Kandovan, Osku

Kandovan (Persian کندوان ) is a rock village with about 1000 inhabitants in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, 55 km south of the provincial capital Tabriz.

The village lies along a river oasis. Overlooked it is of barren ridge of the catchment area of the Kuh-e Sahand. The rural population lives on the local produce, especially from the sheep farming, fruit growing and farming fields.

Living way

However Kandovan is culturally interesting because of its hinkel stone-like houses. Similar to Cappadocia (eg: Goreme ) or southern Spain (eg Granada) residents have their homes as cave dwellings in the soft ( here: gray ) Tuff ( stone ) carved and only numerous variety doors and windows, such as stair accesses are of externally visible. The apartments are built in several levels and individual tuff cones are connected by stairs. The whole ensemble is applied to the steep mountain and must be committed over the outer infrastructure. Old wooden bridges connect sometimes the terrace formations. Some older public buildings, such as a mosque and a bath house have also been built into the rocks. On the wild, provisional and aboveground electrification can be read, that this village of the archaic and very original way of life outgrows.

Others

The place was inhabited in pre-Islamic times and served as a refuge when times were restless. The women of this region have rarely the strong widespread in Iran chador. Much more often prevail here before colored capes, in which the women are dressed. Either they have geometric patterns on or stylized flower-like ( floral ) ornaments.

The spring water of the village is considered curative.