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Volume- 4 Issue- 2 (2015) ISSN: 2319–4731 (p); 2319–5037 (e) © 2015 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 122

TOURISM INDUSTRY AND ATTRACTIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS PLACES IN ISLANDS AND PORTS OF

HORMOZGAN PROVINCE, IRAN

*Somayeh noorinejad and **Marziyeh Bagheryannezhad

Faculty Member of Payame Noor University_ Iran-Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas

(email: *[email protected]; **[email protected]))

ABSTRACT Tourism industry is the source of rural and local economic life for its tourism attractions and it has been led to job

opportunities which increase the economic growth of the tourism communities. South of Iran (Hormozgan province)

along Persian Gulf, having various islands and ports, pristine and wonderful places, is turned to a unique tourism

hub. The main focus of this study is investigation of the tourism places of Hormozgan such as the religious

monuments of the islands of this province in cultural and religious dimensions and the effects of these places on

development of tourism in the region. At the level of method, the study is analytic-descriptive and also based on

library and field studies. In this respect, initially, the ports and islands of this province are introduced followed by

making the main monuments of this region known. These religious places are respected by their residences in the

islands and ports and most of the mosques of the province have archaeological background, dignity and splendor.

KEYWORDS: islands and ports of Hormozgan province, religious places, tourism industry.

INTRODUCTION

In some experts’ viewpoint, in some aspects such as cultural heritage, eco-tourismi dimension, and religious attraction,

Iran has great capacities. Among the important features of tourism which can allocate to itself a significant share of

tourism activities is religious tourism (Ruj, 2011) and it could be defined as “the tourists’ visit from the holy places

such as shrines, Imamzadeh tombs etc.” (Dallen and Olsen, 2011). Here two groups of tourism could be mentioned.

The first group is those who visit the holy places of their own religion and the second one who visit the holy places of

other religions (Alani, Dashti, 1993). The values and results of religious tourism are so important and fundamental that

many Muslim countries view this industry with a different and particular way.

Islamic Iran has abundant and special religious works and in terms of historical background, these works have attracted

many visitors including Christians and Muslims from different places around the world (Alvani, Dashti, 1993). With

entrance of Islam to Iran, our culture and art were combined with new factors and elements and accordingly, a type of

pure art was created so that it was being imitated by other countries for many years (Barand, 2004). For so long, the

religious places have been the valid identity of this land’s people which includes customs and traditions, beliefs, spirit,

ethics, thought, and ideas of generations. Despite of passage of a long time, many of these places are still in service and

accept the people who like them. Preserving the historical values along with appropriate introduction of them to the

world is an issue which demands unprecedented attention of the authorities in this regard. Development of this industry

is one of the strategies to introduce history and religious values, as well as peaceful coexistence of the religions in Iran.

One of these regions is Persian Gulf which is prominent in terms of commercial operations as we have observed in

historical books that the Eastern India Company, being dependent to England Government, in 1616 A.D. /995 A.H., to

find a proper place for trade in Persian Gulf, gave a mission to its representative (Edward Konock) to identify and study

the important ports in Persian Gulf so that the ground would be paved for their presence in those ports. Konockwent to

the present Bandarabas and found that this place appropriate place for commercial operations and in his report he

mentioned that Bandarabas enjoys military and security consolidations (Vadala, 2010). Two years later, the ships of

this company with their English and Indian crew members came to the Persian Gulf Waters. In terms of the important

natural and architectural attractions related to different periods in this region, plenty of tourists are attracted to this

place both from Iran and abroad every year. A great help to cultural and religious tourism of this region is the

appropriate introduction of these places. These works include castles, cisterns, cemeteries, shrine buildings, tombs and

mosques.

mailto:[email protected]



The present study is investigation and introduction on the most important architectural and religious monuments in

Hormozgan islands and ports. The purpose of this investigation is:

1. Introducing the tourism places of Homozgan including religious buildings of islands of Persian Gulf in

cultural, religious and art dimensions.

2. Creating new cultural spaces for the domestic and foreign tourists in order to change their mere economic

attitude to cultural and artistic ones in islands and ports of Hormozgan province.

The questions which are attempted to be answered in the study are:

1. What is the role of Persian Gulf Islands of Hormozgan geographical region regarding its religious buildings

and monuments in development of tourism industry of the region?

