Lion Tombstones

One of the rituals in the Bakhtiari tribal culture is the establishment of a stone lion on the grave of a lasting, prominent and, great man.

Bakhtiari or Lurs' Bakhtiari lives in the southwest of Iran, in the provinces of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Kohgiluyeh, and Boyer-Ahmad and Isfahan. The Bakhtiari people speak the Bakhtiari dialect, which is one of the dialects of the Lurs language. This iconic statue was placed on the grave of those who had the art of hunting, archery at war and, riding skills. Lion Tombstones are sculptures that were carved by Stonemason and placed on the graves of courageous Bakhtiari people. In the Bakhtiari dialect, these sculptures are called Bard Shir. The Bard Shir is a symbol of courage, bravery, humility, and manhood. The awe and glory of these statues are a reminder of the men who, in history have guarded their people and sacrificed their lives. On the side of these lions, the patterns of the sword, horse, gun, and rosary are carved.

The city of Hafshejan has been one of the major centers for making these lion statues in the past. Hafshejan is a city in the Central District of Shahrekord County. The lions that remain in the Hafshejan cemeteries are considered to be the most beautiful and the best pattern lion tombstone. Most of Iran's Lion stones are located in Khuzestan and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad. The Lion stones are removable and are exposed to destruction, and many of these lions are stolen and some of them broken.

There are also many other eye-catching places in the city of Hafshejan, which are very interesting to visit, For example, Hafshejan Inscription, Bezeler Historical Cemetery, Jahan Bin Cave and Hafshejan Elamite brick and so on.

• Accommodation

If you want to travel to this city, you can stay in a hotel or a local house. The most famous local house in the city of Hafshejan is  Hezar Cheshmeh local house residence. This residence has a traditional Iranian atmosphere. Remember to book a room for yourself before going to this residence.

• What is the best time to go?

The best time to travel to Shahrekord is from spring and summer. This city is fresh and moderate in summers and has cold winters. The warmest month of the year is August and the coldest month of the year is January in this city.

• Getting there?​​​​​​​

The city of Hafshejan is just 25 minutes distance from Shahrekord. The Hezar Cheshmeh local house residence is located on Keshavarz street.