Photo: Dashkasan; the Temple of the Stone Dragons

Not far from the historic city of Soltaniyeh in Zanjan Province, an amazing rock-cut edifice sits in the heart of the mountain which, with its stone dragon reliefs, delicate carvings and historical narratives, takes tourists and cultural-heritage enthusiasts on a journey into the depths of history. The Dashkasan Temple, a valuable relic of the Ilkhanid period and one of the landmark historical monuments of the Soltaniyeh region, holds a distinct place among Iran's historical monuments because of its reliefs influenced by East Asian art. This complex, whose name in Turkish means “stonecutter,” displays, with the relief of two great dragons alongside other decorative designs, a unique manifestation of the art of stone carving. In addition to its historical and artistic value, Dashkasan is an attractive destination for cultural tourism and nature touring; a place where the mountainous vista, the silence of nature and the secrets hidden in the heart of the rocks create a different experience of traveling to Zanjan and becoming acquainted with Iran's civilizational heritage.