For many of us, the main reason behind traveling to a particular place is not just to visit the man-made attractions but also to explore its ethos.

There are several countries in the world that have a diverse culture that has intrigued many of us and also been a major crowd puller of tourists from all over the world.

There are two such countries that have their own unique cultures: Iran and Nigeria.

If you are looking for the best cultural places in Iran and Nigeria, you are in the right place.

We will talk about the different and unique cultural places in both these amazing countries, which you can then visit the next time you are traveling there.

Best Cultural Places in Iran and Nigeria

Iran and Nigeria are two countries that are abundantly blessed with several cultural places.

We will be listing some of the top and most popular ones in each country.

Best Cultural Places in Iran

Persepolis

Considered to be one of the most magnificent ancient cities in the world, this is a place with stone-bound beasts, soaring columns, and architectural splendor.

Persian King Darius I built this royal city, which sits at the foot of the Kuh-e Rahmat (Mountain of Mercy) back in 518 BCE.

This place comprises of throne rooms and palaces.

It is considered to be a majestic symbol of the monarchy that was perched on the myths of spirituality and sovereignty.

This place was looted and burned partially by Alexander the Great’s invading army in 330 BCE.

The ruins of this place now remain a monument to the great Persian Empire.

Bam

Bam was a fortified city that was at the crossroads of the trade route that carried cotton and silk from the east to the west back in the 7th and 11th centuries.

This fortified town shares a resemblance to a medieval castle.

However, instead of using stones, the builders created its forts and domes of layers and bricks that were made from the mud of the desert.

Littered around the core of the citadel are some of the country’s earliest underground irrigation channels and mausoleums.

Though this place is now in ruins, the underground canals are known to run with water even today, which is considered as a testament to the innovation by humans in a harsh and dry land.

Imam Mosque (renamed so after the 1979 revolution).

Sited in Naqsh-e Jahan Square is the Imam Mosque (renamed so after the 1979 revolution). It is decorated with elaborate tiles and also registered as a Unesco World Heritage site.

Golestan Palace

Situated at the center of Tehran, the Golestan Palace is a true Persian masterpiece of craftsmanship and architecture, which is why this was the Iranian seat of government in 1779 CE.

The Golestan Palace is a complex that is made up of 17 palaces, halls, and museums.

Each of them is graced with intricate artwork, which includes the Marble Throne, shining mirror-work, lavish terraces that were used for the crowning royalty, and chandeliers similar to those in the Diamond Hall and Brilliant Hall.

On the outside, this palace is surrounded by the royal garden, which is watered by the canals underground.

All that water also pools on the inside of the Karim Khani Nook, which is a part of the former King’s private residence.

There’s also the Pond House, which was a summer chamber that was used during the Qajar era by the rulers.

Azadi Tower

Also known as the Freedom Tower, the Azadi Tower is a major landmark in this country.

It was erected in Tehran in 1971.

This is a 148-foot tall structure and was made using 8,000 blocks of marble that were dug from the Isfahan Province’s stone quarries.

This was considered groundbreaking for its time, as its woven surfaces were modeled by using the early computers, which then cost about six million dollars.

The basement houses spectacular works of enamel, marble, gold, ceramic, and many paintings.

Best Cultural Places in Nigeria

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Groves

The sacred groves of Osun, which is considered to Yorubaland’s one of the most popular deities and the goddess of fertility, is located on the outskirts of Osogbo.

This is a little over 200 kilometers away from the city of Lagos.

The groves dotted by the shrines, artworks, and sculptures, basically show us a time when the people there dedicated the areas on the outside of their settlements to the deities, and these areas are considered to be very sacred.

The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Groves are themselves located in a very thick and dense forest.

It is considered to be one of the primary high forests in the southern part of the country.

Idanre Hills

The Idanre Hills can be found in the Ondo state located in the southwest region of the country.

This is roughly 300 kilometers away from the city of Lagos.

There are about 680 steps on this hill right from the bottom to the peak.

You will find mysterious handwritings that are etched into these rocks, and none of them have ever been decoded.

There is also a magical footprint on the hill that can fit any foot that is put into it.

The Idanre town also has several other historical sites, which include the first primary school building that was built back in 1896; this school still continues to stand to this very day.

There is also a law court with an adjoining prison built by colonialists in 1906.

The hills of Idanre was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the cultural category back in October 2007.

Ogbunike Caves

The caves of Ogbunike can be found in the valley of a tropical forest in the southeastern part of the country in Anambra state.

The descend into this valley is a very long walkway of 317 steps that were constructed by the state government.

The Ogbunike Caves has several tunnels and 10 inner chambers; some of these are also interlinked.

There are a number of streams that flow into this cave, and a different stream inside that flows out into the river Nkissa.

This cave has an important and spiritual significance to the local people out there, and there is a festival celebrated to commemorate this cave’s discovery.

While the main occupants of this cave are bats, you will also find several other animals in the tropical rainforest vicinity, which includes porcupines, snakes, and antelopes.

The Millennium Park 

This park is located in the Maitama district and  was inaugurated by her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 2003.

Cultural Places in Iran and Nigeria

Conclusion

These best cultural places in Iran and Nigeria are sites you definitely must visit if you are visiting these two countries.

They are all beautiful, and you will definitely learn a lot about the history of men from them.