Tehran, Iran

In less than two centuries Tehran has grown from a tiny village to become a capital of one of the world's famous countries. Visitors of all nationalities say:" Tehran has a unique and fascinating character", though they find it hard to explain to visitors exactly what it is…

Tehran with 12,000,000 population, was designed in 18th century, by Agha Mohammad Khan (Progenitor of Ghajar dynasty.) It is a big city with a friendly atmosphere, a wealth of leafy parks, divers, museums, traditional teahouses and various style buildings.

Places of interest:

1- Museums:

•The Jewellery Museum: the world's most exotic of Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Saphires, Pearls and Gold and mostly the Darya-ye-Noor (182 Carat), one of the two largest Pink exhibition, Diamond in the world, in the vault of the central bank. The National Jewels Museum (Crown Jewels, Before the Revolution) is located in Bank-e-Markazi Iran building, Ferdowsi Ave.
•The National Museum: contains items dated back to 4000 B.C., a very fine-collection of Islamic arts. No visitors can afford to miss the National (Archaeological) Museum of Iran, located in Imam Khomeini Ave., the country's mother museum established in 1937. If you make for the Louvre on arrival in Paris, this museum is your spiritual home in Tehran, where objects unearthed during recent excavations are to be found side by side with objects representing the great periods of history and pre-history.
•The Contemporary Art Museum: At the northwest corner of Park-Laleh (Tulip Park) in central Tehran, one can find the Contemporary Arts Museum wherein art works and photographs by the contemporary expert masters are displayed.
•The Carpet Museum: Located to the north of the Contemporary Arts Museum with an area of 3,400-sq. m was inaugurated in 1977. It comprises of two halls and a vast basement where varieties of hand- woven fine and coarse carpets of the country are displayed.The faced of the Museum resembles the wooden frames on which carpets are woven.
•The Abgineh Museum: The mansion housing the Glassware and Ceramics Museum, itself a museum is 80 years old. An Iranian politician named Ahmad Qavam as his personal residence built it. Standing in a garden covering 7,000-sq. m, it used by the owner until 1953 when it was sold to the Egyptian Embassy. The articles on display are divided into five categories of 1-Glass and ceramic artifacts dating back to the second and first millennia BC. -2- Crystal ware belonging to the first millennium BC. -3- Glass & Ceramic artifacts from the 9th -13th centuries AD are exhibited. -4- The artifacts exhibited comprise the inscribed vessels from the 10th - 13th centuries AD, including various gold-tined, turquoise-colored and white-slip-glazed items. -5- where glassware and ceramics from 12th - 19th centuries are on display.
•More than other 15 museums: such as Green Palace in Niavaran Park, Saheb Gharanieh & Niavaran museumes,Reza Abbasi, Dafineh, Anthropology, Post, Modern Art and etc…
2- Palaces:

•Golestan Palace: This palace was constructed in the year 1268 AH. under the order of Naseredin Shah. This palace is comprised of the entrance along with various pavillions, such as mirror, diamonds, ivory and crystal pavillions as well as Salam pavillion in which the famous ‘Takht-e-Tavoos’ or ‘the Peacock Throne’ that Nader Shah took as ransom from India in his conquest in 1739, is placed. This throne has seven jewelled stands with two steps. On its back there is a statue of a dragon. It has a delicate back seat which is ornamented by beautiful inscriptions. Shamsol Emareh Edifice- closed to Golestan Palace- was built in the year 1284 AH. under the orders of Naseredin Shah by Mo'ayerol Mamalek. Shamsol Emareh is a tall edifice with two towers which has been recently repaired and renewed.
•Saheb Gharani-e Palace: Of greater architectural interest is the summer palace complex of the Qajar's kings known as Saheb-Qaranieh (Lord of the Centuries) at Niavaran. hran. Hauz-Khaneh, Korsi-Khaneh, Jahan Nama and Mirror pavillions, are worth mentioning sections which are adorned with beautiful and valuable paintings and articles.This was built by Nasser- ad-Din Shah and, as compared with Golestan Palace, shows considerable advanced in design and the influence of European, notably Russian, taste. Relatively low building somewhat rococo in style; its white colonnaded porticoes give it a Colonial air, yet have the quality of stage scenery. This Place was constructed during the reign of Fathali Shah, amidst one of the palaces of Niyavaran aggregate located to the north-east of Tehran.Hauz-Khaneh, Korsi-Khaneh, Jahan Nama and Mirror pavillions, are worth mentioning sections which are adorned with beautiful and valuable paintings and articles.
•Sa'ad Abad Cultural complex: Bounded by Velenjak to the north and Kolak-Chal to the east,it occupies an area of 410 hectares. Actually, it is the greatest cultural complex in modern Tehran consisting of seven palaces museums(out of 18, turned into public museums after the Revolution), not all open at the same time. However, they are all clearly marked and signposts in English. No Photography permitted. This palace was the residence of the Ex-Shah and his relatives before revolution.
•Niavaran Palace: The Ex-Shah's official palace.
•Morvarid palace: The residence of Shams, sister of Ex- Shah
3- Bazaar: Tehran Bazaar is a must, particulary for those who Never seen an oriental market with fine carpets, gold and Aromatic spices (unknown to most visitors)