2. What are tourism attractions of the islands and ports of Hormozgan province in religious aspect?

At the level of methodology, the study adopted the historical-descriptive and analytic methods with reference to the

library and image resources of the works existed in the document center of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Organization

of Hormozgan province. Also, through field studies, the important religious monuments of the islands and ports of this

province were analyzed. The historical period of the study is allocated to the recent century i.e. 1300 A.H. / 1920 A.D.

up to now.

Literature Review and Significance of the Study

Analyzes show that some studies have been conducted about tourism attractions of Hormozgan province and Persian

Gulf. For instance, in the study “an Investigation on Seyyed Mohammad’s Astaneh in Rudan County”, researchers of

Cultural Heritage Organization of Hormozgan province have dealt with features of the Emamzadeh building, its

antiquity and genealogy. In another paper entitled “Iran Tourism Hub, Hormozgan”ii the author has investigated some

sightseeing places of Bandar-e Lengeh and Gheshm counties. In the study “investigating the Persian Gulf Tourism from

Archaeological Viewpoint”iii

it is dealt with the importance of the ancient tourism places in Persian Gulfregion. The

author believes that no studies have yet been conducted being merely related to particular religious places in islands

and ports of Hormozgan province and analyzing the used architecture and ornamental drawings on them. Extensive

commercial relations of the residents of these regions with the neighboring countries of Persian Gulf and their

significant geographical positions have led to creation of religious buildings such as various mosques and shrines in the

regions.

Describing the Studied Islands and Ports in Hormozgan Island:

Persian Gulf is the origin of the civilizations dating back several thousand years. Elamites used Bushehr port and Khark

Island for life, shipping, governing the Persian Gulf seashores, and for trading with western India and the Nile Valley.

Development of Hormozgan region and around Hormoz Strait has been due to direct connection of the sailors of the

region travelling a lot with their lenj boats throughout Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Pakistan, India, and Africa.

This issue had a significant role in flourishing the trans-regional trade and communications. Maritime trade with remote

areas usually was carried out by the sailors of Suru Port (Bandarabas). These sailors were trading in the trade boundary

of the countries on the margin of Persian Gulf, Pakistan and India. Exporting dry date to Pakistan and India, Suru

sailors had an important function in development of trans-regional trade (Sayebani, 2010). During sovereignty of Cyrus

the Great (522-586 B.C.) commander Seliacos began to explore Indian Ocean and Red Sea from Bandarabas with

Cyrus the Great command. When Alexander conquered the Imperial Government of Iran, Bandarabas was known as

Hormirzadiv(Sayebani, 2010). This place has been called Persian Sea from thousands years ago not only by Iranians but

also by the nations which had relations with Iran such as Greeks and Romans. Arabs also called it Persian Gulf or

Persian Sea (Alvahidi, 1998).

The famous Moroccan tourist, Ibn Battuta, when entered into Suru port by ship in the 8th

century A.H., in his travelogue

writes “I went to Kahurestan through Suru. In Suru, wealthy people and sailors were living in Suru port who were

engaged in maritime trade with Pakistan and India”(Ibn Battuta, 1999). Persian Gulf region has many islands and ports

among which Bandarabas, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Khamir, Bandar-e Gong etc. could be mentioned as ports and its

islands in Hormozgan province include islands of Kish, Gheshm, Tonb-e Kuchak and Bozorg, Hormoz, Hengam,

Abumosa,etc.



Picture 1: Iran and Hormozgan Maps (source: Abdollahi, 1975)

Bandarabas: this city is the center of Hormozgan province and by north it is restricted to Hajiabad city, by east to

Minab and Rudan cities, by west to Bandar-e Khamir and Bandar-e Lengeh, and by south it is restricted to Persian Gulf

and Ghesh Island. Its height from sea level is 6 meters. Among the most important historical and cultural attractions of

Bandarabas we can point to Badgir-e Manbar Gap, Delgosha Mosque, Henduha Temple, Kolahfarangi Monument, etc.

(Sayebani, 2010).

Gheshm Island: this Island is near to Hormoz Strait and it is the biggest and the most populated island of Persian Gulf.

