Kamal-ol-Molk Mausoleum

The Kamal-ol-Molk Mausoleum is a memorial building in Nishapur, Razavi Khorasan Province. It stands in the historic Shadiyakh district, at the western end of Erfan Street, right next to the Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur. Mohammad Ghaffari, known as Kamal-ol-Molk, was one of the most distinguished painters of Iran during the Qajar era. He spent the last years of his life in Hosseinabad, Nishapur, and after his death in 1319 SH (1940 CE) he was buried beside Attar's tomb. The present mausoleum was built in the 1340s SH (1960s CE) to a design by Houshang Seyhoun and was unveiled in Farvardin 1342 SH (spring 1963). It sits within the Attar garden, and its closeness to Attar's tomb makes a visit to both buildings part of a single cultural and historical experience.

The mausoleum's most important feature is its geometric architecture and its inventive combination of traditional Iranian architectural elements with a modern structure. The plan consists of two square modules that form a rectangle with a 1:2 proportion. The facade shows six semicircular arches and four intersecting arches; these arches give the building a dynamic, distinctive form and a striking appearance. The use of mosaic tilework in white and lapis blue on the curved surfaces is another notable feature, and according to the architect it evokes Kashan, Kamal-ol-Molk's birthplace. His gravestone is made of a single piece of rough-textured granite, and at its top is a relief portrait of Kamal-ol-Molk by his student Abolhassan Sedighi. The harmony of form, colour and decoration with the Mausoleum of Attar is one of the architectural attractions of the complex.

To visit the Kamal-ol-Molk Mausoleum, head from inside Nishapur towards Erfan Street and the Attar Mausoleum complex; the tomb lies about 2 km southeast of the city. The complex is open to visitors every day from 8 am to 9 pm. Spring, when the garden is greener and fresher, is a good time to stroll around the grounds. Besides admiring the architecture of the mausoleum, you can walk through the garden and visit the Mausoleum of Attar as well. Keeping the site quiet and peaceful, avoiding damage to the tilework and the building, not leaving litter and not writing graffiti on historic surfaces all help preserve the cultural value and beauty of the complex.