4- The Cine City: The maquette of old Tehran in an area of 2000 sq.m. located 45 km West of Tehran

5- Mosques & Mausoleums: The Imam Mosq. /The Sepah Salar Mosq. /The Imam-zadeh Saleh Shrine and etc…

6- Churches:

•Saint Tatavous Church:This church is one of the most ancient churches of Tehran, constructed at the end of the 12th century AH. or the year 1178 AH. In this church a few Armenian personalities as well as foreigners have been laid to rest.
•The Armenian Churches: old church is located at Mirza Kouchek-Khan Ave. and new one stay at Corner of Ostad-Nejat-ollahi Ave. Karim-Khan Blvd. The Orthodox,Protestant, and other and all other Christendom belief churches are active in their mission in Tehran.
7- Holy city of Qom: The Holy shrine of holiness's "Masoumeh"the sister of Imam Reza (Shiite 8th Imam). The visiting of non-Moslem is forbidden. (110 km of Tehran).

8- Old city of Rey and the shrine of Imam Khomeini (25 km South of Tehran): Ray is one of the oldest cities of Iran. About 300 BC, one of the successors of Alexander (Solukus) named Ray as "Oriyoos". Thereafter the Parthians named the same "Arsakia" and "Arshakiyeh". During the reign of the Sassanids ‘Ray’ found its current name.In the Islamic era this city was the ruling center of ‘Bani Omayeh’ clan and during the Mongol and Teimoorian conquests claimed to be an area of invasion for several times. Ancient relics of this city which are mentioned in this text indicate the historical antiquity of Ray.

9- Sport resort near closed to Tehran:

•Dizin: Standing at an attitude of 3,800 m. above sea-level in the Chaloos road, it is at a distance of 60 km from Tehran. This vicinity offers caoching facilities as well as tennis courtyards, volleyball grounds, a park for children, slope for skiing on turf, some altitudes for mountain climbing and walking as well as riding and some routes for cycling. The region has six restaurants.
•Shemshak: This slope which is 3000 m. in length is situated 3,600 m. above sea level, and located 58 km north-east of Tehran. The suitable skiing season begins around the third week of December lasting till late April. This slope has two rest houses.
•Ab-Ali ski resort: The slope stands at an attitude of 2,800 m. above sea-level in the Haraz Road and at a distance of 50 km from Tehran.
•Tochal Slope, Tehran:This slope being 3,500 m. above sea-level is located in the fifth station of Tochal Tele Cabin. At the end of this station there are also many restaurants and resting facilities.
•Other skiing resorts are as follows: Darbandsar Slope (north-east of Tehran), Khor Slope (Karaj - Chaloos Road), and the turf skiing course of Dizin in Chaloos Road.The best season for skiing in this area is from late December till mid March.are accessible by 2 hours car driving. All necessary skiing equipment are rentable.
* Karaj-Dam Lake with boating and Surfing abilities: is access-ible by Karaj Express way at 70 km west of Tehran.
Damavand top on Alborz Mountain: the second high is Asia after Himalayas, is climbed with professional and Amateur climbers yearly is located at 65 km east of Tehran.

10- Parks:

•Mellat Park: located to the north of Vanak Square north of Tehran close to Valiasr Road with an Area of 341,770 sq m,was originally designed as an English park and constructed during the 1968-75.
•Jamshidieh Park: Located in Niavaran district, at the foot of Kolak-Chal mountain, North of Tehran is occupies an area of about 120,000 sq m. This is first rock garden in Iran,
•Niavaran Park: located in northeast part of Tehran,which is occupies an area of about 63,000 sq. m.The style of the park is a cross between the oriental and English garden, In additional to its atural beauty, a green house, a public swimming pool, a cultural center form other features of the park, and an outdoor amphitheater in the park represent another facility which can be used for play and theatrical activities.
•Shatranj Park: located in Ajudanieh district, north Tehran, it was built in 1991 and covers an area of 3,300 sq m. Literally, the name Park-e-Shatranje means the Chess Park. On entering the park, one will see: old trees, castle-like halls,
pathways paved with black and white stone tiles, and an attractive clock.The sight of this beautiful and magnetic collection of elements gives the impression of entering a large chess board. Along the main pathways, on parts paved with black and white stone tiles, you can see chess pieces. In additional to their decorative aspects, a game of chess may be played whit them.
11- Holy City of Qom

Quick Link » Tehran City Map


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