Shah Nematollah Vali Tomb, A Splendid, Beautiful Edifice


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The tomb of Shah Nureddin Nematollah Vali, poet, sage, Sufi and founder of an order of dervishes, is located in Mahan, Kerman Province. It has twin minarets covered with turquoise tiles from the bottom up to the cupola.

The mausoleum was built by Ahmad Shah Kani; the rest of the building was constructed during the reigns of Shah Abbas I, Mohammad Shah Qajar and Nasereddin Shah, untoldpersia.com wrote.

Shah Nematallah Vali spent many years wandering through central Asia perfecting his spiritual gifts before finally settling at Mahan, 20 miles to the southeast of Kerman, where he spent the last 25 years of his life.

He died in 1431, having founded a Darvish order which continues to be an active spiritual force even today. The central domed burial vault at Mahan, completed in 1437 was erected by Ahmad Shah Bahmani, king of the Deccan, and one of Shah Nematallah’s most devoted disciples.

Among the splendor, beautiful and most spectacular works we can point to Shah Nematollah Vali dome. The shrine is a historical complex.

The Vakil-ol-Molk court-yard is opposite to this mausoleum, and was constructed during the Qajar era.

The structure displays a Mongol type of architecture (of the Ilkhani and pre-Safavid periods) and its porch pertains to the Isfahani mode of architecture, and is one of the wonderful pieces of art works in the desert area of Iran.

The upper part of a large door which opens to the tomb’s yard has been decorated with beautiful painting drawn on plaster, but unfortunately some sections are facing destruction. Passing through the door, one would reach to a large court yard which is called Shah Abbasi Court Yard and it is founded on the order of Shah Abbas. While it was undergoing restoration, it became clear that most of the pillars are made of mud brick.

Source: Iran-Daily