Noudsheh, The Alps of Iran

Noudsheh is a city on the very border of Iran & Iraq. It’s on the environs of Paveh, a city that is 150 km. far from Kermanshah. Noudsheh has a history as ancient as its fire-temples. It is surrounded by the mountains, the woodlands of acorn, wild plum, van, and many different kinds of fruit trees. Moreover, the botanical coverage, which provides the nourishment of the cattle, can be added to other sceneries of this wonderful nature. The fruit trees are walnuts, pomegranate, fig, grape, berries, pear…etc.
The natural aspects of Noudsheh are really unique. Its beautiful sceneries catch every eye, and inspire any person of good taste. It would not be exaggerating to call this area the Alps of Iran. Noudsheh is a silent virgin shelter for the people who are fed up with the machinery world of technology and daily routines. If you spend one summer night on the cool height of the mountain, you will cut an opening to an endless space that will drown you in its endless galaxies. Despite its rough mountainous, and sufferings in the war of Iran & Iraq, and domestic war, Noudsheh has been left virgin and original.
Recently, a road has been made to Paveh , like a sleeping black snake in the heart of the high mountain, deep narrow valleys, and clear geysers, and even the large river “Sirvan” cannot disturb the silence.
Crossing two tunnels into the hearts of two mountains, this road has a lot of natural and anthropological sceneries that you could see people free from the fake annoying dependants of our days, maintain living their lives full of passion, hope, love, simplicity intermingled with their suffering. The people who can comprehend water, and are close to the anonymity of the wet grass, Even if some grief reaches them from top of the mountain, they will eliminate it with their tough tolerant nature, as they endured 8 years of war, full of missiles, and bombs.
In a world full of worry and insecurity of war that was full of fear of death and suffering, they survived, and could heal so many bruises and wounds with their high spirit, and toughness. Though no one noticed their tolerance, and the dust of war still weighs against people’s chests, there seems no one to offer them some consolation.
The architecture of Noudsheh’s houses in strong grains of stone, mud, or wood can be presented as a sign of its residents’ high spirit who with such authenticity have remained on the borderline of tradition and modernity. This merge of tradition and modernity is related to being up to dated on one hand, and believing in their authentic traditions in religion, lifestyle, dress codes, and also their open minds.
These people have stories for themselves; true stories that have changed to legends over years full of mystery that makes you involved and wonder for a long time. They are Ourami Kurds. Ourami is the remaining language of Avestaei. The Avestaei roots are easily noticeable in this dialect. Noudsheh has four wonderful seasons. The spring weather, as Great Ferdowsi puts it: “full of passion on a full of movement land”. Summers are cool full of fruit gardens. Autumns are like a rainbow of colors and winters are full of silence of snow that sit on the mountains, the woods, valleys, and cliffs that brings up a worldwide white.

Mokhtar Shokripour
Translated by: Mansoureh moddares