To visit the village of Makhunik, one must embark on a long journey and travel close to the Afghan border. If you are eager to see the mysterious Makhunik, join us on this exceptional trip.
Makhunik is one of the seven most amazing villages in the world and is known as the "Lilliputians' town," offering fascinating attractions. The village is located just half an hour from the Afghanistan border, and its residents are originally Afghan, having migrated centuries ago from Afghanistan to settle in Makhunik. This village is situated 78 kilometers east of the city of Sarbisheh, along the road leading from Sarbisheh to the village of Doruh.
The Makhunik plain consists of 12 settlements, with the village of Makhunik being the largest. These villages include Makhunik, Maxonic, Kefaz, Japansar, Tutak, Sefalband, Sulabest, Lejong (Sefli and Alia), Kelate Baluj, Damdame, Misnow, Xayestu, and Jelaro.
The residents of these villages share a lot in terms of religion (Sunni Muslims), lifestyle, and social conditions, but many of them consider Makhunik as their ancestral home.
The people of Makhunik are Afghans who migrated to Iran centuries ago. They speak Persian with a unique local dialect. They follow Sunni Islam and are followers of Abu Hanifa, one of the four great Imams of Sunni Islam. They are very interested in religious education, and the village houses an Islamic institute that is a center of learning for the region. People from surrounding villages, who are also from the same religious group, prefer sending their children to religious schools rather than public schools.
Until 50 years ago, the people of Makhunik did not drink tea, hunt, or eat meat, and they still do not smoke. They considered these actions sinful. The arrival of television in their village was seen as the arrival of the devil, and until a few years ago, they referred to the TV as the devil. They would never allow children to sit in front of the television as they believed it could harm them.
One of the first things that catches the attention of visitors is the village's unique architectural style. The houses in Makhunik do not have a specific geometric shape. Half of the houses are built underground, requiring visitors to descend a few steps to enter. This design helps protect residents from both heat in the summer and cold in the winter.
The homes are very small, with only one room of about 10 or 12 square meters. They are built using stone and clay, with roofs covered in branches and leaves. Except for the short entrance door, there are no other openings to the outside. The old houses in the village are quite modest, with no courtyards or porches, built tightly together. This architectural style is truly astonishing.
Makhunik is also home to many fascinating historical sites. Among the notable attractions are the Black Stone (stone carvings), the Tower and Castle, the Fig Tower, the House of Wandering, and Nader's Tomb.
The average height of the villagers is about 80 to 120 centimeters.
The short stature of the villagers is attributed to cousin marriages and their diet. For the past 30 years, the village had no proper transportation links, and the people had limited interaction with the outside world. However, in recent years, with improved nutrition and the use of iron supplements, the newer generation has shown better growth.
The design of clothing for men and women in Makhunik is very different. In the past, the villagers wove their own clothing from coarse cotton fabric. The villagers wore very worn and torn clothes and felt no shame in doing so. The villagers' shoes were made of wood, but this has changed over the past 30 years. Also, the villagers used to use handmade clay utensils, but younger generations, having interacted with urban areas, no longer show interest in these traditional items.
The villagers of Makhunik engage in animal husbandry and grow crops such as carrots, beets, barley, turnips, tomatoes, onions, saffron, and various fruit trees like mulberries, figs, jujubes, pomegranates, grapes, and almonds near the village's qanat (water source). Some villagers also work in a nearby stone mine. The women of the village also engage in carpet weaving, helping to generate income for the family.
Makhunik is located in a region with a hot and dry climate, so visiting the village during the summer can be quite challenging. The best times to visit are in the spring or fall when the weather is mild and pleasant.
