Thousand Mosques of Paradise, Khorasan

Where is the thousand mosques?
The mountain range of Hazar Masjid forms the northern heights of Khorasan, which is a natural border that separates the flat plain of Mashhad from the cold and dry desert of Qara Qom of Turkmenistan. The highest point of this mountain range, the peak of Hajar Masjid, with a height of about 3100 meters, is located in the northwest of Mashhad city. A part of the mountains of the Thousand Mosques is called Kepe Dagh. Along the road from Dargaz to Qochan, this mountain range is called Allahu Akbar, whose main peak is 2,400 meters high. This mountain range separates the Qochan area from Darges.

The unique views, navigation in the valleys, forests of Urs Hazar Mosque and the pristine and fresh nature make people happy. The towering mountains of a thousand mosques are the source of many springs and rivers.

Sights of a thousand mosques
The people of Hazar Mosque consider this mountain as holy. They believe that Hazrat Ali (AS) prayed for this mountain and pointed towards this mountain. They know the abundance of water and greenery of a thousand mosques from this prayer. The Hazar Mosque mountain range has peaks, waterfalls, waterfalls, flora and fauna, and unique landscapes that make traveling to this area and watching them a memorable and unforgettable experience.

1- Olong Haider
Olang is the so-called vast green fields that are located on the slopes of the Hazara Mosque mountain range. One of the lush and mesmerizing Olongs is the Ulong Haider Mosque, which is a pristine and beautiful area for camping and enjoying nature. In the spring season, the nomads spend some time in these olangs. This area is covered with juniper trees.

2- Nurali Waterfall (Nur Ali)
One of the seasonal waterfalls of Hazar Mosque that appears in spring is Nurali. This waterfall is located in the high altitudes and near Olang Haydar and the main peak of Hazar Mosque, and the scenery around it is one of the most beautiful parts of Hazar Mosque.

3- Arabchah summer cottage
An area called Arabchah, which is another nomadic settlement in Hazar Masjid, has a river full of water unlike other areas of Hazar Masjid. This area is very suitable for a night stay and you can use the shelter built by the nomads.

4- At Qolaq Peak (Horse Ear)
One of the famous peaks of the Hazar Mosque mountain range is the Horse's Ear Peak, which is called At Kulag in the Turkish dialect. This peak is located in Nurali region and it is a short distance from the peak of a thousand mosques. This peak has 2 big rocks that look like horse ears and are the reason for its name.

5- Olang Shahi
Another famous Olang is the Olong Shahi Mosque, which is accessible from Bakhamaj village in Chenaran county. Olang Shahi is a vast and green plain-like area with a raging and abundant river flowing through it. The peak of the thousand mosques can be seen from anywhere in Olong Shahi.

6- Sheshu waterfall
This waterfall, which is located in the valley next to the peak of the thousand mosques and a little beyond Nurali waterfall, is a seasonal waterfall. In the spring and when the water of this waterfall flows, an extraordinary and startling sight appears. The water flows down from a great height over a large and magnificent rock, which fascinates every viewer.

7- Vegetation and animal cover of a thousand mosques
The mountain range of Thousand Mosques is covered with different trees, especially juniper trees. Aras or Vars or mountain cypress, which is also called Horace, Oras, Ursa, Aris, Archa and Ordoj, is a very valuable and long-lived cypress that grows in mountainous areas and mostly at altitudes of more than 2,500 meters. This species, which is native to Iran, is widely found in the southern slopes of the Alborz mountain range, from Azerbaijan to Khorasan, and especially in the east of the country and in the highlands. Urs is very stable and adaptable to any type of weather and its leaves are needle-shaped like other types of cedar. This tree has a long life of more than two thousand years and is very resistant to natural diseases and parasites.

The valleys of the thousand mosques are the habitat of many animals, including foxes, deer, goats, paikas and leopards. But none of them are very useful. Paikas are small but chubby animals that can be seen basking on rocks or munching on leaves and grass stems. After Paika, the fox is perhaps the most abundant animal in the Hazar Mosque region.