Khajoo (Khaju) Bridge in Isfahan

Khaju Bridge is one of the historical and beautiful bridges of Isfahan that in its age, was considered as one of the most beautiful bridges of the world. Walking on this bridge, especially in the dusk and early in the night, is one of the most enjoyable recreations that tourists put in in their program.

Also, the historical and architectural value of it is so much that it was one of the main attractions in the circulations of the tours of Isfahan.

This bridge that is one of the attractions of Isfahan and having a trip to the half of the world, doesn’t complete without observing it, in addition to the beauty, secrets, and marvels that it has, forces many to walk in this bridge with a superfine look and understand it with all-out. Accompany us to show you a hint of all of this beauty.

All of the things about the Khajoo bridge of Isfahan

Introduction of Khaju Bridge

• Where is the Khaju Bridge?
• The short history of Khajoo Bridge
• The appellation of Khaju Bridge
• the architecture of Khajoo bridge
• The information of Khaju Bridge
• The wonders of Khajoo Bridge
• The difference of Khaju Bridge and Si-o -Se Pol
• The Khaju bridge in the night
• The spectacular attractions around the Khajoo Bridge
  

The introduction of Khaju Bridge

Khajoo bridge of Isfahan is located on the east side of Si-O-Se Pol and in terms of stability, symmetry and the style of architecture is one of the unique bridges in Iran.

This bridge was considered as one of the most beautiful bridges in the world, during the Safavid period and because of its architecture and the tile decorations that were used in it, is more famous than other bridges of Zayandeh Rood.

The historical bridge of Khajoo as one of the spectacular places of Isfahan was placed in the list of national works of Iran on the 15th January of 1310.

Where is the Khaju Bridge?

Khaju Bridge is located on the Zayandeh rood river in the Isfahan city and has a distance from Si-O-Se Pol (Allah Verdi khan bridge) about 1800 meters. This bridge is showing off in the south end of Chahar Bagh-e Khaju and in the eastern end of Kamal Aldin Ismael Isfahani Street.

If you intend to reach yourself to Khajoo Bridge by subway, the station of Si-O -Se Pol is in the nearest subway station that you can take the path to Khaju Bridge, which is two kilometers by walking or taking a taxi.

The short history of Khaju Bridge

The Shah Abbas II Safavid was commanded to build Khaju Bridge on the remains of Hassan Beik Bridge from the Timurid period.

According to the narrations, Shah Abbas II decided to create this bridge, in order to create a transportation route between the neighborhood of Khaju and Hasan Abad’s gateway with Takht-e Foolad and Rahe-e Shiraz, that in the following, it was supposed to operate as a dam, in addition to a bridge.

Shah Abbas considered a place named “alcove” in the middle of the bridge, to be able to have a short residence on this bridge with his family.

During history, this bridge was used for observing the boating matches, fun, and entertainment of the king and his companions, in addition to commuting on the Zayandeh Rood.

There is an inscription on the west side of the bridge that shows the Khaju Bridge was repaired during the reign of Naser Aldin Shah Qajar in the year of 1290 A.H.

The appellation of Khaju Bridge

Khaju Bridge was called with other names such as Baba Rokn Aldin, Gobar, Hasan Abad, Shiraz, and Shahi Bridge.

The reason for its nomination to the Baba Rokn Aldin Bridge is the existence of Baba Rokn Aldin’s tomb in the Takht-e Foolad.

The nearness of that with the neighborhood of Khaju has also caused that to be famous as Khaju Bridge. This bridge was located near the Isfahan road to Shiraz and was called the name of Shiraz Bridge at some point in history.

Since the Zoroastrian (Gobarha) used this bridge to go to their neighborhood, it was famous to the “Gobarha Bridge”. Hasan Abad Bridge was also one of the other names of it; because in the old days, the neighborhood of Khaju was known as Hasan Abad.

As we said, Shah Abbas II built the Khaju Bridge in the year of 1060 A.H. and this matter caused it to become famous to “Shahi Bridge”.

The architecture of Khaju Bridge

Khaju Bridge is an architectural masterpiece from the Safavid period that according to some architectural resources, the function of it, was similar to Tabiat-e Tehran Bridge, and instead of being a place just for crossing from, it was an extraordinary place for stopping and enjoying the surroundings.

This bridge has 133 meters length, 12 meters width, and 7.5 meters alley and it was used from the materials like brick, stone, and mortar in the building of it.

Khaju bridge was in complete harmony with the natural ground of earth, both in terms of hydraulic and also structural; so the Khaju bridge acted as an underground dam against the lake of the groundwater reservoir of Isfahan.

This bridge causes the river in the upstream, increases the groundwater table of the city and in the downstream, acts as a drainage for the bed ground of the city.

In that period, under the base of the bridge was put a candle in the form of all-around and were created an impervious area and mortar was poured inside of it.

Furthermore, the openings and crossing channels were created that as a result, the energy of water that is coming together in the downstream of the bridge, is destroying and a very beautiful and little pool is forming; whilst the cross- current of water, cause to create some bubbles and successively, increasing the water oxygen; the environment that was appropriate for the pisciculture.

