Menareh Mosque

Menareh Mosque is one of the historical and religious buildings of Urmia, in West Azerbaijan Province. It stands on the northern side of Imam Khomeini Street, in the Shishegarkhaneh neighborhood, next to Sardar Mosque. The mosque dates from the Qajar period and was built through the efforts of Haji Aliyar Khan and Haji Yadollah Khan Amirnezami Afshar, two local khans of that era. Its location in the central part of the city and its proximity to several other historical buildings have made Menareh Mosque one of Urmia's cultural and architectural attractions. It was registered on Iran's National Heritage List on 16 Azar 1376 (7 December 1997) under number 1953, and today it is regarded as one of the city's landmark historical buildings.

Menareh Mosque has a floor area of about 450 square meters. It is a relatively small building without a courtyard, built mainly of stone, brick and wood. Its layout follows the pattern of the hypostyle (shabestani) mosques of northwest Iran, but unlike many historical mosques in the region it has no dome, and its roof is gabled. The mosque includes a main prayer hall, a basement, a mezzanine reserved for women, a shoe storage area and a small kitchen. Its seven-color (haft-rangi) tilework in the Qajar style is another notable feature. The building's most distinctive element is its wooden minaret, which stands in the northeastern part of the mosque and is about 22.50 meters high. The core of the minaret is formed from the trunk of a single large tree, with a wooden staircase winding around it. The exterior is decorated with spiral glazed bricks and, in the upper section, seven-color tiles. The mosque was restored and rebuilt in 1328 AH (lunar Hijri) by Haji Yadollah Khan Amirnezami Afshar, and during this reconstruction a saqqakhaneh (a public water shrine) was added on the eastern side by Karbalayi Haj Mohammad, the mosque's caretaker. In the middle of the 14th century SH (Solar Hijri), the wooden covering of the basement ceiling was also replaced with steel beams.

Menareh Mosque is in central Urmia. It can be reached via Imam Khomeini Street, Ataei Street and Amirnezami Alley in the Shishegarkhaneh neighborhood, and its closeness to Sardar Mosque makes it possible to visit several historical buildings in one trip. The best times to visit are when no prayers or religious ceremonies are taking place, so that travelers can see the historic space without disturbing worshippers. Spring and autumn are also the most pleasant seasons for strolling through Urmia's historic quarter and visiting its city attractions. When visiting, bear in mind that the building is a place of worship: dress and behave appropriately, avoid touching or damaging the tiles, the historic woodwork and other architectural elements, and keep the site clean and quiet for worshippers, so that the historical and religious value of this Qajar building is preserved for years to come.