Alwand Bridge

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Alwand Bridge

The Alwand Bridge is a historic bridge in Khanaqin, Iraq. It sits in the middle of the city and crosses the Helwan River, connecting the eastern and western sides.

Names and history Our bridge is often called the Alwand Bridge, named after the nearby Alwand Mountain. The river was once known as Alwan, and some people call the bridge Kopri, meaning the arched road. It’s also been called the Stone Bridge because some old stones from a past bridge were used nearby. Many Persian sources say the Sassanids built the original bridge in the 3rd century AD. It had 24 arches and carried the main road from Baghdad to Khorasan, near the Shirin Palace.

Ancient bridge details The old bridge was described by travelers like Yaqut al-Hamawi in the 11th century. He said it had 24 arches, with columns about 20 cubits apart, wide enough to cross and tall above the water. He noted the bridge could be damaged by floods, and parts of it stood close to the present structure.

A royal modern origin A popular local story says the new bridge’s construction began in 1860 after a princess, sister of Shah Mohammad Ali Mirza, passed through Khanaqin in 1855. She faced crossing trouble when the old bridge had collapsed, so she funded a new one. Builders came from Isfahan, wood from Kermanshah, and the project used royal bricks. The architect was Wali Isfahani, with builders Abbas Memar Bashi and Reza al-Banna, and thousands of workers helped. Some legends say sacrifices and special water were used in the building, though these aren’t proven.

After construction The completion was celebrated with charity and feasts, and people used the bridge to travel to Baghdad and religious sites. Over time, parts of the old bridge were changed, including removing the old brick fence and adding iron fencing. A new bridge was built nearby, so the old one could be kept or replaced, and residents moved away.

Modern era and today The Alwand Bridge is very sturdy and can still handle heavy loads, though large vehicles are kept off to protect it. After the fall of Saddam Hussein, the stone fence was rebuilt and the bridge’s beauty was restored.

Structure today The current bridge has 12 openings and rests on tall pillars, with the highest pillar reaching about 12 meters. It sits in the heart of Khanaqin, linking the two sides of the city over the Helwan River.