Sarakhs

This article is about the city in Iran. For the twin town across the border in Turkmenistan, see Serakhs. For the administrative subdivisions of Iran, see Sarakhs County and Sarakhs Rural District.

Sarakhs سرخس
City
Country	Iran
Province	Razavi Khorasan
County	Sarakhs
Bakhsh	Central
Population  (2006)
• Total	33,571
Time zone	UTC+3:30 (IRST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+4:30 (IRDT)
Sarakhs at GEOnet Names Server

Sarakhs (Persian: سرخس, also Romanized as Serakhs) is a city in and capital of Sarakhs County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. Sarakhs was once a stopping point along the Silk Road, and in its 11th century heyday had many libraries and a famous school of architects. Much of the original city site is now just across the border at Saraghs in Turkmenistan. According to the most recent national census, in 2006, the city's population was 33,571 in 8,066 families.

History

Main article: Battle of Sarakhs

Loghman Baba mausoleum, Sarakhs, built in 1356 and recently partially restored.

Several battles were fought in this area. According to Ferdowsi's Shahnameh the town has existed since the Afrasiab period and was named for its builder, Sarakhs, son of Godarz, by Keykavus. Turkmen historians consider the city to have been founded over 2500 years ago. The Mongols plundered and destroyed Sarakhs in 1220, but it was rebuilt in the mid-19th century by the order of Nasser-al-Din Shah of the Qajar dynasty. For its first 50 years or so, this resurrected city was thus known as known Nasser's Sarakhs (in Persian:Sarakhs-e Nasseri, Saraxse Nāseri) and was a principally feudal town.

Geography

Sarakhs' weather is cold in winter, warm and dry in summer thanks to the influence of the Gharaghoroom Desert.

Landmarks

The main historical site of Sarakhs is the partly restored Loghman Baba mausoleum in a field just north of the town. It was built in 1356AD (757AH).

In Sarakhs district within 80 km of Sarakhs town are:

• Bazangan lake
• Mazdavand cave and reservoir
• Iran–Turkmenistan Friendship Dam
• Ribat Sharaf Caravanserai
• Khatun Bridge (five-arched stone bridge between Iran and Turkmenistan)

Transport

More than a century after the early proposals of a cross-border railway at this location, the railways of Iran and Turkmenistan were finally linked here in 1996. A bogie exchange is needed to overcome a break of gauge. This will be supplemented with a quicker SUW 2000 variable gauge axles track gauge changing facility (TSR).