabad Aliabad Tower Firuzabad Tower Firuzabad area Seyyed Bagher Ab anbar Darone Cave Sir Cave Rahmanniyeh Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Khooshab Qal'eh Dokhtar, Doruneh
Bajestan Jameh Mosque of Marandiz
Taybad Abbasabad Complex Taybad Karat Minaret
Rivash Qal'eh Dokhtar, Kuhsorkh Nameq Village Shahi Dam Gabar Hesar castle Baghdasht Peak Band-e Qara Bathhouse Natural Yakhchāl of Band-e Qara
Colleges and universities Asrar Institute of Higher Education Bahar Institute of Higher Education Comprehensive University of Applied and Practical Sciences, Khorasan Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Gonabad University of Medical Sciences Hakim-e Sabzevari University of Sabzevar Imam Reza University
Islamic Azad University of Ghoochan Islamic Azad University of Gonabad Islamic Azad University of Mashhad Islamic Azad University of Neishabur Islamic Azad University of Sabzevar Islamic Azad University of Torbat e Jam Islamic Azad University of Torbat Heidariyeh Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
Payame Noor University of Mashhad Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences Sadjad University of Technology Sport Sciences Research Institute of Iran
Notable people
Ferdowsi, Persian poet and the author of Shahnameh Nader Shah, Founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history Omar Khayyam, Poet mathematics and astronomy Al-Ghazali, Muslim scholar and polymath Jabir ibn Hayyan, Alchemy and chemistry Ali Shariati, Writer and sociologist Ebrahim Raisi, 8th President of Iran Abu Muslim, General Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, Polymath, philosopher, physician and scientist Anvari, Poet and writer Anousheh Ansari, Iranian-American engineer and entrepreneur Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, Singer and master of Persian traditional music Homayoun Shajarian, Singer and master of Persian traditional music Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Politician and military officer Mohammad-Taqi Bahar, Poet and politician Ahmad Ghazali, Sufi mystic and writer Mahmoud Dowlatabadi, Writer Mohammad-Reza Shafiei Kadkani, Writer, poet and literary critic Mehdi Akhavan-Sales, Modern poet Jami, Scholar and writer of mystical Sufi literature Khodadad Azizi, Football coach and player Mohsen Namjoo, Musician and singer Rasoul Khadem, Wrestler Amir Reza Khadem, Wrestler Sharaf al-Din al-Tusi, Mathematician and astronomer Shaykh Tusi, Muslim scholar and jurist Sheikh Ahmad-e Jami, Sufi writer, mystic and poet Ibn Yamin, Poet Morteza Motahhari, Twelver shia scholar and philosopher Nizam al-Mulk, scholar, jurist, political philosopher and minister Abu'l-Fadl Bayhaqi, Historian and author Asadi Tusi, Poet and writer Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, Islamic scholar Saeed Jalili, Politician Haji Bektash Veli, Scholar, mystic, saint and philosophe Hadi Sabzavari, Philosopher and mystic theologian Badiozzaman Forouzanfar, Scholar and writer Daqiqi, Poet Hatefi, Poet Heydar Yaghma, Poet Sayf al-Din Bakharzi, Theologian Iran Teymourtash, Poet Mu'izzi, Poet Ibn Abi Sadiq, Physician Yusuf al-Juwayni, Theoretician and Islamic theologian Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, Politician and theologian Ali Sayad Shirazi, Military officer and commander Abd-al-Hussain Borunsi, Military officer Abu Mansur Muwaffaq, Physician Ibn Khuzayma, Physician