Iran: Esfahan's Mesmerising Masjid Imam

Back at the hotel after getting lost, I debated whether or not to go out again that night, recalling the incident in Tehran on my first night there. It was already quite late but I thought that’s the only chance I would have to take photos of Imam Square at night since I’d be flying out to Shiraz the next evening. The one and only logical decision was then made. I took a chance and got out of the hotel again at around 11 p.m. and walked towards Imam Square.

It was cold. It's winter after all. The sky was pitch black and yet I could still feel a taste of fog hanging around me. The street was almost deserted with the occasional cars passing by. And with each passing car, I half expected to be stopped again, like that first night in Tehran.

Alhamdulillah, thank God, nothing of that sort happened.

I walked into one side of Imam Square, the second largest square in the world, and walked along the shops that make up the souq looking for the front entrance of Masjid Imam. Coming from the side, it’s slightly hidden behind the row of shops like it’s trying to hide its beauty from the whole world.

And then, there it was.

Nothing could have prepared me for the moment when I first saw the full glimpse of Masjid Imam. You know when you’ve read about a place so many times, seen the photos countless of other times, and even watched a few documentaries about it on the TV you feel like you already know the place by heart even though you’ve never been there before? And then when you eventually get to see the place in person, you’re just left standing there, transfixed, speechless and simply awestruck? Well, I’m still speechless whenever I think about that moment so I won’t, or rather can’t, say much more about it.

Needless to say, I’m glad that I took the chance and went out to Imam Square late that night.

Now if only these photos could have captured a bit of what I felt during those moments...

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