Tazareh Village

Tazareh is a village in the Central District of Damghan County, Semnan Province. It lies on the southern slopes of the Eastern Alborz range, about 45 km northeast of Damghan. The village is more than a thousand years old and has grown up on the slopes of two mountains, Banar and Varjeh. Sefid Mountain to the north and the rocky Lab-e Nesar Mountain to the south give it a dramatic mountain setting. Tazareh's natural features include an elevation of about 1,800 m above sea level, numerous springs, seasonal rivers, extensive orchards and diverse vegetation. Natural attractions around the village include Miyanklu Spring, Khin Spring, Keshmaneh, Sarband, Sarzankhani, Taghri-Kala, Darsu, Tamuzaa, Zarasbeh, the permanent glaciers of Kuh-e Barf (Snow Mountain) and Lu Waterfall. The Razmja (or Razga) orchards are about one kilometre east of the village.

Tazareh's traditional terraced layout is one of its defining features, and much of the village's old structure has been preserved. Houses are built mainly of stone, wood, straw and mud, and most have two storeys: the ground floor was used to keep livestock and store belongings, and the upper floor for living. Narrow, irregular alleys, passageways, lanes lined with gardens, stone walls and wooden verandas give the village a distinctive character, and its walnut trees and fruit orchards add to its charm. Tazareh also has a ruined fortress, the shrine of Imamzadeh Ismail, a hosseinieh and several mosques, so alongside its natural attractions its cultural and historical heritage is also significant. The village orchards produce walnuts, apples, pears, cherries, sour cherries, grapes, almonds, oleaster and apricots, and medicinal and wild plants such as tragacanth, barberry, flixweed, cumin, wild rue (esfand) and mint also grow in the area. There are coal, gold, copper, iron ore, gypsum, limestone and clay mines around Tazareh, and the Eastern Alborz coal mine is one of the region's most important economic activities.

To reach Tazareh, take the road north from the Mehmandust junction, Shahroud and Damghan, and after about 25 km of asphalt road you reach the village area. The road enters mountainous terrain, and after passing through Valley of Awliya-Allah (Owliya-Allah) and seeing the tomb of Imamzadeh Ismail on top of a hill, you will find the village on the north side of the road. Given the mountain setting and the surrounding orchards, springs and waterfalls, spring and summer are the best seasons for nature tourism and sightseeing in Tazareh, while in autumn the changing colours of the landscape give the village a different look. When visiting the springs, orchards, mountain trails and the traditional fabric of the village, do not leave litter, damage the vegetation, enter orchards without permission or damage traditional architectural features, and take care to protect the mountain environment on natural trails.