Its coasts are appropriate for creating harbor. There are calcareous mountains around it and its internal lands have

suitable pastures for livestock. This island has salt and red soil mines. The island has many historical and ancient places

among which we can refer to ruins of the ancient city of Kharbas, PortugeseGhola’, Naderi Castle in Laft port, the

remnants from 4 water dams related to Achaemenian and Sasanid periods (Mortazavi, 2010) tombs and shrines of Shah

Omar, SeyyedhasanIbnMansoor and Shah Shahid’s shrine, Mosque, Shrine of Sheikh Borkh, Shrine of Bibi Maryam

(Tom Senity), Seyedan Shrine, and the shrine of Sheikh Zeinolebad. In proportion to its dimensions and area, this

Island has the most number of mosques in Iran (Darabipoor, 2008). More than 200 small and big mosques have been

established in this vast island all of which have a very important application if social and spiritual life of the island

residents. There are some mosques from the early years of A.H. such as Sheikh Borkh Mosque in village Kosheh.

Design and painting of the mosques in Kish have a tropical identity and they are mingles of Iranian-Islamic

architectures (Barand, 2004). Decorations of the minarets and the number of domes are often simple and without the

conventional tiling. Usage of materials and the walls and pillars’ paintings give a particular identity to these mosques

which is observable on the first glance. In terms of structure, the mosques in Gheshm have particular features among

which we can point to the lack of louvers, having summer and winter sections, absence of domes, appropriate usage of

the local materials, environmental cooperation, and also lack of excessive ornaments in the bedchambers and buildings.

Mosques are all over the island. During recent decades, a great deal of decorative ornaments and features of Iranian-

Islamic architecture with pure Iranian designs could be seen in the mosques (the Encyclopedia of the Historical

Monuments of Iran in Islamic period, Iran’s Mosques, 1999).



Hormoz Island: the environment of this oval-shaped island is about 6000 meters and in Persian Gulf entry, because of

its special geographic position, it is in vicinity of Hormoz strait and has a particular importance in military and

commercial aspects (Eghtedari, 1996). The Portuguese admiral, Albo Kergv, conquered this island in 866 A.H./ 1507

A.D. and by creating the required military infrastructures they dominated this strategic waterway for more than a

century up to the Safavid reign especially Shah Aabas (1622 A.D.) (Eghtedari, 1996). The ruins of the castle he had

established on the north part of the island being near people’s residency can be seen. From historical, artistic and

religious works of Hormoz Island we can refer to Khezr-e Nabi. Kish Island: after Gheshm, this island with the area of

85 square kilometers in Hormozgan has more importance in Persian Gulf. A large part of its area is appropriate for

agriculture and has lots of palm groves. In recent years, this island has been established as a free trade region to attract

domestic and foreign tourists and merchants (Etemadifar, 2009).

Hengam Island: with an area of about 50 square kilometers, this island is located on the south of Gheshm Island and it

has salt, red soil and lead mines. There are also small villages in the island that their residents’ occupation is fishing.

Bandar-e Lengeh: this port is one of the important ports of south. Like other coastal cities, this city has a humid weather

and begins to be hot from middle of summer. Among the historical works of this port we can mention Kelk-e Ibn Abas

Mosque (1280 A.H.), Afghan Mosque, Ghias Mosque, Agha Mosque, Amir Mosque, Masheh (Kish) Mosque, Sheiklhi

Mosque, Khodadad Mosque, MohammadieDezhkan Mosque and School, Ghela’ Kala, (1270 A.H.), KlatSorkh (1290

A.H.), Leshteghan Castle (904 A.H.), and houses of Fekri and Sa’di (ALvahidiAlkhanji, 1998: 190).

Introducing the Monuments and Religious Sites, Islands and Ports of Hormozgan Province in Persian Gulf

Bandarabas: Bogh’e Khezr: this monument (tomb) is located on west part of the city and next to Bandarabas road. It

is a domed monument which only its bases and piers have been remained. The dome of this monument is established on

a cube with rectangular sides and several stairs-like rows. The tomb has entrance door from four sides and there was a

stone paving around it which was considered to be the platform or seat of the building which has been ruined now. The

construction style of this tomb is similar to some other ones located in Bandar-e Lengeh and Hormoz Island. It seems

that the building of this tomb is similar to the Sasanid arcs and fire temples which have been inspiration source of other

buildings of the early Islam. It is known that the prophet Khezr was dominant to the seas and accordingly, this name

was given to the tomb (Eghtedari, 1996: 548-551).

