Uraman Takht (Hewraman Takht): Heart of the Hawraman
- Rezan Babakir
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
Uraman Takht (Kurdish: Hewraman Takht) is the most famous village of Hawraman — the historic heart of that remarkable Kurdish mountain region straddling the Iran–Iraq border. Its stone houses rise in dramatic terraces up an almost vertical slope, tier upon tier, in a landscape so striking that it has become the very image of the Hawraman world.
More than a beautiful village, Uraman Takht is a centre of old Kurdish culture, language, and ritual — above all the ancient Pir Shalyar ceremony held in its lanes each winter. This profile looks at the village, its setting, and its living traditions.
Key Takeaways
• Uraman Takht (Hewraman Takht) is the historic main village of the Hawraman region in western Iran (Rojhelat).
• It lies in the Hawraman mountains of Kurdistan province, near the Iraqi border.
• Its stepped stone houses climb a steep mountainside, with each roof forming the courtyard above.
• It is famous for the ancient Pir Shalyar ceremony held there each winter.
• It is a core part of the Cultural Landscape of Hawraman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.
Quick Facts
Name (Kurdish): Hewraman Takht
Country / Region: Iran (Rojhelat / Eastern Kurdistan)
Province: Kurdistan
Region: Hawraman (Uramanat)
Architecture: Stepped, terraced stone houses
Language: Hawrami (Gorani) Kurdish
Famous Ritual: The Pir Shalyar ceremony
Heritage: UNESCO World Heritage (Hawraman, 2021)
Contents
Where Is Uraman Takht?
Uraman Takht lies in the Hawraman mountains in the west of Kurdistan province in Iran, close to the Iraqi border, deep in some of the most rugged country in Rojhelat. It is the historic centre of the Hawraman region, sharing its world with the terraced villages and towns nearby, from Palangan to the town of Paveh across the ranges.
Reached by winding mountain roads, the village sits in a steep valley among oak forests, walnut groves, and terraced gardens — a place that feels held apart from the modern world.
The Village on the Mountain
Uraman Takht is the supreme example of Hawraman’s famous stepped architecture. Its stone houses are built one above another up an almost sheer mountainside, so that the flat roof of each home serves as the terrace and pathway for the house above. From a distance the whole village looks like a giant staircase of golden stone climbing toward the peaks. Built without mortar in places, from local stone perfectly suited to the slope, it is a masterpiece of traditional mountain building.
The Pir Shalyar Ceremony
Uraman Takht is most famous for the Pir Shalyar ceremony, an ancient ritual held in the village each winter. Commemorating the legendary saint Pir Shalyar and, by tradition, the marriage of his daughter, the festival fills the village’s steep lanes with music, drumming, dancing, and shared meals, drawing visitors and pilgrims from across Kurdistan. It is one of the oldest and most distinctive living rituals in the Kurdish world, and it has made Uraman Takht a place of pilgrimage as well as beauty.
Language and Heritage
The people of Uraman Takht speak Hawrami, part of the Gorani group of Kurdish, which was once a major literary language of the Kurds. The village and its region preserve old customs, dress, and music, and in 2021 the wider Cultural Landscape of Hawraman — of which Uraman Takht is a centrepiece — was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognising both its terraced architecture and the enduring way of life it represents.
Uraman Takht Today
Today Uraman Takht is both a living village and a celebrated destination, drawing travellers to its terraces and especially to its winter festival. Tourism has grown, yet the village holds firmly to its traditions and its tongue. It remains the beating heart of Hawraman — a place where the deep roots of Kurdish highland culture are still visibly, vividly alive.
Timeline
ancient era — Uraman Takht develops as the central village of the Hawraman region.
centuries past — The Pir Shalyar ceremony becomes an enduring winter tradition here.
Ardalan era — Hawrami (Gorani) flourishes as a literary language of the Kurds.
2021 — The Cultural Landscape of Hawraman, centred on Uraman Takht, becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
today — Uraman Takht thrives as the cultural heart of Hawraman.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Uraman Takht?
Uraman Takht (Hewraman Takht) is the historic main village of the Hawraman region in western Iran, famous for its stepped stone architecture and its ancient Pir Shalyar ceremony.
Why is Uraman Takht famous?
It is famous for its dramatic terraced houses climbing a steep mountainside and for the Pir Shalyar winter festival, and it is a centrepiece of the UNESCO-listed Hawraman cultural landscape.
What is the Pir Shalyar ceremony?
Pir Shalyar is an ancient winter ritual held in Uraman Takht, commemorating a legendary saint with days of music, dancing, and shared feasting that draw visitors from across Kurdistan.
Where is Uraman Takht?
It is in the Hawraman mountains in the west of Kurdistan province in Iran, near the Iraqi border.
Related People, Places, and Topics
Hawraman (Uramanat) · the Hawrami (Gorani) language · Pir Shalyar · Paveh · Palangan.
References and Further Reading
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