The Village That Bans Women + Photos

According to the Social Affairs Service of Saed News, citing Borna, Eysta Village is one of the most scenic highland areas in the region, geographically part of Taleqan County in Alborz Province. It is bordered to the north by Alamut and Mazandaran, and to the south by Fashgaldareh and Savojbolagh.

Eysta in Taleqan is one of the most mysterious places in Alborz, where visitors can witness a way of life reminiscent of the Qajar era, far removed from modernity. Interestingly, the village is also known for breeding some of the most expensive horses in the country.

Life inside the village is shrouded in secrecy. Outsiders are not allowed in, and villagers have no contact with the outside world. No one has ever seen a member leave or appear elsewhere. Women are forbidden from entering, and the use of modern tools and technology is strictly avoided.

The residents of this village are wealthy, sustaining themselves through the sale of ancestral lands in Tabriz. They do not possess official identification and are not counted in national population statistics, nor do they receive government services.

The most persistent rumor is that the villagers deliberately avoid all traces of modernity and technology. Their reclusive, almost monastic lifestyle has fueled a halo of myths and peculiar stories. Even local inhabitants of Taleqan are unsure of their origins or beliefs.

As much as possible, the villagers provide for themselves—from food and daily necessities to handmade tools. They practice subsistence farming, raise cows, sheep, and poultry for meat and protein, and even rely on horses for transport and riding.

Until a few years ago, they could be easily spotted riding horses, carriages, or carts around the “township.” However, due to the growing bustle of Taleqan, villagers now rarely enter the town with these vehicles. Their belief is that by depending less on the outside world and limiting social interactions, they increase their chances of survival.