Anahita temple is in Kangavar, Kermanshah Province, on the East bank of the River Sarab, 94 Km away in the North-East of Kermanshah, on the highway from Hamadan to Kermanshah and the ancient route from Hegmataneh to Tisfoun, in the west of Iran. It coordinates E047, 57.570 & N34, 29.948 and about 1500 m above the sea level.

Anahita is known as the angel of water, beauty, fertility and abundance by Iranians before Islam and had a holly and respectful position. Anahita or Nahid temple was built in 4.6 Hectares on a rock fronted by Kangavar Plain. This construction is 220 m long and 210 m wide, the surrounding wall is 18.5 m thick. There are several stone pillars on the top of this ancient construction. Each pillar is 2.54 m high and each weights 22 tons.

There are some stairs on the both sides in the South as the main entrance and the other stairs in the North-East that go to the temple.

The materials used to build the temple are cubic curved stones, usual stones and plaster. Chehel-Maran stone mine is 2 Km in the West of this temple and semi cut stones of the pillars and the walls are still there. The history of the temple goes back to Parthians and Sasanids. There are some epigraphs on the stones from Sasanids Dynasty. Some historians have said this temple goes back to three eras of the Acaemenids, the Parthians and the Sasanids. Some researchers know this place as an unfinished palace for Khosro-Parviz, shah of the Sasanids Dynasty.

Izdour-Kharaksi visited Kangavar in 37 A.D. and named the city as Kankbar. He has mentioned a temple in this city as the one to pray the Artemisia God.

Chehel-Maran (Shel-Maran) mine is one of the important mines to obtain stones used to build Anahita temple which is 2 Km away in the west of Anahita temple. There are still the remains of some unfinished curved pillars and cubic stones in the South side of Chehel-Maran Mountain. Kangavar has cold and semidry climate. The Sarab River passes through the West of Kangavar and goes to the Gamasiab River.

It is recommended to visit this huge ancient attraction on your trip to the West of Iran, between Hamadan and Kermanshah. You can visit the other attractions of Kangavar such as Emamzadeh Ebrahim, Koucheh historic bridge, Chehel-Maran ancient mine, the big public bath, Tavakkol public bath, Maran mirage, Fash mirage, Kaboutar-Laneh mirage, Khorramabad mirage, Baba-Ali mirage and Godin-Tappeh. You can enjoy seeing or buying the handicrafts of Kangavar such as Gilim (durries rug), wood work, wood curves and traditional musical instruments such as Tanbour, Setar etc.

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