The pathway of Khaju Bridge

The engineers of the Safavid period were solved the problem of the water of Isfahan city with the construction of the Khaju bridge and creating the delay facility, dams, etc. and at the same time, with washing the soil and cultivating the ground, caused to permanence and extension of prosperity.

The sharp shape of the bridge pier in the upstream causes that minimize the pressure of lake’s water to the bridge like a cutwater and the stair shape of piers in the downstream have this property that during the floodwater, the water circulates from the piers and therefore, as a result of smashing with the stairs, it loses its destructive energy.

The green area at the margin of Zayandeh Rood River that helped the increasing of the humidity of the city’s air and also the existence of channels that guarantees the vertical flow of water in the soil, is deriving from the genius of Safavid architects; because they could protect from the three important part of the environment, namely underground, ground and atmosphere.

In the part of the pathway of Khaju Bridge, there are barrel vaults and skull-cap domes that are old Irani arches and help to freight and better stability of the bridge.

The reflective symmetry and proportion had been used in the designing of Khaju Bridge; so that all the details were repeated with regular rhythm and melody and have monomorphic and symmetrical spaces with the same performance that is very pretty and eye-catching.

The information about Khaju Bridge

One of the interesting points about the Khaju Bridge is the different patterns of epigraphs of the bridge spans that it has doubled its charm. Each of these patterns is the work of one of the artists of Isfahan city and for years, it had attracted the attention of every viewer.

It is interesting to know that Khaju Bridge was a masculine Bridge and women didn’t have the right to cross from it.

Khaju Bridge is not only a place for crossing but also has placed the building of alcove in its heart to be a temporary residence of kings and grandee; whilst in the critical condition, it could play the role of dam and caulk.

The alcove was built for this reason that when holding the boating and swimming matches, the kinglets and grandee being a spectator of matches from this place.

When a flood occurs, the Khaju Bridge carries the water toward a series of channels and causes it to spread, therefore not only the flood don’t damage the city, but also it fills the groundwater tables. If these channels haven’t existed, perhaps Isfahan was disappeared due to different floods.

The wonders of Khaju Bridge

The stony lions: in both sides of Khaju Bridge, there are pretty stony lions that if you stand beside one of the lions and look at the eye of the lion in front, the eye of that lion is shining. Some believe that these stony lions are a symbol of Bakhtiyari troops that protect from Isfahan and Zayndeh Rood with courage.

It is interesting that you know that in the body of these lions, a letter is engraved that apparently was the beginning of the name of their sculptors. Furthermore, on the body of these sculptors, there were seen symbols of ancient sports.

Compass (showing the kiblah): In the stone bed of the north side of the bridge and in near one of the stone lions, there is a compass that can be attractive for tourists.

A view of the dome of the shrine of Imam Reza A.: One of the best times for visiting from Khaju Bridge, is the night. Especially when walking toward the bridge the dome of the shrine of Imam Reza is being reminded for you by seeing the lower spans of the bridge.

The candle of Khaju bridge: this candle is one of the interesting attractions of Khajoo Bridge if you observe the low spans of the bridge at an angle of 30 degrees from the east side of the outside of the bridge, you will see that it will be created as the result of the interference of spans. This candle is especially beautiful and visual in the sunset.

The foundation arch ceilings (curve): the foundation arch ceilings of Khaju Bridge are designed in a form that from the edges of its sides, there are borders toward the front and if the tourist stands in front of each other on both sides and talk with each other quietly from the inside of these borders, they can hear each other’s voice.

The stone of walls: When walking in the low spans of the bridge, you will see stones with different dimensions on the walls that a special sign in each of them emerges.

It has been said, that these signs are in fact the signature of artists that had the duty to install their stone. The reason for this is perhaps they could investigate the proper placement of stones and at the same time, they could leave a memento of themselves.

However, some believe that for building this bridge, the remained stones of Sassanid mansions in the reign of “Jey” of Isfahan were used that a number of their stonemasons were from Greece and on the stones are in fact the Greek alphabet.

The sharp-claw eagle over the Zayandeh Rood: when you look at the Khaju Bridge from above, you will see a sharp-claw eagle that is flying on the Zayandeh Rood River. The alcove building (Bigler Beigi) and the congresses of different floors of the bridge, respectively remind the head of an eagle and its feathers.

Mortar: one of the intellectual characteristics of Khaju Bridge is using the mortar that when more water reaches to, it will be more resistant.

The Strange gravestones: there are a number of old gravestones along with carved stones were found here in the year 1388 there are strange signs on them. Some of these gravestones are kept in the Takht-e Foolad Stone Museum.

The difference between Khajoo Bridge and Si-O- Se Pol

The characteristics that differentiate the Khaju Bridge from other bridges of Isfahan and also Si-o-Se pol, include the existence of architectural spaces in the bridge, tile decorations, drawing and the function of changing the bridge to a dam.