Picture 2: the northern façade of Bogh’e Khezr. Source: the author

The Grand Mosque of Galehdari: this monument is located in Evazi neighborhood of Bandarabas and according to its

stone inscription; it was built by Haj Sheikh Ahmad Galehdari in 1338 A.H. instead of a smaller mosque from the 13th

century. This mosque is built on a platform with height of 1.5 m and has courtyard, porch, pillared bedchamber,

minaret, and winter bedchamber. The bedchamber is square and has 16 cylindrical pillars on square bases. Pillars and

half-pillars are connected to each other by arcs and have provided a level for covering the wooden beam of the mosque.

There is a Mihrab with depth of 1.30 m and height of 4 m with beautiful plaster adornments. On the southern part of the

Mihrab, a compartment is made for keeping books and other things. On different sides of the bedchamber, 19 doorways

with wooden doors and on the east and south of the bedchamber there are some porches with a row of pillars. All of the

pillars except the main ones, on the top of the sides which are square, are cylindrical. The adornments of the monument

are unique molded plaster decorations which have been used in the Mihrab, capitals, and the underside of the arcs and



have special beauty. In foundation of the mosque, there is a bedchamber which had been used in winters. This building

has received historical registration with number 3/1595.

Picture 3: respectively from right, the eastern façade of the mosque, bedchamber, Mihrab and plaster inside the

Galehdari Mosque, source: the Archive of Document Center of Hormozgan Cultural Heritage Organization

Sahrabaghi Mosque: the primary building of the mosque was built by Haj Ghafar Sahrabaghi in 1310 A.H. and it was

renovated by new methods and materials in the early years of Islamic Revolution. This mosque is located in Evazis’

neighborhood.

Naseri Mosque: the primary building of this mosque refers to 1304 A.H. and was built by Moammadali Naseri

Heydarabadi. The building style of the mosque is old ancient, influenced by traditional architecture of the mosques in

south of Iran and its covering is from Indian Sandalwood (Darabipoor, 2008: 57). This building has been completely

restored in recent years. The present building which was built in 1967 has a courtyard, bedchamber, dome, and tile

workings. This mosque is located on Bolooki Square in Bandarabas.

Delgosha Grand Mosque: this mosque is located in Delgosha neighborhood next to the coastal road of Bandarabas and

apparently, its ancient building was built in 1175 A.H. by Zeinolabedin Evazi and except a part of its bedchamber, it

was renovated and developed in 1975. The ancient building of the mosque includes a pillared bedchamber with 12

pillars in the middle, pillared porches in three western, southern and eastern dimensions (Zendehdel, 1998: 421). A

pillared section of this building has been remained in the middle of the new bedchamber which is the only part worthy

of attention and study. This part of the bedchamber includes 12 pillars with a cylindrical sterns and cubic bases and on

the top, the pillars are connected to each other by wishbone arcs and the condition is prepared to cover the beam. In the

recent repairs, the sterns and bases of the pillars are covered by stone. The capitals and their upper parts has plaster

adornments. The new parts of the building related to its outer façade are void of historical and artistic originality. This

building has received historical registration with number 3/1599.

Holy Shrine of Emamzadeh Seyyed Mozaffar: this place is one of the most important shrines in Hormozgan province

and Bandarabas city. Emamzadeh Mozaffar is from descendants of Imam Mosa Ibn J’afar which have been known and

noticed by public for many years especially people of Hormozgan province and numerous eager pilgrims visit this

place every year. With four minarets, the shrine has exhibited the peak of beauty.



Picture 4: Seyyed Mozaffar’s Shrine, source: the author

Gheshm Island: Gheshm Grand Mosque: this building is located in the Sunnis neighborhood and near the historical

castle or Portuguese castle of Gheshm and is related to the late period of Zandyan (1212 A.H.). this mosque was built

by one of the families of Ibn Mo’in called Soghieh. The mosque is in dimensions of 15 * 27 m and includes

bedchamber, pillared porch and courtyard and its materials are stone, mud mortar, and liming. The doorway of the

bedchamber is 210 cm wide with smaller doorways on both sides (Blookbashi, 2000: 37). The bedchamber of the

mosque has three rows of 6 pillars and its dimensions are 13 * 25 m. the pillars are covered by plaster and there are

beautiful adornments on each one including Sols, Naskh, Shekasteh, Ta’liq and Nastaliq calligraphies with different

dates. The most ancient one refers to 1212 A.H. (Mohammad Sedigh, 1993: 71).

