Rahimabad Ice House

🕰️When was it built?

The building was made in the late Qajar era south of the village of Rahimabad, and as Birjand grew it came within the city. The ice house was added to the National Heritage List on 29 July 2003 as number 9300. Much of the storage pit was destroyed when a street was opened.

🏛️What was it built for?

On cold winter nights, water was let into the freezing area to turn to ice, which was then stored for use in the hot season. The shade wall helped keep direct sunlight off the ice-making area so the ice would melt more slowly.

👀What you will see

• The shade wall is built of brick and plaster and is a key part of the ice house; its job was to cast shade over the freezing area.
• The guard's room stands behind the wall and has several niches; whether you can see inside depends on access.
• The guard's room had a low dome; compare its shape with the round space of the storage pit.
• The remains of the storage pit show part of the old round space; don't enter the damaged part to get closer.

💡Something interesting

At the far end of the storage pit, sarooj was used to seal the joints between the bricks. Building here was not just about putting up a tall wall; the materials and sealing of the pit mattered for keeping the ice too.

🎒Good to know before you go

• View the surviving parts from a safe path, and don't climb the walls or edges to look into the pit.