The result of a study conducted by America's National Health Institute revealed that those visiting religious sites are 40 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure, Tehran-based English newspaper, Iran Daily, reported.
Also, another study conducted by Michigan University showed that those attending religious sites during childhood have positive effects on the people in adulthood.
Iran is home to numerous mosques with unique structures and visiting them could raise one's inner happiness and tranquility.
The followings are some of Iran's unique mosques which are worth visiting to become calm and feel better:
Wooden mosque
The wooded village of Neishabour, in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi, was designed and constructed by Hamid Mojtahedi — an engineer graduate from Berkley University — upon his return to Iran.
The village hosts the world's only wooden mosque with two minarets standing at a height of about 13 meters, which can be seen from afar.
About 40 tons of wood have been used to construct the mosque, which is resistant to earthquakes with magnitudes of up to eight Richter.
Thousands of tourists visit the mosque each year, wherein they can smell the pleasing odor of pine, peer, cherry, walnut and berries as well as experiencing a spiritual ambiance.
The founder of the Mosque, Mojtahedi, has been buried on the northern flank of the mosque.
Largest mosque
Atabak Mosque in Shiraz, has been acknowledged as Iran's largest mosque.
Extending over an area of 20,000 square meters, the mosque was established 800 years ago by Atabak Sa'd Zangi during the Atabakan reign. Atabak built the mosque on ruins of his house. In other words, Atabak destroyed his own house to build a mosque to thank God for the health bestowed to his son.
The mosque served as a venue for revolutionists during Iran's Constitutional Era.
The mosque has four entrances, 24 stone pillars and 36 porches.
Goharshad Mosque
Goharshad is Iran's only mosque that has been constructed by a pious lady.
The daughter of a high-ranking military personnel during the Timurid era, Goharshad decided to build a mosque in Mashhad after she visited the city in her 30s. The money for constructing the mosque was available after she sold her diamond necklace.
Established about 600 years ago, the mosque spreads over an area of 8,000 square meters. It was built by Qavamoddin Shirazi, one of the most skilled architects of those days.
Goharshad, a rich and wealthy woman from a monarchial family, had been recognized as a generous and wise woman who spent large proportion of her wealth to improve the living conditions of poor people.
Goharshad Mosque is one of the most enchanting attractions of Iran, as it enjoys a unique architecture.
One could spend long hours gazing at beautiful tiles that have been used with utmost care.
Smallest mosque
'Flour and Date Mosque' in Ardakan, Yazd province, has been identified as Iran's smallest mosque. The mosque extends over an area of 16.5 square meters. No plasterworks or other decorations have been used in the mosque, preventing it from being ranked among the Islamic era's most distinguished architectures.
There are two stories behind the construction of the mosque: Some think the mosque was established by a businessman who had gone bankrupt. Hence, when residents of Ardakan asked him to build a mosque, he said he was ready to give flour and dates to construction workers instead of money.
As the other story goes, there used to be a mill behind the mosque, which provided residents with flour — driven from palm kernel — during years of famine that had hit the city.
The colorful mosque
Located in Shiraz, Fars province, Nasirol Molk Mosque is Iran's most beautiful mosque with its colorful glasses that cast colorful rays of light at noon.
The mosque was built upon the order of Mirza Hassanali about 100 years ago (during the Qajar era). It took 12 years to be completed. The unique architecture of the mosque, colorful glasses, and delicate layers of gold, applied in the tile-works, have made the mosque one of the most attractive sites of Shiraz.
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