Kharanaq & Chak Chak

Kharanaq & Chak Chak

Kharanaq is a village in a remote valley about 70 kilometers north from Yazd in Central Iran. Currently, it is approximately 4-thousand-year-old crumbling mud-brick village which could be called deserted as while walking through it you see from little to no activity of local people. The main towns attraction is dilapidated adobe buildings which dates back around 1,000 years. Karanaq means “place of birth of the sun”. Old town is almost completely deserted and for photographers it is like a dream with a labyrinth of streets, tunnels, rooms, and passageways, as well as, more impressive buildings such as a tiny mosque, a shaking minaret, and an old caravanserai that welcomed pilgrims and merchants centuries ago.

The Old Town was constructed with mud bricks baked in sun, forming one of the largest collections of adobe buildings in Iran. It was once a prosperous farming village, but when water supplies dried up the inhabitants left, leaving the town to turn to ruins.

Chak Chak is a village in Rabatat Rural District between Ardakan and Kharanaq villages. It is situated beneath a towering cliff face in the desert of central Iran. On which the main attraction of the village stands – Zoroastrianism mountain shrine.

Zoroastrianism is a religion that was born in ancient Persia and was the state religion for Persian Empires from 600 BC to 650 CE.


Helpful tips


Markets. You will only find markets in new town of Kharanaq as the old town is almost completely deserted. However, prices in grocery shops are similar as in all country.

Transportation. To get to Kharanaq & Chak Chak you can use car, bus or taxi which ever you think is more convenient for you. We hitchhiked and it was relatively easy as it has a lot of trucks going through the road.

To get around the city is best on foot or with a car. However, most likely you will come here for a short visit and in the ruins and shrine you can only explore on foot.

Best of luck planning your holidays in Iran!

Is there anything else you would like to visit while in Iran?

If you have anything in mind, please let us know and let’s discuss it.

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