Nasir al-Mulk Mosque: when does the light look like the photo?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: Pink, red, blue and gold light reaches deep inside from 08:00 to 11:45, strongest around 08:00; book the 08:00 slot.
The winter prayer hall has a wall of stained-glass doors facing the courtyard to the south-east. On sunny mornings the light falls through them onto the carpets and columns in the kaleidoscope pattern from the famous photos.
Fri 6 November 2026 · open 08:00–17:00 (approx.)
Book 08:00
Pink, red, blue and gold light reaches deep inside from 08:00 to 11:45, strongest around 08:00; book the 08:00 slot.
| Winter prayer hall windows pink, red, blue and gold | Strong: colour deep inside | 08:00–11:45 Book 08:00 |
|---|
Hour by hour
| Time | Sun | Winter prayer hall windows |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 19° south-east | |
| 08:30 | 24° south-east | |
| 09:00 | 29° south-east | |
| 09:30 | 34° south-east | |
| 10:00 | 38° south-east | |
| 10:30 | 41° south-east | |
| 11:00 | 43° south | |
| 11:30 | 44° south | |
| 12:00 | 44° south | |
| 12:30 | 43° south | |
| 13:00 | 41° south-west | |
| 13:30 | 38° south-west | |
| 14:00 | 34° south-west | |
| 14:30 | 30° south-west | |
| 15:00 | 25° south-west | |
| 15:30 | 19° south-west | |
| 16:00 | 14° south-west | |
| 16:30 | 8° south-west | |
| 17:00 | 2° west |
Tickets
Opening times vary (sources give 7:00 to 8:00); arrive at opening. The effect is strongest from autumn to early spring, when the morning sun is lower.
Through the year
| Month (15th) | Winter prayer hall windows |
|---|---|
| January | 08:00–12:40 · book 08:00 |
| February | 08:00–11:55 · book 08:00 |
| March | 08:00–10:50 · book 08:00 |
| April | 08:00–09:15 · book 08:00 |
| May | 08:00–08:40 · book 08:00 |
| June | 08:00–08:40 · book 08:00 |
| July | 08:00–08:40 · book 08:00 |
| August | 08:00–08:35 · book 08:00 |
| September | 08:00–10:00 · book 08:00 |
| October | 08:00–11:05 · book 08:00 |
| November | 08:00–12:00 · book 08:00 |
| December | 08:00–12:40 · book 08:00 |
Nasir al-Mulk Mosque light by month
Questions
What is the best time to see the light inside Nasir al-Mulk Mosque?
Pink, red, blue and gold light reaches deep inside from 08:00 to 11:45, strongest around 08:00; book the 08:00 slot. That is for 6 November 2026; the time changes through the year, so pick your own date above.
Which months are best for the stained-glass light at Nasir al-Mulk Mosque?
For the winter prayer hall windows, December, January, November give the deepest, strongest colour; May, July, June the weakest. Low sun facing the windows throws colour furthest.
Why does the time of day matter so much?
You may read that light only reaches the middle of a church when the sun is between about 18° and 32° high. The idea behind it is right: the lower the sun, the further its light travels across the floor. The exact band depends on how high the windows are and which way they face, so we work it out for each building instead of using one rule.
What if it is cloudy?
Then there are no coloured patches on the floor or columns, only a soft glow in the glass. Check the forecast the day before and keep a flexible ticket if you can.
Calculated from the sun's position for Shiraz, Iran and the building's orientation measured from OpenStreetMap outlines. Light levels are a geometric estimate: they assume a clear sky and do not model every pillar or neighbouring roof. Opening hours are approximate and can change for services and events; times are local (Asia/Tehran).