# Khvormuj

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For the administrative division, see [Khvormuj Rural District](/source/Khvormuj_Rural_District).

**Khvormuj** (Persian: خورموج)[a] is a city in the [Central District](/source/Central_District_(Dashti_County)) of [Dashti County](/source/Dashti_County), [Bushehr province, Iran](/source/Bushehr_province), serving as capital of both the county and the district.[1] The narrow river Shur traverses the valley, 7 km to the west of the city.

## Demographics

### Language and ethnicity

Persians constitute 95% of the inhabitants, and the majority speaks the Dashti dialect.[2]

### Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 31,667 in 6,966 households.[3] The following census in 2011 counted 34,944 people in 8,777 households.[4] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 40,722 people in 11,537 households.[5]

## Attractions

### Khormoj Castle

**Khormoj Castle** (Persian: قلعه خورموج; also spelled **Khormuj** or **Khvormuj**; also known as **Mohammad Khan Dashti Castle**) is a historic fortification in [Khormoj](/source/Khormoj), [Dashti County](/source/Dashti_County), [Bushehr Province](/source/Bushehr_Province), [Iran](/source/Iran). The surviving elements largely date to the [Qajar dynasty](/source/Qajar_dynasty) period, although local tradition holds that the site may have earlier foundations.[6]

The original complex reportedly comprised four curtain walls with towers, a central residence (mansion), stables, a guardhouse (*qaravolkhaneh*), and a bathhouse supplied by a [qanat](/source/Qanat) system.[7][8] A 2025 study documents the discovery and description of the castle's bathhouse near the fort remains, following archaeological excavations.[9] Architectural details reflect Qajar design combined with decorative motifs reminiscent of [Seljuk](/source/Great_Seljuk_architecture) and [Sasanian](/source/Sasanian_architecture) styles.[10][7]

Today, only a single **hexagonal** tower remains standing.[6] The site is listed as a national monument of Iran (registration no. 3032; 2000).[11] The castle is also commonly referred to as **Mohammad Khan Dashti Castle**.[7][8]

#### Architecture

Accounts describe the complex as having four palisades with towers, a central mansion, stables, a guardhouse, and a bathhouse connected to a water source; parts of the complex were reportedly demolished in the late 1970s during urban works.[8][6] Descriptions emphasize Qajar-period brickwork and plaster decoration with stylistic allusions to [Seljuk](/source/Great_Seljuk_architecture) ornament and [Sasanian](/source/Sasanian_architecture) fortification layouts.[10][7]

#### Comparative note

Hexagonal-plan towers also occur elsewhere; for comparison, the [Great Tower (Yellow Tower of Gwent)](/source/Great_Tower_(Yellow_Tower_of_Gwent)) at [Raglan Castle](/source/Raglan_Castle) in [Monmouthshire](/source/Monmouthshire), [Wales](/source/Wales), is a 15th-century hexagonal keep set within a moat.[12]

### Shrine of Mir Aram Shah

The **Shrine of Mir Aram Shah** (Persian: بقعهٔ میر ارم شاه) is a revered religious site located on a low hill in the western part of [Khormoj](/source/Khormoj), south of the city's Martyrs’ Cemetery (*Golzar-e Shohada*). The shrine dates to the late [Qajar era](/source/Qajar_dynasty) and houses an unusually long tombstone—about twelve meters—adorned with intricate stone carvings. According to local accounts, the tomb is attributed to *Mir Aram*, traditionally said to be a descendant of *Sam son of Noah*, though some researchers link it to a pre-Islamic or [Sasanian](/source/Sasanian_Empire) figure.[13][14][15] The site, also known as *Pir-e Chehel Gazu*, remains a popular place of prayer and pilgrimage, especially on Thursdays.[13]

### Mother Square

Another prominent landmark in Khormuj is Mother Square (Persian: میدان مادر), located at one of the city's main intersections. At the center of the square stands a large statue symbolizing motherhood, depicting a mother holding a child. The monument is illuminated at night and has become one of the recognizable symbols of the city.

