The city contains the burial site of Sultan Ali (the son of the fifth Imam Muhammad al-Baqir) and the notable modern Persian poet and painter Sohrab Sepehri and is known for its annual Carpet Washing Ceremony.

[2][3] The tomb of Sohrab Sepehri is located in the eastern wing of the Shrine of Sultan Ali, which lies on the slope of a high hill.

The shrine has two magnificent courtyards, a couple of splendid balconies and tall minarets decorated with ceramic tiles.

[5] The origin of the ceremony can be traced back to the time when Sultan Ali (who was invited from Medina to Mashhad Ardehal more than 12 centuries ago) was killed in the city by his enemies.

So for hundreds of years people in their thousands from the surrounding area and beyond (including Qum, Kashan, Nashlaj, Khomein, Mahallat, Saveh, Delijan, Golpayegan, Yazd, and many other towns) have flocked to Mashhad Ardehal to mourn and represent this event each year on the second Friday of the Iranian month of Mehr (early October), since this was the day Sultan Ali was killed.