Picture 5: Gheshm Grand Mosque, source: the author

The Shrine of Sheikh Borkh al-Aswad: this shrine is located in the village of Kusheh in Gheshm, next to the ancient

mosque. Based on the inscription written in Sols calligraphy and had been existed in the mosque, it was built in 244

A.H. and renovated in 737 A.H. after an earthquake by the order of the island’s governor in Hormoz or Larestan. The

inscription is not available now (Eghtedari, 1996: 794). The tomb has been established by rubble stone, mortar, and

plaster coating. The inside is built in arc form and regarding other elements, it is similar to the tomb of Bibi Maryam in

Gheshm. A large part of this tomb is ruined now.

Laft Grand Mosque: it is among the ancient mosques of gheshm. On the western coast of this village is a port which has

a particular simplicity. Because of availability of people, they are satisfied with its simple and old plan, and performing

daily prayers. Laft Mosque is near other historical monuments of this island such as Naderi Kalat (castle) (Omatali,

2006:54).



Picture 6: Laft Grand Mosque, source: the author

Ghaba Mosque: this is another important mosque in Gheshm Island which is located in Holor village. Exceptional

architecture, colors, design and plan has made this mosque to be shined like a gem in architecture of the south of Iran.

Numerous domes with the same size, in proportion with its design and plan that along with the main building and

central area have been positioned in square, have given a particular magnificence to this mosque and doubled its

spirituality. Like most of the mosques in the island, the main building of the mosque has maintained distance from the

foundation of the building and the surrounding area by applying difference of level. There is a water pond in the

underside of the mosque courtyard inside which there are wooden seats provided for performing ablutions that the

prayer makers seat in circle while they are performing ablution (Blokbashi, 2000: 54).

Picture 7: Ghoba Mosque, source: the author

Gheshm Shrines: Shah-e Shahid Shrine: this shrine is located on top of a mountain with low height, overlooking the

sea, on the southern coast of the Island, and 11 kilometers away from Gheshm city. Gheshmian women and girls come

to Shah-e Shahid for pilgrimage more than others.

Tamseniti or Bibi Maryam Shrine (Holy Tomb): in Tanseniti village, Tourian region, Pir Tomb of Ziarat is located. Its

building is almost half ruined but still maintained its beauty. This monument has been constructed by Zarbi spherical

dome, coral rubble stones and Saroj mortar. Regarding appearance, it is similar to the Seljuks’ architecture (6 A.H.).

There are 8 corners and niches are created for each corner inside the tomb. Entrance of the tomb has a low and small

door and the saint’s grave is lower than the ground level. There are various shrines around this tomb which have been

remained from different Islamic periods. On the graves, Kufic script and scripts of development of Islamic art and

writing period such as Sols and Naskh with very beautiful characteristics from the 9th

century to the 11th

(A.H.) could

be observed; however, they are being destroyed by rain and moisture. The small door of the tomb is opened to a large

cemetery on which cactus flowers are planted. Evidences show that there was a populated city in this place which could

be justified by the fact that the normal soils under our feet are full of broken pieces of tiles, clays, and antiquities and



this could itself confirm either serious and frequent earthquakes or devastating wars and destruction of the city in this

region. The name of Tamseniti or Ta’moniti (narrated by some books) seems to be the name given to the saint of the

tomb by Spanish people and it might be derived from Tomb Saint or Saint Tomb (Blukbashi, 2000: 38).

Picture 8: Tamseniti and one of the graves outside of the tomb, source: the author

Seydan Tomb:

One of the most important monuments is the ancient Laft Square which is related to Timurid period (8 A.H.). This

large building has four solid domes on four abutments. The top of the cap which has and oval shape is lowered down

and in addition, outside of the tomb there are four piers with Mogharnas arcs which might have been on the top of its

doorway without separation of the stone and mortar components from each other. In front of this building, there are

ancient and new cemeteries and farther away, another cemetery related to Safavid and Timurid periods with lettered

carvings from the 9th

century to 1120 A.H. could be seen. Following their ancestors, the owners of the new graves

continued putting bowls, jugs and plates on the graves without having much information about the symbolic concepts.

Sheikh Zeinolebad Shrine: this shrine is located in Deyrestan village, 55 kilometers away from Gheshm and between

Deyrestan and Gheshm Airport Wall. Sheikh Zeinolebad Shrine has been restored by efforts of public people and like

other pilgrimages of Persian Gulf Islands in Hormozgan, it has a short door and an area surrounded by stone walls

being ended by a squared wall with 2 m height to a base of an octagonal dome and then to a sphere dome at the ground

level. There are old graves and abundant potteries around the tomb. The gravestones of this cemetery barely have

scripts. Accordingly, the author believes that archaeological investigations around this tomb can clarify the history of

civilization in Deyrestan village.