## See also

- [Khormoj Castle](/source/Khormoj_Castle)
- [List of castles in Iran](/source/List_of_castles_in_Iran)
- [Qajar architecture](/source/Qajar_architecture)
- [2013 Bushehr earthquake](/source/2013_Bushehr_earthquake)

## Notes

1. Also [romanized](/source/Romanize) as **Khūrmūj**; also known as **Khormoj** and **Khormūj**[16]

## References

1. Habibi, Hassan (12 September 1990 [تاریخ تصویب (Approval date) 1369/06/21 (Iranian Jalali calendar)]). ["fa:‌تصویب سازمان و سلسله تابعیت عناصر و واحدهای تقسیمات کشوری استان بوشهر به مرکزیت شهر بوشهر"](https://lamtakam.com/law/council_of_ministers/116966) [‌Approval of the organization and the hierarchy of citizenship of the elements and units of the national divisions of Bushehr province with the city of Bushehr as its capital] (in Persian). *لام تا کام [Lam ta Kam]*. ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board]. شناسه [ID] 51E6AB17-6790-42EF-804B-D38845E50FAD. شماره دوره [Course number] 69, شماره جلد [Volume number] 3. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250612170843/https://lamtakam.com/law/council_of_ministers/116966) 12 June 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 June 2025.

1. [Dénes Gazsi, “ḴvORMUJ,” Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, 2016](http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/khvormuj-town)

1. ["fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1385 : استان بوشهر"](http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/18.xls) [General Population and Housing Census 2006: Bushehr Province] (Excel) (in Persian). *مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran]*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110920093422/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/18.xls) 20 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 June 2025.

1. ["fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1390 : استان بوشهر"](https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Bushehr.xls) [General Population and Housing Census 2011: Bushehr Province] (Excel) (in Persian). *Iran Data Portal—Syracuse University*. مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran]. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230403085236/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Bushehr.xls) 3 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 June 2025.

1. ["fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1395 : استان بوشهر"](https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_18.xlsx) [General Population and Housing Census 2016: Bushehr Province] (Excel) (in Persian). *مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran]*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212745/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_18.xlsx) 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 June 2025.

1. ["fa:برج قلعهٔ محمد خان دشتی در خورموج و چالش حریم آثار باستانی"](https://www.55online.news/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C-20/74396-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D9%82%D9%84%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B4%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%85) [The tower of Mohammad Khan Dashti’s Castle in Khormoj and heritage-boundary challenges] (in Persian). *55Online*. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2025.

1. ["Khormoj Castle – Iran Travel Guide"](https://tripyar.com/iran/bushehr/dashti/attractions/ancient-and-historical/historical/khormoj-castle.html). *TripYar*. Retrieved 13 October 2025.

1. ["fa:درباره قلعه خورموج"](https://www.aghayetour.com/aboutiran/citydetail/tourismdetail/450/32/%D9%82%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AC) (in Persian). *AghayeTour*. Retrieved 13 October 2025.

1. Rostami, Houshang & Parsaei Borazjani, Mehrdad (2025). ["Bathhouse of Mohammad Khan Dashti's Castle of Khormouj City, Bushehr"](https://www.sinuspersicus.ir/article_209981_0bb45d5efe7506bec1d212cb5f23afab.pdf). *Sinus Persicus*. **2** (3): 109–123. [doi:10.22034/sp.2025.XXXX](https://doi.org/10.22034/sp.2025.XXXX). Retrieved 13 October 2025.

1. ["fa:درباره قلعه خورموج"](https://www.simaparvazjamejam.ir/fa/user/temp.php?detail=32&detail2=450&irantech_parvaz=tourismdetail) (in Persian). *Sima Parvaz Jame Jam*. Retrieved 13 October 2025.

1. ["List of National Works of Iran (archived register)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150406043613/http://iranshahrpedia.ir/docs/Asar-e%20Sabti%20(Up%20to%2026666)%20(Version%2090%2008%2029).zip) (in Persian). *Encyclopaedia of Iranian Architectural History (Iranshahrpedia)*. Iranian Academy of the Arts & Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. Archived from [the original](http://iranshahrpedia.ir/docs/Asar-e%20Sabti%20(Up%20to%2026666)%20(Version%2090%2008%2029).zip) on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2025.

1. Salter, Mike (2002). *The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower*. Folly Publications. pp. 86–90. ISBN 978-1871731152.

1. Gholamhossein Hadi Nejad Dashti, *Ziyaratgah-ha-ye Ostan-e Bushehr (Shrines of Bushehr Province)*, Vol. 2, Vethaq Publications, Qom, 2009 (1388 SH), pp. 24–25.

1. Ahmad Eqtedari, *Āthār-e Shahrhā-ye Bāstānī-ye Sāhelhā va Jazāyer-e Khalij-e Fārs va Daryā-ye Oman*, pp. 277–278.

1. Interview with Abdolmajid Ravanbad, Khormoj, 24 December 2007.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Khvormuj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khvormuj) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khvormuj?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.