Visiting mausoleums as a tourist - Shah Cheray - Shiraz

I've been there a couple of times- no problems- just walked in and took some photos.

A couple of Iranian girls had to borrow chadors as their manteaus were too short- so you should have no problem.

I went there last November and whether or not non-Muslıms were able to enter seems to be subject to the whim of the guard. My two female (non-Musim, non-İranian) frıends walked straight in, whilst at the mens entrance, İ was stopped and asked if İ was a muslım or not.

When İ replied in the negative, İ was told, very apologetically, that İ couldnt go in. However, İ hung around and spoke to the guard for another ten mınutes about how much İ loved İran and its beautiful sights etc, and he relented.

So... even if you dont get in the first time, I ımagine that either smiling and talking to the staff or maybe returning when someone different is on duty should do the trıck :-)

And Shah Cheragh is definitely worth the effort!

when i went there , no one asked me anything. i just walked in. for ladies , you have to get a chador.

Yes I will definitely do my best to get into that mausoleum - even if it needs more attempts. I’m sure it is really worth seeing!!! As a female you have to wear a chador, don’t you? Were do you get those chadors from???? As a foreigner traveller you usually don’t own such a clothing and you do not carry it with you in your bag. Can you borrow them? I guess there must be a place in the neighbourhood of Shah Cheraq where you can get chadors from for the while of that visit. Do you need to talk in Persian? It’s because I don’t know Farsi - only very few essential sentences but I can’t have a whole conversation with the people that borrow chadors and the guards in front of the Mausoleum. If they don’t let me in and if they do not understand English (what I assume) it will be very difficult for me persuading them to make an exception.

I always wanted to go there...hopefully I will get to go next time I visit Iran.

Not sure about the Shiraz mausoleum specifically, I had no issue but then people swear black and blue I am iranian so take it for what its worth.

The shrines in Qom and Mashad in theory are not open to non-moslems however the reality is very different, with blonde-haired blue eyed, T-shirt and daypack wearing tourists walking in no problems.

Just remember to check your shoes in with the desk etc and you should be fine.

To Yakkalot

Really??? You can walk into the shrines in Qom and Mashad?! That was great!!!!!!
But I fear I’m too anxious for doing that. What if the religious guards suddenly stop me and start asking details about “my religion”. As a traveller I know some facts about Islam but not more. I can’t recite Koran surahs and participate in the prayers. ;-) Ohhh if that happened you would face a serious problem I guess.

I’m thinking about telling the guards (in case they ask me) I was from Bosnia where many light skinned Muslims live. Because they can easily tell I’m not Iranian! My skin is too light and “unfortunately” I have got blue eyes. Further I do not know Persian. Lets hope the guards speak English (I assume they do not) because otherwise you’ve no chance to get in.

Dear Yakkalot – would you recommend a visit to Qom? I think the city and the mausoleum of Fatimeh (provided that I’m able to walk in) are really worth seeing. Did you stay in Qom overnight? It’s because I heard that accommodation is difficult in Qom.

Well you are male – but do you have an idea were to get a chador from??? Wearing it correctly is another question ;-)

Thanks and best regards
Geadl

The iranian girls who had had too short manteaus were issued with a full cover.

That means you will get issued with one as well!

To Raki_Men:

“The iranian girls who had had too short manteaus were issued with a full cover.”

Does this mean that chadors are no longer a must???? Is a long manteau and a “good” scarf enough ? I know for sure that in the past there was no way to get in without wearing a chador.