Tehran, August 15: The second phase of restorations to the historically unique village of Makhunik in eastern Iran has been completed.
According to the head of the Makhunik preservation project, Ahmad Borabadi, “The restoration cost about $200,000, which was allocated from the national budget.”
The work, included the replacement of 35 metal drainpipes with stone units which “were sourced from the mountains and rivers.”
The Makhunik Village, located near the Afghan border in the South Khorasan Province, has many unique features, and its inhabitants follow certain unusual customs. For example, until 50 years ago, they did not drink tea, or hunt, or eat meat. To this day, they refuse to smoke tobacco. They refused to permit television sets into their village, which they consider might “cast a spell” on them.
So, these wise choices may have contributed to the longevity of their small community, which number in only hundreds.
They speak Persian, with a distinct accent, and were known as Iran’s Lilliputs, because their heights were often no more than 140 cm (4’7″), although it is said that in recent years their average height has increased.
Makhunik dwellings have a number of unusual features, including having sunken floors, and mostly being dug into the hillsides. The entrances to Makhunik homes have very low openings, which makes it necessary for persons of average height to bend over, before going down one or two steps.
—–Agencies