Khorasan Province     With an area of 313,335 square km, the province of Khorassan is the largest province of Iran covering about 1/5th of total area of the country. Due to its enormous size, this province enjoys a varied climate. According to the census of the year 1991, this province had a population of 6,294,143 people. This province has had a key role in the development of Persian language and literature. Besides great poets and literary writers such as Roudeki, Ferdowsi, Onsouri, Sanaie, Moulavi and Khaiyam, this land has been the birth place of renowned scientists such as Bu Ali Sina, Abu Raihan Birouni, Kharazmi and Balkhi. Although much of Khorassan is mountainous, there are many fertile valleys and the province produces large quantities of fruits, nuts, sugar beet, cotton and a variety of industrial products particularly in the area of car manufacturing industry. Mashhad Mashhad, the capital of Khorassan province, is situated in the Kashaf Rud(Tortoise River) valley, in a rich agricultural region. Covering an area of 204 square kilometers, it has for centuries been an important trade center and junction point on caravan routes and highways from India to Iran and from north to south between Turkistan towns and Sea of Oman. It is interesting to know that the word Mashhad literally means place of martyrdom (or place of burial of a martyr) because of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Reza (the eighth Imam of Shi’ite muslims ) here. Mashhad, besides being the holiest city of Shi’ite Iran, can boast of attracting hundreds of pilgrims from all over the world.   This city, with a population of more than two million inhabitants, is the third most interesting tourist pole of Iran after Esfahan and Shiraz. By Iranian standards, it is not an old town, although its northeastern quarter stands on the site of Nauqan and Sanabad(of considerable antiquity). The holy shrine of Imam Reza: Imam Reza, the eight Imam of Shia Moslems was poisoned on the orders of Ma’mum buried in a tower in Sanabad. In time this burial place began to attract Shi’ite pilgrims. What had been a small village grew around the Shrine into a small town, later known as Mashhad, becoming pilgrim center of much importance. Because of its immense importance to Iranians, the patronage and wealth of kings and princes has been lavished on Imam Reza’s tomb. Much of the original 9th century shrine over the Imam’s grave was destroyed in the following century. However reconstructions and additions have occurred frequently.   Today, the surroundings of the shrine have turned into a complex with numerous courts or sahns, saqqa khaneh (public drinking water place), Naqqareh khaneh(place of kettle drums), the clock, Imam’s Tomb, dar ol-hoffaz (orators’ place), the golden dome, University of Islamic Sciences, Astan-e Qods Library, a clinic, a safe, office of endowments, a guest house and golden minarets with specific design and orientation. In fact all roads in Mashhad lead to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza and almost everything of interest is within walking distance of this instantly recognizable landmark with its gold dome, two gold minarets, two huge ivans, massive silver and gold covered doors.