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About Tehran: the capital of Iran

Tehran

Tehran, the Capital of Iran, is located on the south hillside of the Alborz mountain range with the height of 900 to 1800 m above the sea level.

Tehran climate is greatly defined by its geographical location surrounded by the mountains in the north and by desert in the south. Accordingly, the north of Tehran enjoys a cold and arid weather but the south is largely warm and arid.

Tehran consists of three parts as “Kan“ , ”Markazi“, and “Aftab“; three cities named “Tehran“, “Bomehen“, ”Pardis”; and four rural districts. Demonstrating the traditional and modern architecture, Azadi square symbolized Tehran in the past and Milad tower plays this role, at present. As the capital of Iran, Tehran is a populous city and one of the most significant urban centers in the world experienced the modernity before the other cities of Iran.

Placed in a large area, Tehran is one of the biggest, most significant metropolitans in the world. In other word, it is the center of all affairs, government, politics, economy, culture, work, commerce, history, science, industry and production and it is why people are mostly inclined to immigrate to here and the population is continuously increased.

Locating on the hillside of Alborz mountain chain and near Damavand, the highest volcanic peak of Iran, Tehran embraces the unique attraction and landscapes where one of the most important historical attractions is placed. Tehran residents speak in Persian standard language. Different religious groups live together in Tehran.

Azadi Tower

Azadi Tower (Persian: برج آزادی‎, Borj-e Azadi) is one of the tourist attractions in Tehran, Iran. Due to the proximity of this majestic monument to Mehrabad International Airport, many tourists will be getting acquainted with this place as photography upon their arrival. This tower with its stunning architecture is located in the middle of Azadi Square, the main entrance and exit of the city. Every day, many In-city and out-of-city trips are made through it, so it is marked as the western gate of the city. Azadi Tower was designed around 1971 by Hossein Amanat, a young Iranian architect, and was built by Mohammad Pourfathi.

Milad Tower

Milad tower, a great complex including various parts of technical and cultural varied structures is one of the unmatched tourism centers in Iran. This tower in 12 floors and as the highest telecommunication tower in Iran is visible from every district of Tehran. The construction of this tower lasted 11 years and finished in 1387 SH and has been known as the symbol of Tehran. Iranian–Islamic architecture of this tower and its octagonal structure are the interesting and sensible points of this tower architecture.

Niavaran Palace

Niavaran Historical Garden

Endowed with a fantastic natural and historical beauty, the Cultural-Historic Complex of Niavaran with an area of about 11 hectares is located in the north of Tehran. All monuments in this complex belong to Qajar and Pahlavi Periods.

Qajar Kings at first used this place as their summerhouse. Fathali Shah, the Qajar king, ordered to construct a pleasant garden out of Tehran where has a healthy climate beside the village of “Gorde

vi” or “Gordebeh”. This place was less-extended than nowadays. This garden replaced the reed-bed that was adjacent to the village. The country garden of Fathali Shah that replaced the reed-bed was called Nei (reed) Avaran (growing); it was later entitled Niavaran. A small monument was later built by Mohammad Pahlavi.

Tajrish historical bazaar

The Tajrish historical bazaar is one of the most beautiful attractions in the Tajrish district, with a pleasant climate. It is a large and historical bazaar that starts from the courtyard of Imamzadeh Saleh. Its corridors and rows continue to Quds Square and include collections of shops and stalls.

Tajrish is one of the oldest districts of Tehran; created one of the most evocative and unique places in Tehran, where you can still see narrow alleys and historic houses full of trees.

Golestan Palace

Golestan palace is one of the exclusive historical complexes of Iran established in different times and for different functions. The name is derived from the Golestan Hall, located in the exterior edifice. The construction of this complex was started in Safavid era. Chahar bagh and Chenarestan were built in the north part of the complex at the time of Shah Abbas I and the royal edifice added there but nothing remained today.

The oldest buildings in Golestan complex are Marble Throne Iwan (Iwan-e takht-e Marmar) and Khalvat-e Karimkhani belongs to Karim khan Zand period. The palace has been mostly extended during Qajar era and used as the residence of Qajar kings.

Tehran Grand Bazaar

Tehran Grand Bazaar, located in Tehran, is an amazing labyrinth. It looks like an imaginary old city that is full of twists and turns and labyrinth corridors, each of which seems to be a door to another world. Tehran Grand Bazaar does not seem to be located in the heart of the capital. It looks more separated from place and time, and you should not only go shopping but also go to this unique historical complex with a different perspective.

