Quick answerMashhad is a city in Iran, with 3,001,184 people inside the city limits in 2016. The wider metropolitan area had about 4.5 million people in 2016. It is best known for the Imam Reza Shrine, the Goharshad Mosque and Ferdowsi's Tomb (Tus). Its official language is Persian, and its currency is the Iranian rial.
Mashhad is the second-most populous city in Iran, with about 3 million people in the city and about 4.5 million in the metro area (2016). It stands in the north-east of the country and is the holiest city in Iran, home to the shrine of Imam Reza.
Key facts
| Country | Iran |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 3,001,184 (2016) |
| Population (metro) | 4,543,000 (2016) · Mashhad metropolitan area (citypopulation.de) |
| Elevation | 995 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Tehran |
| Language | Persian |
| Currency | Iranian rial (IRR, ﷼) |
| Coordinates | 36.3264° N, 59.5433° E |
Overview
Mashhad is the second-most populous city in Iran, in the north-east of the country about 740 kilometres east of Tehran. The city had 3,001,184 residents in the 2016 census, while the metro area held 4,543,000 people, and the city sits 995 metres above sea level in a valley between the Binalud and Hezar Masjed mountains. It is the capital of Razavi Khorasan province.
Mashhad began as a small village called Sanabad on the Silk Road, and it grew around the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam, who is buried here. The name Mashhad means place of martyrdom. Its landmarks include the vast Imam Reza shrine complex, the Goharshad Mosque, and the tomb of Nader Shah, and the tomb of the poet Ferdowsi stands at nearby Tus.
Today Mashhad is the holiest city in Iran and one of the most important pilgrimage cities in the Shia world, drawing millions of pilgrims and tourists every year. It is also a centre of trade with Central Asia, and it is known for its saffron, its dried fruit and its carpets. The city has an international airport and a metro system, and it is the main gateway to north-eastern Iran.
What Mashhad is known for
- Imam Reza Shrine
- Goharshad Mosque
- Ferdowsi's Tomb (Tus)
- Saffron
- Pilgrimage city
- Koohsangi Park
Landmarks
- Imam Reza Shrine
- Goharshad Mosque
- Nader Shah Mausoleum
- Ferdowsi's Tomb (Tus)
- Koohsangi Park
- Mellat Park
- Haruniyeh Dome
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mashhad?
About 3 million people live in Mashhad (3,001,184 in the 2016 census). The wider metro area had about 4.5 million people. That makes Mashhad the second-most populous city in Iran, after Tehran, and the largest city in the north-east of the country.
What is Mashhad famous for?
Mashhad is famous as the holiest city in Iran, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam, which draws millions of pilgrims every year. It is also known for the Goharshad Mosque, the tomb of the poet Ferdowsi at nearby Tus, and its saffron and dried fruit.
Where is Mashhad located?
Mashhad is in north-eastern Iran, in Razavi Khorasan province, about 740 kilometres east of Tehran and near the border with Turkmenistan. It sits 995 metres above sea level in a valley between the Binalud and Hezar Masjed mountains. Its coordinates are 36.33° N, 59.54° E.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Iran — the country Mashhad is in
- Tehran — another city in Iran
- Isfahan — another city in Iran
- Karaj — another city in Iran
- All cities in Iran
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.