Nushabad Underground City

Nushabad Underground City: An Ancient Refuge Beneath Iran

Although Nushabad was only discovered in 2004, archaeologists estimate that its origins date back 1,500 years, to the pre-Islamic era of the Sassanian dynasty. According to local legend, one of the Sassanian kings, while passing through the area, stopped to drink water from a spring and found it exceptionally pure and cool. Impressed, he ordered the construction of a city around the spring to ensure a continuous supply of fresh water and named it Anushabad, which eventually evolved into Nushabad. Located in Iran's central desert region, Nushabad experiences extreme weather conditions, with intense heat during the day and significant drops in temperature at night.

Architectural features of Nushabad

Today, only a portion of the tunnel system in Nushabad is accessible to visitors. The tunnels are periodically flooded, as evidenced by the two-tone colouring on the walls, which marks the flood level. Even a brief descent to the first level of the underground city provides a glimpse into the remarkable complexity of this ancient engineering marvel.

The tunnels and passageways originally dug around the well were likely intended to provide shelter from the scorching desert sun during the hot summer months. Additionally, they appear to have served a strategic purpose, enabling residents to move between different parts of the city while avoiding potential enemies.

Regarded as a masterpiece of Sassanian architecture, the underground city was constructed across three levels, ranging from 4 to 18 metres below ground. It featured ingenious defensive mechanisms, including winding corridors and camouflaged pits covered with rocks, designed to trap and ambush hostile intruders. These tunnels proved especially effective as emergency shelters during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, with multiple entrances to the underground sections, some discreetly located within city houses. Ventilation shafts ensured a breathable environment for extended stays underground, while a spring supplied fresh water. The tunnels were eventually abandoned and remained hidden until the 1920s, when they were rediscovered during the digging of a well in a house.