Hormuz Island: Top 5 tourist attractions

Just Imagine to step into a World where the sands shimmer with Vibrant and Different Colors and the Sea tells the tales of Ancient Mariners. In this article you will find that so let’s continue with our article on Hormuz Island.

Welcome to Hormuz Island, Known as A hidden gem of The World in the Persian Gulf. It is also spelled as Ormoz, Ormuz, Hormoz, or Ormus. Hormuz Island has area of 16 square mile or 42km sq. It is Located on the Strait Of Hormuz, and 8km off the Iranian coast and this Island is also a Part Of Hormozgan Province.

The Island was Sparsely populated but after 20th century it got some development. The Island and its Beaches have Reddish Ochre which is Known as Golak which attracts Tourists. Some Satellite images shows that it has Concentric Arrangement of the Rocks by which Hormuz Island is also called a Salt Diapir. The Geological age of the Hormuz Island is of more than 600 million Years and the life of its Water is of more than 50 thousand years.

Southern Coast of Iran is known for its aridity and Salty Sea Water. The Island’s wild bird and amazing waterways attract many Tourists. Forest of Mangrove Trees and Sea Forest are also famous in Hormuz, Some times most of the Sea Forest Tress get submerged in the Seawater but they continue to survive. There are some Grassy Area that grows without the need for Fresh Water. In some stories this is said that this plant is grown from Adam’s Tears.
This Island has been designated as an Important Bird Area IBA by Bird Life International.

History of Hormuz

Several stones are discovered at the eastern shorelines of the Island which gives the evidence for human presence on the island. Some lithic scatters was found at a site called Chand-Derakht, which is uplifted marine Pleistocene terrace. This site is yielded a Middle Paleolithic lithic assemblage characterized by Levallois method and dates are found of back over 40,000 Years. This Island is known as Organo to the ancient Greeks and it is knowns as Jarun in the Islamic Period, accuired the name of “Hormuz” from the important Harbour Town Of Hormuz (Ormus) on the mainland 60 km away, which become a center of a minor principality on both sides of the strait.

The principality paid tribute to the Mongol-ruled II-khanate and was an important source of income from maritime trade. Around 1300, the ruler of the Town decided to shifts their residence to the Island. In order to evade attacks by Mongolian and Turkish groups from the Interior. After some time the Ruler made peace with II-khans. Abd Allah AI-Lawati also visited the Island and New Hormuz between the period of thirty years from 1325 – 1354.

In 1550s the Island became an emergency stopover point for The Portuguese ships which are traveling to Goa, Gujarat, and Nearby Kishm (Qeshm which is an Arrow shaped Iranian Island in the Strait Of Hormuz).

Abbas I of Persia is considered one of the most Important rulers In Iranian history and known as The Greatest ruler of the Safavid Dynasty. He distrusted the local population of Island and He was not interested in maintaining the Island as a trading center or military post.

Instead of developing this Island he developed the nearby mainland port of Bandar Abbas which is a city in the central District of Bandar Abbas Country. After this Hormuz went into decline. But how ever Island continued to export small quantities of rock salt and lumps of Iron Oxide which are used as Ballast Stones for Sailing Ships.

Hormuz Island Attractions

As we have previously talked about the discovery and importance of Hormuz island so, it has many popular tourist attraction but here we are only writing about top 5 tourist attractions in Hormuz Island.

Red Beach

The Red Beach is One Among The Hormuz Island’s various rocky sand beaches with their mysterious sea caves. Island’s Red Soil has a high economic value and also has high demand and exported for several years but now the exports have become limited because of the loss of this unique and limited Soil.
The most mysterious thing about the beach is that the soil color changes as you walk or ride on it and you can visit a unique red edible soil with other 70 colorful minerals in this Hormuz Island.
Walking along the shore will encounter areas where sand glitters with metal compounds.

Dr. Nadalian Museum

Nadalian Museum or The Museum of Dr Nadalian in Hormuz Island which is known as the Museum and Gallery of Ahmad Nadalian. This Museum shows the work of Ahmad Nadalian whose work had been shown Internationally in many Galleries. This Museum was created In March 2009 that time the name of this Museum was as the Paradise Art Centre and got renamed in 2012 to Nadalian Museum.

His Rock Carvings and many environmental art project not only his work, but also work of local women, bones of sea creatures are Displayed in this Museum which make it a perfect spot an oceanographer.
In this museum Dolls are also made of Recycled Materials.

Majara Residence

Majara which means Adventure in Persian Language. Majara Residence is a Sea Side living complex in the Hormuz Island. These Building consists of 200 Colorful domes of different sizes and shapes. Built Using Super adobe Sandbag technique with participation of the local population of the Island.
Some Domes are Interconnected which have capacity of hosting up to 85 Guests. It also have public facilities such as cafes and restaurants.

Majara Residence was the First Major Eco Touristic Hotel on the Island.
It was Built in 2020. Its designed is based on Tehran Architectural. It is recognized internationally with several Awards.

Hara Forests

Hara Forests or Mangrove Forests of Hormuz are the Mangrove forests on the Iran’s Southern Coast.
Dominated by the Species Avicennia Marina locally known as “Hara” or “Harra” tree. The forest represent an ecological resource.

These trees grows their height from three to eight meters. It have bright green leaves. It have long, narrow, oval leaves of tree have nutritious valu for roughly equivalent to barely and Alfalfa.
Before many Centuries The Indian Elephant and Syrian Elephant once lived in the Region of Hormuz.

Fort of Our Lady Of The Conception

Fort of our Lady of The Conception or Fort Nossa Senhora da Conceicao it is also known as the Portuguese Castle. It is a only Red Stone Fortress On Hormuz Island.
It is one of the Last Surviving Monuments from The Portuguese Colonial Rule. The Original Site is on the North Shore of the Hormuz or the Gulf, about 30 miles east of the Bandar Abbas.

Around 1300, In response to the attackers from the Tartars, it was moved to the small Island Of Gerun, which is now known as The Organa Of Nearcho which is about 12 miles west and 5 miles from the coast.
Order to build this castle was ordered by that time Portuguese Commander Afonso de Albuquerque in 1507 at that time his forces seized this Island for short time from that time this fort is named “Fort Of Our Lady Of Victory”.
He came back in 1515 and reconquered the Island then he completed and renamed the fort.

Conclusion:

Hormuz Island is a destination perfect for every traveler, weather you are interested in beaches or in ocean or you are a traveler interested in history it is perfect for all . Whether one seeks a serene getaway or a deep dive into the island’s storied past, Hormuz presents a destination where nature and history beautifully converge, offering an unforgettable experience to all who visit. Then get ready and pack your bags for a beautiful journey towards Hormuz Island for more details you can visit Iran tourism official website , Don’t forgot to share your thoughts with us by commenting . Thank you for reading . Happy Journey!

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