Qasr Museum Garden

It is one of the oldest palaces of Qajar period and there is a strange story behind it. Qasr-e Qajar (Qasr Museum )was ruined under the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi and replaced by a prison. The strange story is still ongoing so that the former palace and prison has been currently transferred into a garden-museum.

Markov’s prison is one part of Qasr Garden Museum constructed after the 1299 SH coup. In that time, Reza Khan ordered Nicolai Markov to investigate the conditions and choose a proper place for building a prison. This Russian architect has chosen the Qajar palace for doing so. Finally, Qasr Prison was established by Reza Khan in 1308 SH.

Iran National Museum

The National Museum is the most important museum in Iran to hold archaeological collections; research shows that it is established commissioned by Reza Shah to a French architect, Andre Godard. It is began to build on 21 May 1313 Hijri, completed and opened to the public in 1316.

Now the Iran national museum works with two separate buildings as, Ancient Iran Museum and the Museum of Islamic period, with about 300,000 historical objects from different historical periods is the best museums in the world, related to the culture, art and history of Iran. The oldest traces of human presence on the Iranian Plateau, about six hundred thousand years ago, kept in this museum.

The Gate of National Garden

The gate of the national garden (Sardar-e-Bagh-e-Melli) is a magnificent brick gate, decorated with colorful tiles and multiple inscriptions. It is one of ancient symbols of Tehran and had been built under direct order of Reza Shah by Jafar Khan Kashani.

Kashani cooperated directly with German architects and they used Iranian –European architectural styles especially in tile works and Kolah Farangi (kiosk) designs from 1922 to 1925.

Tabiat Bridge

Tabiat Bridge, literally meaning nature bridge, a modern and beautifully structured bridge has become one of the symbols of Tehran during recent years. This unique bridge is built over Modarres highway and connects two of the most popular and large parks of Tehran, Ab o Atash Park, and Taleghani Park.

Treasury of the National Jewels

The incomparable Treasury of the National Jewels (Persian: موزه جواهرات ملی), which is open to public, is a collection of the most expensive jewels of the world, collected over the centuries. In 1937, most of the jewelry was transferred to the National Bank of Iran to be used as collateral for banknotes and collateral of government debt to the bank. With the establishment of the Central Bank of Iran in 1960, this treasure was transferred to the Jewelry Museum of Istanbul junction, Tehran. This treasury has been under the protection of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran up to the present, and many of the royal jewels of Iran from the Safavid, Afshar, Qajar and Pahlavi periods are on public display.

The Glassware and Ceramic Museum of Iran

The Glassware and Ceramic Museum or simply Abgineh Museum is one of the museums in Tehran. This museum is located in a beautiful and historical building belonging to the Qajar period of Iran in a garden with an area of 7000 square meters on two floors and six halls, located in the historic Si-Tir Street. A magnificent octagonal mansion built by the order of Ahmad Qavam, known as Qavam al-Saltanah, one of the Iranian politicians and prime ministers (during the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar and the Pahlavi era). The mansion is a combination of Iranian and European architecture. Its stairs are designed in Russian style. In every corner of this fantastic mansion, the art of Iranian masters can be seen. Wood carved doors and stairs, plaster ceilings and columns and mirror decoration have given this mansion a completely Iranian atmosphere.

Time-Museum-Tehran

Time Museum of Tehran is a magnificent mansion in the north of the capital of Iran, which is located in Zafaraniyeh street. The construction of this mansion backs to the time of Mohammad Shah and Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. The mansion is in fact a historical house which is also known as the House of Hossain Khodadad, Clock Museum, and Time Museum. The mansion was first located in Ferdows Garden and was owned by Moayyer ol-Mamalek, Naser al-Din Shah’s son-in-law. 

Darakeh River Valley

Darakeh River Valley (Persian: رود دره درکه) is one of the rivers in the northwest of Tehran, which originates from the southern slope of Tochal Peak. It is important to note that this river is not seasonal and is present throughout the year. Darakeh River Valley is one of the seven valuable river valleys in Tehran. The existence of the Darakeh River has created many old recreational places in Tehran. It is like a breath of fresh air for the people of Tehran. Darakeh River Valley has created many waterfalls along its route. 

 

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