Ferdows

Map of Iran during Abbasid Caliphate. Toon (Ferdows), Qaen and Tabas are the cities indicated in Quhistan (Nowadays South Khorasan Province).

Ferdows'(thun) name on the map 1705

Ferdows'(toun) name on the map 1787

Ferdows'(toon) name on the map 1814

Founded by the Medes, Ferdows is currently a city. It was a large and famous city in ancient days. There is an unproven theory that the town's name in ancient days was "Taban" (or shining; تابان in Persian). In Islamic times it became known as Toon or Tūn, a name retained until 1929, when it was changed to Ferdows.

The first people to inhabit Ferdows were traditionally a group of Sagartians. Toon was a famous and thriving city both before and during the Islamic era, until the raid of the Mongols. It was one of the most prominent cities of Ghohestan, along with Qaen; Nasir Khusraw mentioned Toon as a large city in the 11th century. Toon was plundered and destroyed by the Mongols in 1239. After the Mongol invasion, Toon eventually recovered and became one of the major cities of Ghohestan again. Marco Polo mentioned the south Khorasan region as Toonoqaen, apparently in reference to the two largest cities, Toon and Qaen.[8][9]

In early 1751 the town was captured by Ahmad Shah Durrani during his invasion of Khorasan under Shahrokh Shah.[10]

Ferdows was still a famous and prosperous city in Khorasan at the beginning of the 20th century and the Municipality of Ferdows, originally formed in 1925 (under the name of Toon), was one of the first Municipalities of Khorasan province.[11] But the city was devastated in a huge earthquake in 1968 and significantly declined thereafter.

Ferdows is located on the Plateau of Iran, between a desert region (mainly to the south and west) and a mountainous region (especially to the north and east). Most of villages around Ferdows are situated in the mountainous region to the north and northeast. The nearest town, Eslamieh, lies just 3 km northeast. The city lies on the main route from Kerman, Yazd, Bandar Abbas and other southern cities to Mashhad and hosts more than 6 million pilgrims annually on their way to Mashhad.[12] It is also a nexus of several roads converging from different areas of Iran.

The Religious School of Ferdos, once belonging to Safavid dynasty

Ferdows Hole-in-the-Rock

Major visitor attractions of Ferdows are:

• Ferdows Hot Mineral Spring: one of the most important attractions of Ferdows for Iranian and International tourists
• Ferdows Religious School (belonged to Safavid dynasty)
• Ferdows Congregation Mosque (Jame' Mosque of Ferdows) (belonged to Seljuk dynasty)
• Ferdows Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural geological formation
• Polond Desert, a beautiful desert located 40 kilometers West of Ferdows
• Ferdows Museum

Education and culture Ferdows currently has several higher education centers:    

• Islamic Azad University, Ferdows[15]
• Ferdows  and Qaen Medical Schools[16]
• Ferdows Institute of Higher Education
• Ferdows Faculty of Engineering[17]

Ferdows is famous for its high quality Saffron and pomegranate.[18]

It is located in the city of Ferdows, launched by remarkable and notable entrepreneur in Iran, Dr MohammadReza Amirhassankhani. He believes in the desert district of Ferdows with beautiful sightseeing and tourist destinations, investing his money there since years ago. The large Complex includes a variety of subsectors:

• Emad Nezam Traditional Hotel
• Emad Nezam Scientific, cultural and recreational collection affiliated with Mofid educational complex
• Emad Nezam Sports Club
• Emad Nezam Football Academy
• Mofid Educational Complex
• Polond Desert Tourism Camp[19]

• Badiozzaman Forouzanfar
• Mohammad Jafar Yahaghi
• Mulla Alaul Maulk Tuni
• Alireza Danesh Sokhanvar

• 1968 Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquakes
• AH78
• Road 91 (Iran)

• Toun Under ICHHTO Protection

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ferdows.