The pilgrimage of Sheikh Andar Abi: this pilgrimage or Qadamgah is located on the southeast of an island which is

across Bandar-e Laft with 5 minutes distance. It has been constructed in a white dome with diameter of 2.5 to 3 m with

a short height. The residents of Laft have a particular respect for this place and believe that the boats and lenjs passing

the island should recite Hamd and Surah for this Sheikhl; otherwise, they will be in trouble. It is believed that Sheikh’s

tomb is in Hendorabi Island in Persian Gulf near Kish Island and this place is the Sheikh’s Qadamgah. Other

pilgrimages of Gheshm: pilgrimage of Imam Zeinolabedin, pilgrimage of Seyyed Fakhra, pilgrimage of Shah-e

Sha’er, pilgrimage of Sheikh Ahmad Rahbar, pilgrimage of Sheikh Hasan, etc.

Note: the conquest of Gheshm Island has been attributed to Osman Ibn Abi al-A’as Saghafi between the 8th

or 9th

year

A.H. (Hmavi, 1990: 325). According to history of the island and the archaeological areas around the tombs, and also

based on the description of International Council of Monuments and Sites (Icomos), it seems that in some of the

surroundings, as Sadidolsaltaneh Kababi asserts, the gravestones have an ancient history. Also, according to Norbaksh

& Vadadi in their book “the History of Iranian Seafaring”, its history backs to more than 1379 years. There is also a

pilgrimage in the ancient cemetery of old Laft around which many graves with long histories could be found and their

history could be identified by the inscriptions on them that is about more than one thousand years ago. Bandar-e

Lengeh: Ibn Abas Mosque: this mosque is located on the southwest of Bandar-e Lengeh and near Masjedi coast and it

is also called “Mosque of Mosa Ibn Mohammad Ibn Abas” and “Ali Mosque”. According to the inscription on top of its

doorway, this mosque belongs to 1275 A.H. and it has been repaired and renovated in recent periods. The mosque

includes courtyard, porch, bedchamber and a beautiful and high minaret. There is a religious school next to the mosque

and its building is being renovated. The bedchamber and porch of the mosque have wooden beam covering on the

pillars and the arcs made of bricks and stones. The pillars have cubic bases, cylindrical body and adorning quadrilateral



capitals. On each row of these pillars, the arcs with wishbone bows are made. The undersides of the arcs are adorned by

molded plaster adornments and plant designs. The capitals have Mogharnas-like decorations. Around the porch and

bedchamber, decorating arcs and plaster lattices are built. On a corner of the building, a beautiful and high minaret has

been established with a cylindrical stern and 30 m height. On the top, it has a beautiful Ma’zeneh with wooden,

Mogharnas and tile working decorations. This minaret has been deviated to some extent (Eghtedari, 1996: 488-500).

On the stern of the minaret, the divine names with Kufic Writing, on the bottom and top, have been written (Alvahidi,

1988).

Picture 9: minaret and the western courtyard of Ibn Abbas Mosque, source: the author

Afghan Mosque: this monument is located on Afghan Alley, Enghelab Street and it is from Qajar period that was built

by Haj Ahmad Afghani in 1270 A.H. the mosque includes pillared bedchamber and pillared porches on the southern

and wastern sides. The bedchamber of the mosque has two rows of four pillars in the middle of the building and piers

and half-pillars in the quadrangular sides. The pillars are connected at the top by arcs and provided the ground for

establishing the beam-covered ceiling. Mihrab, capitals, and the arcs at their top are beautifully decorated by plaster

adornment the mosque was renovated in 1997 (Encyclopedia of Historical Monuments of Islamic Iran, 1999).

Picture 10: the bedchamber of Afghan Mosque, source: the author

Dejkan Mosque: this mosque is in Dejkan village from Bandar-e Lengeh County. In terms of construction, the Mosque

is imitated from Ali Mosque of Bandar-e Lengeh and Molla Ali mosque of Kosh Kenar. The main part of the mosque is

a pillared chamber which is comparable by the other two mosques in terms of beautiful stone adornments. The

doorways’ arc covering and decoration of porches with pieces of limestone are extraordinary and delicate. There is no

precise available information about the construction date of the building (Eghtedari, 1996: 513-517).