The capability that Khaju Bridge can be a dam, had caused the creation of a lake in the back of bridge that originated an exquisite perspective and also it had functioned for boating; whilst its water was used in the dry months of summer and also it served for the irrigation of agricultural lands in the downstream. This lake also helped to increase the well water inside the city and around the river.

A special mansion that showed off in the middle of the bridge and as we said, it was used for the temporary residence of the family of Shah Abbas Safavid, was considered as another distinction of Khaju Bridge and Si-o-Se Pol.

Furthermore, the number and the design of the spans of Khaju Bridge have a significant difference from the spans of Si-o-Se Pol; So that the numbers of spans of Khaju Bridge are 24; while the number of spans of the Si-o-Se Pol reaches 33.

The Khaju Bridge in the night

Khaju Bridge is one of the promenades of Isfahan that if the Zayendeh Rood has flow, it will figure out dreamy moments for you. Listening to the sound of the water flowing amongst the pretty lighting of the bridge, all cooperate that you have a memorable night.

The people of the city also use from any situation, especially the long nights of summer to rest from a warm and busy day, along with the family and friends, beside the Khajoo Bridge; Especially that some of them create a pleasant feeling by singing a song. The green space surrounding the Khaju Bridge is also a proper place for a circuit and rest.

The spectacular attractions around the Bridge

The beautiful city of Isfahan has spectacular attractions, step by step; after excursion in the Khajoo Bridge and recording the unforgettable moments, you can also visit :

• Si-o-Se Pol
• the flower garden of Isfahan (Bagh-e Golha)
• Naghsh-e Jahan square

and spectacular mansions in the four corners of that:

• Hasht Behesht
• Chehel Sotoun Palace.

Naghsh-e Jahan Square: this square is one of the biggest squares of the world and among the Iranian works on the list of UNESCO World Heritage. In the Naghsh-e Jahan Square, you can also visit Ali Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Imam Mosque, and Gheisarie portal which are the popular attractions of Isfahan.

Flower garden of Isfahan (Bagh-e Golha): This flower garden is a different attraction in Isfahan that thanks to the pleasant atmosphere that it has, it provides the opportunity to get acquainted with flowers, plants and enjoy from them.

Si-o-Se Pol: Si-o-Se Pol is considered the historical and distinctive attraction of Isfahan and includes the most popular promenades of the people of the city. This valuable work that is in the list of national works of Iran, is a masterpiece from the Safavid period.

Hasht Behesht palace: is the most beautiful palace of the Safavid period that with its different architecture and unique decorations, make every viewer unconscious.

Chehel Sotoun palace: this place that is one of the most famous spectacular places of Isfahan, is a pure example of the grand art of Iranian its garden is built with the style of the famous gardens of Iran.

The location of Khaju Bridge in the Isfahan city

The historical bridge of Khaju is located in the south end of Chahar Bagh-e Khaju Street and the East end of Kamal Aldin Isfahani Street. This bridge is located on the pretty Zayandeh Rood and on the east side of Si-o-Se Pol.

The best time for having a trip to the Isfahan for visit the Khaju Bridge

For having a trip to Isfahan, spring and fall are the best seasons; because the cold winters and warm summers of Isfahan, maybe make it hard for you to sightseeing in this beautiful city. The pretty springs and rainy falls beside the Khajoo Bridge has another purity; especially if Zayandeh rood is full of water and the diffuse world of freshness to the whole city of Isfahan.

The visit information of Khaju bridge

• The price of the ticket: free
• The visiting hour: day and night
• The address of Khaju Bridge: Isfahan, Kamal Ismael Street, Khajoo Bridge

The access path

You can have access to this bridge by bus, taxi and personal car. Khajoo Bridge connects Kamal Ismael Street and Ayineh Khaneh Boulevard to each other; after each of these streets, come to the Khaju Bridge with a personal car. The buses of Isfahan have as also stations for Khaju Bridge.

For using the subway, the nearest station is Si-o-Se Pol that you can reach Khaju Bridge by taking a taxi.

The welfare facilities of Khaju Bridge

The Khaju Bridge is located in the middle of city, so rest assured of the welfare facilities in around of this bridge. There are two superfine coffee, exactly along with bridge that depending on your taste, you can eat something at there and enjoy.

You can find good restaurants, hotel and acceptable residencies in the same round; so surely go to Khaju Bridge in your trip to Isfahan; Especially at dusk. The gather together at the night and make the night pleasant with singing. You can join them and enjoy from the congruence with local singers and also the calmness and purity of this bridge.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Conclusion:
The beauty of this place had become doubled year after year in the spring and when the water of Zayandeh Rood had revolted and people sat alongside this pretty river with lots of emotionalism and enjoyed from the pretty space of the bridge and river.

Currently, due to the problems of dehydration, the Khaju Bridge is located on the dry and dehydrated bed. Nevertheless, observing this historical bridge will not be empty of pleasure.

Have you ever visited this pretty bridge? What is your opinion about Khaju Bridge? Write for us in the section of comments.