Many tourists plan their trip to visit big and famous cities, which causes them to miss out on seeing many pristine and authentic sights that are located in smaller towns along the way.

The route from Tabriz to Sarein, Ardabil, and Astara is considered one of the most frequented routes for tourists in the northwest of Iran. However, most tourists pay attention to the points of departure and destination while crossing this route and easily pass the cities located on the route, such as Sarab, and, as a result, they miss the amazing views and historical works of this beautiful city. Azarbaijan Museum of Nomads is a special and interesting place in which the history of Iranian nomads’ lifestyle has been put on display.

The Importance of Nomads in the History of Iran

The nomads have played an important role in the political and social history of Iran and many ruling dynasties of Iran such as Ghaznavids, Seljuqs, Khwarazmian, Ilkhanate, Qara Qoyunlu, Aq Qoyunlu, Afsharid, Zand, and Qajar had risen from among the nomadic tribes of this country.

The inclination to urbanization and avoiding the hardships of nomadic life has increased in the past few decades and it seems that this way of life will soon be forgotten. The establishment of the Azarbaijan Museum of Nomads is an attempt to keep the heritage of the Iranian nomads of this region alive.

Nomads of Azarbaijan

East Azarbaijan nomads migrate twice a year in spring and autumn. In the middle of May and with the gradual warming of the weather, the nomads go to the summer areas in the cities of Kalibar, Ahar, Hearis, Sarab, Miyaneh, Maragheh, Jaravimaq, and the highlands of Sahand, Sablan, and Bozgush mountainous areas. In 2022 the nomadic population of East Azarbaijan was estimated to be about two percent of the province’s total population. However, these nomads provide 20% of the province’s light livestock requirements.

The nomads of Azarbaijan are composed of two tribes, Arasbaran and Shahsavan, and 10 different clans. These nomads move between the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, and West Azarbaijan. The lifestyle of the nomads has been in harmony with nature and the pristine mountain and plain landscapes are the sights that accommodate these hardworking and productive people.

Features and Architecture of Azarbaijan Museum of Nomads

This museum is the first of its kind established in Iran about the life of nomads. The museum building was previously known as “Jalal Bathhouse”, which was built over an area of nearly 650 square meters during the last years of the Qajar era (early 20th century AD). This bathhouse, which belonged to a person named "Jalal", served the people of Sarab as a public bathhouse until a few decades ago. It had two separate sections for men and women, and its architecture was similar to the other bathhouses in Iran.

Following the transfer of its ownership from the private sector to Sarab Municipality in 1993 its restoration operation began, and it was eventually allocated to the establishment of the Azarbaijan Museum of Nomads.

This museum is a type of anthropological museum and displays the customs, language, livelihood, housing, lifestyle, food, clothing, and handicrafts of the nomadic community. Several wax statues with local nomadic clothes have also been placed next to the erected tents in the area, which represent the essence of nomadic life. The objects that can be seen in this museum are mainly collected from East Azarbaijan and Ardabil provinces.

A specialized library has also been formed in this museum where different books on Iranian nomadic life are available to those interested. Different sections of this museum include pastures and shepherd spaces, traditional and native processing of dairy products and wool, nomadic handicrafts, music, clothes, ornaments, housing, a bakery, a traditional coffee house, and handwoven carpets and rugs.

Where is the Azarbaijan Museum of Nomads Located?

To see the Anthropology Museum of Azarbaijan Nomads, visitors must travel to the city of Sarab. This museum is 130 km away from Tabriz and is located next to the Sarab Municipality building.