TEHRAN – Restoration and rehabilitation work has begun on an ancient watermill in the tourist village of Khaleha Bara in Shahrd district, Semnan province, according to local heritage authorities.
Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Razavian, head of Shahrd’s Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, said the factory has long been an integral part of the village’s historical identity and traditional architecture, and its restoration is an important step towards preserving the region’s precious heritage.
“Our goal is to restore the structure and its internal components while preserving its authenticity,” Razabian said. “This will give visitors a deeper understanding of traditional rural life and the role that such factories once played in sustaining local communities.”
Once the project is complete, tourists will be able to see the workings of the factory up close and experience a tangible connection to the region’s history, officials emphasized.
Razabyan added that the revival of the factory could significantly strengthen Khaleja Bara’s position as a center of culture and tourism. He explained that watermills offer both a cultural attraction and the ability to tell aspects of rural life in the past to domestic and international tourists.
Known for its unique terraced architecture and proximity to Tourane Reserve, Calais Borough is one of the state’s major tourist destinations. In recent years, the village has become nationally known for its community-based development model, cultural initiatives, and active local participation.
Located on the southern slopes of Mount Savar, where the desert meets the wind-shaped hills of the Harturan buffer zone, this village has emerged as a remarkable example of grassroots rural revitalization and ecotourism.
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