Kharraqan Towers

The Kharraqan Towers are a pair of Seljuk-era funerary mausoleums in Qazvin province, Iran, dating to the 11th century. They are celebrated for their detailed brick ornament and early use of epigraphic bands.

Each tower presents richly patterned brick surfaces with geometric motifs and Kufic inscriptions, and both retain their original circular or cylindrical plans with domed roofs. The pair is often visited together as a representative example of Seljuk funerary art and brickwork technology.

Built in 1067 and 1093 respectively, the towers were erected as tomb monuments in the Seljuk period and reflect regional developments in brick decoration and dome construction. They have attracted scholarly attention for their craftsmanship and for their role in the evolution of Persian funerary architecture.

The towers stand beside the village of Kharraqan in rural Qazvin province in northwestern Iran, within the historical region northwest of Tehran.

• Date and significance: The two towers date to the 11th century and are important early examples of Seljuk funerary architecture noted for their intricate brick ornament and epigraphic bands.
• Architectural note: The towers feature complex geometric and Kufic brick decoration that influenced later medieval Iranian mausoleum design.

What to See #

• Tower dated 1067: An 11th-century funerary tower dated to 1067 with carved and patterned brickwork, showing early Seljuk decorative schemes.
• Tower dated 1093: A second funerary tower dated to 1093 featuring refined geometric brick patterns and Kufic inscriptions, forming a paired monument group.