Nader Shah Mausoleum


Elsewhere in the Middle East, Nader Shah is considered something of a historical tyrant. But here he’s a local hero for briefly returning Khorasan to the centre of a vast Central Asian empire. Nader’s equestrian statue crowns his otherwise dour grey-granite mausoleum, built in 1956 to emulate the lines of a tent (Nader was reputedly born and died under canvas).

A small museum displays guns, a rhino-hide shield and a carpet portrait of Nader on horseback. 'Guarding' the monument is a Portuguese cannon made in the 1590s and seized 30 years later at Hormuz.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

2. Bab-ol Tusi Entry Gate

0.4 MILES

The Haram's northwestern entrance is a work in progress, with beautiful twin minarets under construction above the portal.

4. Haftado Tan Mosque

0.47 MILES

Just outside the Haram complex’s official limits sits this splendid 15th-century mosque, originally built as a Timurid-era tomb. It is famous for its mo…

5. Anthropology Museum

0.49 MILES

The main delight of this spacious museum in a former bathhouse is the central dome's 1922 naive murals featuring anthropomorphic figures gallivanting…

6. Holy Shrine

0.55 MILES

Amid tearful prayer and meditation, the climax to any Mashhad pilgrimage is touching and kissing the zarih (gold-latticed cage), which covers Imam Reza’s…

8. Azim-e Gohar Shad

0.57 MILES

Exploring the Haram you might glimpse the 50m blue dome and cavernous golden portal of this classic Timurid mosque, built from 1405 to 1418. Unfortunately…