Its neighbors are Khorasan Razavi, Semnan, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces. The major ethnic groups in this region are the Persians who speak Farsi with their local dialect. It is one of the arid areas of the country with hot summer and cold winter but a small part of it enjoys mild temperature. Lut Desert as one of the warmest deserts of the world covers a large area of the province, influencing significantly the temperature of the province.

Qahestan or Quhistan was a region in grand Khorasan stretching from the south of Nishabur to Sistan and at present, South Khorasan includes a great part of it. It is believed that the history of Qahestan villages dates back to pre-Islamic historical eras. During the early conquests of the Muslims, Hephthalites (440-710 A.D.) ruled Qahestan but the Arab Muslims conquered it when Umar (reign: 634-644) became the Caliph.

Years later, a big uprising under the leadership of a person named Qarin happened but the Arab commanders quelled it. Qahestan later became a part of grand Khorasan with Nishabur as its center and Muslim governors ruled it until the invasion of Mongol to Persia in 1219. By the arrival of Mongols, Qahestan was destroyed and never returned to its previous glory. During the next centuries, the region was in total chaos but finally, the independent local rulers were suppressed by the Qajar Dynasty (1796-1925) and the region became once again a part of Iran.

Unique nature, ancient, cultural, and religious sites can be found all over the province. The impressive landscape of Lut Desert, waterfalls, spas, saffron, and barberry farms have made South Khorasan an excellent place for tourists and nature lovers. The historical attractions of the province include Tabas Citadel, Mostofi House, Mansion of Boshruyeh Windcatcher, Nehbandan Watermill, Jameh Mosque of Qaen, and Madreseh Elmiyeh Oliya.

Particularly, Lut Desert, Akbariyeh Garden Complex, and Qanat Baladeh Ferdows have been inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List.

In terms of handicrafts, the most prevailing ones include embroidery, Jajim weaving, Giveh making, felt making, basket weaving, and pottery. The main eatable souvenirs of the province are also saffron, barberry, jujube, pomegranate, black dried curd, and Persian olive.

The local foods are Abodardar Aash, Omaj Aush, Balgour Polo, Fenugreek Eshkeneh (a kind of Persian soup), Plum Abgoosht, and Saveri. Among the most notable figures of the province, we can mention to Bozarjomher Qaeini (poet), Badi’ozzamān Foruzānfar) contemporary literary critique, linguist, and culture expert).

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Although various Iranian folks originating from different parts of the country are living in this province, the common language is Farsi. Geographically, the province is almost entirely surrounded by mountains including Mount Binalud as the highest point. The province enjoys a dry and semi-arid climate but in the mountainous areas, winters and summers are cold and mild, respectively though, in low-altitude regions, summer is hot and dry.

The Grand Khorasan used to cover south of the Amu Darya and large parts of the current Central Asia countries. During the Sassanid Dynasty (224-651 A.D.), Khorasan was ruled by the army chief Spahbed. After the advent of Islam, this land contained four main cities including Nishabur, Marv, Herat, and Balkh, each of which was the center of Grand Khorasan in different eras.

Al-Ma’mun, the Abbasid Caliph, appointed Tahir ibn Ḥusayn as the governor of Khorasan but in less than a year, Tahir announced independence from Caliph and transferred the capital of Grand Khorasan from Marv to Nishabur, ending the absolute dependency of Iran on the Arab Caliphs. During the Samanid Dynasty (819-999), Khorasan and Mā warāʼ al-Nahr (Transoxiana) were among the brightest regions in the history of Iran because of the flourishment of science, literature, and Persian language.

When the Turks of Ghaznavid Dynasty (977-1186) came to the throne and took ruling of the area, one of the most important incidents of the region’s history namely the division of the Grand Khorasan’s land happened. As a result, a great section of the province with the centrality of Ghazni (Afghanistan) remained under the rule of Ghaznavid, while the rest of it was governed by the Seljuk Dynasty (1037-1194).

In the aftermath of the Mongol invasion in 1219, Tamerlane (reign: 1370-1405) from Samarkand attacked Khorasan for four times. Later, Grand Khorasan became a part of the Safavid Dynasty’s (1501-1736) territory and finally, Nader Shah (reign: 1736-1747) chose Mashhad as capital during the Afsharid Dynasty (1736-1796). After his death, Khorasan came under the control of Afghan commanders but Agha Muhammad Khan Qajar (reign: 1796-1797) took its full control without war and bloodshed and this was kept by his successors during the Qajar Dynasty (1796-1925).

The biggest and most glorious mausoleum of Iran is the holy shrine of the Shiite eighth Imam, Imam Reza (peace be upon Him) located in Mashhad city. Millions of both local and foreign pilgrims and tourists travel to Mashhad every year to visit His shrine.

In addition to the magnificent complex of Astan Quds Razavi (including the Imam Reza holy shrine, Goharshad Mosque, Golden Arch, Allahverdi Khan Portico, Shah Mosque and Bathhouse, and Anthropology Museum), some other tourist attractions of Razavi Khorasan include Ancient Windmills of Nashtifan, Robat-e Sharaf Caravanserai, Tombs of Ferdousi, Nadir Shah Afshar, Farid al-Din Attar, Omar Khayyam, and Kamal-ol-Molk.

Gonabad Qanat is also a historical attraction inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List.

Some handicrafts of the province include carving on stone, pottery, turquoise stone, silk weaving, and Barak Bafi. The souvenirs of the province are saffron, barberry, pomegranate, spices, perfumes, different types of Nabat (a kind of candy), prayer rug, rings, jewels, and carpet. Shashlik, Shol-e, Eshkaneh, Dizzi Sangi and Balghur Aash are among the local foods. Finally, some of the notable figures of Mashhad are Ferdowsi Tosi (epic poet), Farid al-Din Attar (mystic and poet), Omar Khayyam (poet), Kamal-ol-Molk (painter), Jaber-e bin Hayyan (alchemist, mathematician), Mohammad-Taqi Bahar (poet), Dr. Ali Shariati (sociologist), and Mohammad Reza Shajarian (classic music singer).

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