As an experience of a lifetime, visiting the rituals of traditional Persian heroic sport known as Varzesh-e Bastani in Iran will be an amazing thing to do. The sport is practiced in a place known as Zurkhaneh (literally, House of Strength). As the symbol of fairness and seniority, it has lots of totally unique rules.

For many centuries, these houses have been training athletes who used to act as the warriors in ancient Iran and neighboring countries. Before getting replaced by international wrestling, these traditional Iranian style gyms used to be the main places for wrestling.

In this tour, we show you a hidden part of ancient Persian culture in sports. While training and exercising, the athletes follow the live traditional song sang by their Morshed who sits at an elevated area. He also plays a drum and chants Persian poems.

There are certain rules for the visitors too. For example, the entrance’s height is low so that all individuals need to bow as a sign of respect when entering Zurkhaneh. There’s the main area of practicing of the athletes is a hexagonal place in the middle of the room with one-meter depth. Visitors’ seats are located around the main area and the whole experience will be a great memory of ancient sports rituals.

Tour duration is from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Experiencing traditional sport of Persia as a spectator
• Listening to heroic poems sang by Morshed
• Getting familiar with the heroic stories from ancient Persia