Kharanaq
خرانق
An abandoned village of mud-brick houses, over a thousand years old, in a mountain valley. It has a swaying minaret and a caravanserai, and its desolate, photogenic setting is well worth the trip.
Kharanaq lies in a valley about 60 km north of Yazd. The old village is a largely abandoned cluster of mud-brick houses stacked up the slope, said to be more than a thousand years old. Highlights include the 'Swaying Minaret', a restored caravanserai, and green fields and irrigation channels along the valley floor. At the village entrance, a guesthouse occupies a converted old mansion. Watch your footing among the ruins, as some roofs are no longer safe. Kharanaq is often combined with Chak Chak and Meybod on a day trip, or you can stay overnight to see the stars.
Opening hours
Open all day; small entrance fee for some areas
Nearby sights
- Chak Chak (Pir-e Sabz)
- Lari House
- Historic City of Yazd (Fahadan)
- Alexander's Prison & Davazdah Imam Mausoleum
- Seyed Rokn al-Din Mausoleum
- Jameh Mosque of Yazd
- Yazd Water Museum
- Saheb A Zaman Zurkhaneh