Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Iran Shiraz Shah Cheragh

Shah Cheragh

Mirrors and glass shards cover every inch of this arrestingly beautiful mosque.

Shiraz, Iran

Added By
ahvenas
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Shah Cheragh   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh, Oct 2017   Bhob D / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh Shiraz   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh Shiraz   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh Shiraz   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh Shiraz   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh Shiraz   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh Shiraz   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh Shiraz   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Shah Cheragh, Oct 2017   Bhob D / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Visiting the Shah Cheragh mosque in Shiraz, Iran can be a somber and, for lack of a better word, religious experience, yet the interior of the central temple looks as though a disco ball exploded, covering nearly every surface with glittering shards of glass and mirror. 

The site began as a funereal monument with a mythic past. As the story goes, around 900 CE a wanderer caught site of a mysterious light shining off in the distance and went to investigate. He found a luminous grave that, when excavated, was found to hold the armored corpse of an important Muslim figure. Thus the site became a popular pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims, and a domed tomb structure was created to house the grave. The site was improved and expanded over the centuries with religious schools and other facilities being added to the complex. In the 14th century the site's signature mirrorball decoration was ordered at the behest of Queen Tash Khātūn who wanted the mosque intensify any light a thousand times over, the name "Shah Cheragh" roughly translating to "King of the Light" in Persian.

Despite being damaged by human hands and natural disasters over the centuries, the mosque has been maintained and repaired and shines brightly even today. The increasingly sprawling site is still an extremely important pilgrimage location for Shia Muslims, however visitors of any faith are likely to marvel at the sheer beauty of this glassy wonder. 

Related Tags

Mosques Temples

Community Contributors

Added By

ahvenas

Edited By

Bhob D, vasilisapremudra

  • Bhob D
  • vasilisapremudra

Published

January 15, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://curious-places.blogspot.com/2014/10/shah-cheragh-mirror-mosque-shiraz-iran.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Cheragh
Shah Cheragh
Shiraz
Iran
29.609318, 52.543532

Nearby Places

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

Shiraz, Iran

miles away

Tomb of Hafez

Shiraz, Iran

miles away

Eram Garden

Shiraz, Iran

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shiraz

Shiraz

Iran

Places 4

Nearby Places

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

Shiraz, Iran

miles away

Tomb of Hafez

Shiraz, Iran

miles away

Eram Garden

Shiraz, Iran

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shiraz

Shiraz

Iran

Places 4

Related Stories and Lists

50 Obscure and Amazing Places to Visit in 2017

List

By Atlas Obscura

Related Places

  • The pillars of the mosque gleam in the sunlight.

    Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    The Floating Mosque

    Al Rahmah Mosque appears to "float" atop the Red Sea.

  • The full mosque

    Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan

    Afghanistan's Blue Mosque

    This magnificent blue mosque in Afghanistan is surrounded by thousands of white doves.

  • Nageshwar (Maharashtra)

    Pune, India

    Replicas of Jyotirlinga Temples

    Twelve model temples sit inside this 900-year old Hindu complex.

  • Courtyard temple only entrance via cave

    Ipoh, Malaysia

    Tasik Cermin (Mirror Lake) Geopark

    Home to secret lakes and hidden temples.

  • The front of the mosque.

    Istanbul, Turkey

    Şakirin Mosque

    A mosque with distinctive modern features.

  • Small statues of Buddha line the path to the top of the mountain.

    Hiroshima, Japan

    Mitaki-dera

    A mountaintop Buddhist temple with panoramic views of Hiroshima.

  • Sawathi, Thailand

    Wat Chai Sri

    An early 1900s temple features unique architecture and murals.

  • Tal Barahi Temple

    Pokhara, Nepal

    Tal Barahi Temple

    Lake Phewa is home to the only island temple in Nepal.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.