Tarjan Village

Tarjan Village belongs to the Central District of Saqqez County in Kurdistan Province. It lies in Tarjan Rural District, about 60 kilometres from the city of Saqqez and 37 kilometres from the city of Bukan. The village has grown up on the slopes of Ostad Mostafa Mountain, among the surrounding heights, and is culturally linked to the Mukriyan region and Bukan. With its rural character and mountain setting, Tarjan offers visitors views of orchards, fields and the surrounding highlands. The villagers speak Kurdish in the Sorani dialect, and farming, animal husbandry, beekeeping and handicrafts are common occupations among them. Wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas and fodder are among Tarjan's field crops, while almonds, grapes and apples are its main orchard products. The production of carpets, kilims, jajim (woven textiles), socks and chakhoranak marz is also part of the village's handicrafts.

Tarjan's mountain location, springs, river, orchards and surrounding vegetation are among the village's most important natural attractions. Ostad Mostafa Mountain is the source of the permanent and seasonal springs and of a stream that flows towards the village, and the local Tarjan River also passes through the settlement. There are more than 20 springs in the area, eight of which are permanent, and in spring and summer their banks are covered with wild plants and flowers. In the centre of the village stands Qalakun Castle, also known as the Old Castle, from the top of which there are wide views over the houses, fields and surrounding countryside. Alongside the natural attractions, the historic Sheikh Vaso Mosque is one of Tarjan's valuable monuments. It is a building in the local vernacular architecture of Kurdistan, with a main prayer hall with six columns, a columned porch, a stone pool, and materials such as stone, mud brick, brick and wood. The inscribed stone above the mosque's entrance bears the date 1258 AH (lunar Hijri) and engraved verses.

To reach Tarjan, take the road linking Saqqez and Bukan and turn off towards the village. Once inside the village, you can reach its various parts, including the river, the orchards, Qalakun Castle and the historic Sheikh Vaso Mosque. Spring and summer are the best times to visit Tarjan, because as the snow melts on the heights the springs and streams run fuller, and the mountain slopes, spring banks, orchards and riverside become greener. Autumn, with its changing colours in the natural landscape, is also a good time for strolling around the village. While visiting, please avoid damaging flowers and vegetation, entering farmland and orchards without permission, polluting the springs and river, and leaving litter. When visiting the historic mosque and Qalakun Castle, please also respect the historical and cultural value of the place.