Picture 11: the façade of Dejkan Mosque, source: the author

Seyyed Ja’far Mosque (the Grand Mosque): this mosque was built in the vicinity of bazaar and Enghelab Street of

Bandar-e Lengeh. It is among the ancient monuments in Bandar-e Lengeh which has been ruined during the recent

periods and a new building was constructed instead which is known as Abdolghader (the Author, 2012)

Khaledi Mosque of Soltan al-Olama: this monument is located in Boluki neighborhood in Bandar-e Lengeh and its

primary building was related to Zandyeh period (12 A.H.). there is a religious school with name of Soltan al-Olama

next to the mosque establishment of which refers back to 1336 A.H. and it is specific to Sunnis. The building is

constructed on a higher level than the surrounding grounds and it includes courtyard, chamber, and pillared porch

(Mohammad Sedigh, 1993: 405). The entrance of the mosque is from the eastern side and cisterns and ponds are built

to perform ablution. The bedchamber has two main pillars in the middle and two half-pillars in the middle of the

northern and southern sides. The leveled covering of the wood beam of this chamber has been put on the middle pillars

and the side piers. Mihrab is on the western side of the mosque and various doorways have been made on different

sides (Cultural Heritage Organization Documents of Hormozgan Province)

Picture 12: the southern façade and minaret of Khaledi Mosque, Source: the author

Ghias Mosque: this mosque is located in the middle of al-Bolukieh neighborhood. The founder of this mosque was Haji

Ghias. In the 13th

century A.H. the foundation of this mosque came to its end. It has been renovated several times and

the last one was carried out in 1410 A.H. when the mosque was ruining and destructing, Soltan al-Olama Sheikh al-

Islam Mohammadali Khaledi restored the mosque from the foundation. The mosque has a large winter chamber. Its

pillars have been decorated by beautiful and relief plastering (Abdollahi, 1975).

Haji Khodadad Mosque: this mosque is located the end of bazaar of Bandar-e Lengeh and related to Qajar period.

Unlike the other ancient mosques of Bandar-e Lengeh and Bandarabas, the chamber’s covering is in the form of arc and

dome. The underside of these domes has been decorated in a special way by plastering in the form of overlapping

squares. The materials used in the building include stone, plaster, and in some parts such as the outer covering of the

domes brick has been used. The decorations are limited to molded plaster adornments (the author, 2012).



CONCLUSION

The present paper investigated and introduced the tourist attractions of the Persian Gulf Islands and Ports in

Hormozgan province with an emphasis on historical and religious places. In tourism geography of Hormozgan, the

religious places are considered as tourism hubs especially when natural attractions and decorative elements have been

used in their architecture. Religious places allocate a significant part of people’s references and in this proportion, more

attention should be paid to them. They are exposed by damages in that any unscientific and inexpert development can

jeopardize the historical identity of these works. The history of seafaring in Persian Gulf refers back to two thousand

years B.C. and the most ancient documents in this regard are related to the 4th

century B.C. which are available in Reza

Abasi Museum in Tehran. After entrance Islam and sovereignty of the Muslims to this region, we observe commercial

development and particular business with the adjacent countries. This trade and entrance of Muslims brought about

architecture of mosques and holy shrines with features of Iranian-Islamic and Arabic architectures. In analyzing the

cases in Hormozgan province, the monuments in Gheshm Island, Bandar-e Lengeh and Bandarabas were studies since

they have lots of historical and religious buildings. In addition to architectural elements, the decorative features of these

buildings clearly clarify the richness of culture and art of Hormozgan during history. The results of this study include

taking the importance of the ports and Islands of Persian Gulf and also variety of the elements forming their religious

architecture into consideration, developing cultural and religious tourism industry in this region, and also attempting to

restore and maintain these works along with introducing the cultural components of this region to tourists. On the other

hand, presence of Islamic features in the mosques and other religious places, bazaar of Hormozgan and its geographic

conditions, and having common cultural and artistic features with its Muslim adjacent countries could be effective in

attracting tourists. The help of the relevant authorities, whose main duty is preparing the required infrastructures for

accommodation of the domestic and foreign tourists, could introduce this province, with such a historical background,

as one of the important cultural and religious tourism hubs to the world.

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