The Unique Experience of Staying in a Museum
Among all the different places of accommodation and hostels in Kashan, there is one hostel that truly stands out. What the Puppet Museum House offers you is staying at a hostel and a museum, all at the same time. What does the museum exhibit? Puppets, obviously! And what is it that makes this place special? Well, that’s what we want to talk about in this article!
To be more exact, the on-site museum is dedicated to toys and puppets from the past, some belonging to different parts of Iran, and some from other parts of the world. While strolling through the different parts of the house, you may come across an Italian replica of Pinocchio, Tunisian toy soldiers, toys used in Kheimeh Shab Bazi (a traditional Iranian puppet show), and more in a Qajar-era house. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, let’s talk a bit about the different places of accommodation in Kashan first.
Accommodation in Kashan
We posted an article talking all about the city of Kashan a few days ago, which you can read following this link and find out about the different things you can do in the city, and which attractions to prioritize. In there, we mentioned the multitude of historical houses in Kashan, a lot of which have been turned into boutique hotels. If you’re not traveling on a budget, it may be worth staying in the 5-star Saraye Ameriha, the Sang Poloy Boutique Hotel, or the Manouchehri House Boutique Hotel. Now, if it’s low-budget accommodation you’re looking for, you have to look elsewhere.
You can find hostels starting with prices as low as 5 Euros per dormitory bed in Kashan, but our recommendation for those wanting to make the most of their time in Iran and each of its cities, AND are traveling on a budget will always be the Puppet Museum House, where each day you spend can make for a day you’ll remember for a long, long time. One of the best things about this particular Kashan hostel is the puppet shows performed there, and on that note, it’s worth opening a parenthesis here to talk a bit about the history of puppetry in Iran.
Puppetry in Iran
The inspiration behind the Puppet Museum House, puppetry in Iran dates back to at least a thousand years ago. The possible inspiration by shadow puppetry which rose in the far-east is not to be taken for granted, but there is a possibility that the people of Iran were using puppets starting from far earlier; Puppets and dolls with assumed magical properties, which could increase the year’s harvest, rainfall, etc. when a certain ritual is performed.
In more recent years, traces of what we call Kheimeh Shab Bazi can be found in the literature of the 11th century AD. Puppetry has also been called many things and has come in many forms in Iran, but the term Kheimeh Shab Bazi -which usually refers to any kind of string puppetry which is done in a booth- has stuck.
The Puppet Museum House
A house dedicated to puppets, with a collection amassed by one Amir Sohrabi and founded by the same person, the Puppet Museum House offers its service as a museum and hostel at the same time. The accommodation quarters were added for the purpose of creating a more interactive experience for guests who want to learn more about puppetry in Iran or just the concept in general.
The hostel has pretty much everything you could need, such as air conditioners in each room (Kashan’s heat is rather notorious), a communal courtyard -which is always an element that helps you interact with fellow guests, and plenty of tours and events. Most important of all, the Puppet Museum House is located in the very center of Kashan’s historical area, and within walking distance of many historical houses and important attractions. All of this and more make it the perfect Kashan hostel.
Puppet Museum House’s Rooms
Each room in the hostel has its own unique theme, decorated in its accordance. With competitive prices and great services, you’d have a difficult time finding a hostel in Kashan with a better value for money. But again, there’s more to it.
Puppet Museum House’s Services
Aside from the basic services and amenities that we have mentioned, the Puppet Museum House offers a couple of other things that you can’t find in any other hostel. One of them is actually watching a puppet show right in the hostel: It helps you better understand the mechanics and the history of this art form, because, like other dramatic arts, puppetry is only truly appreciated when seen in action.
Another important service that the hostel provides is puppet-making workshops, where, as opposed to the puppet shows, you can learn about the craft and what goes on behind the scenes of an Iranian puppet show.
So, you’re given the opportunity of staying at an old Qajar-era house, where you won’t have to spend a lot of money, and you can learn about an important tradition without even stepping outside your place of accommodation. What are you waiting for? Book your accommodation in the Puppet Museum House now!
You can also read about our favorite hostels in different cities of Iran!
