The shrine of Shah Nematollah Vali, in the small town of Mahan thirty-five kilometres southeast of Kerman, is the tomb of the founder of the Nematollahi Sufi order, who died in 1431. The complex grew up around the original tomb over four centuries, with two large iwans, a tiled dome over the burial chamber, and a set of seven turquoise minarets — added piecemeal in the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi eras.
The central courtyard, with its long shaded arcades and an ancient cypress tree said to have been planted by the saint himself, is one of the most atmospheric Sufi sites in Iran. The tilework on the dome is among the finest of its period. Visit on a Thursday evening if you can — Sufi dhikr ceremonies sometimes take place in the courtyards. Combine with the Shazdeh Garden, ten minutes' drive away.