| TEHRAN
Located in the north-central part of Iran, on the southernslop of the Alborz Mountains, Tehran covers an area of 1500 sq kms.As the capital of the country it is the most populated and the centre of cultural, economical,political and social activities. In the distant past Tehran was but a village containing numerous garden,but in the Safavid period its importance increased,as a result sf which 114 (the numder of the chapters in the quran) towers were built around it. In the regin of Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Qajar dynasty (1779-1925) |
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| TEHRAN'S
POINTS OF INTEREST
The Palace of Golestan, the ornate facade of which is called Shams ol-Emareh, dating back to the Qajar period, has highly impressive halls. The Palace of Saheb Qaraniyeh, in the complex of Niyavaran, with numerous paingings by famous painters, dating back to the Qajar period is of high significance architecturally. The facade of Bagh-e Melli (meaning National Garden) near Tupkhaneh Sq., separating an area containing the buildings of the ministery of Foreign Affairs, the Police Station and the Central Post Office from a main street, dates back to the early 20th century. It is ornamented with tile-mosaic, being of considerable beauty. The Palace of Baharestan, the building of the former National Consultative Assembly, because of its traditional architecture is of great attraction. The museums of Tehran containing numerous invaluable articles are among the most prominent points of interest. The palace-museums of Sa'dabad consisting of anthropological, military, artistic and natural museums have grerat fascination for visitors. Being the palaces used by the Pahlavi dynasty, they stand in a vast garden in the northern Tehran. The Museum of Jewels, in which invaluable jewls including Kuh-e Nur diamond and the Peacock Throne are kept, is really worthwhile visiting. The museums of Contemporary Arts, Pottery and Glass, Crpets and also the National Museum of Iran, Wildlife Museum of Darabad and Museum of Reza Abbasi are among other points of interest. Sports and recreational facilities are available. The Stadium of Enqelab provides facilities for lawn tennis, golf and squash. The Stadium of Azadi, providing facilities for football, water-skiing, boating, hockey, and car and motorcycle racing, is one of the greatest stadiums in the Middle East. In the National Parks of Chitgar and Sorkheh Hesar, located west and east of Tehran respectively, there are courses for cycling, Skiing courses in Bandsar, Shemshak, Tochal, and Dizin can be used in winter ; there is also a grass skiing course in Dizin suitable for other seasons. The parks of Tehran containing lakes, facilities for boating and amusement, restaurants, and places for keeping and exhibition of some species of wild animals are of great attraction, The Parks of Pardisan, Sa'i, Jamshidiyeh, Mellat, Qeytariyeh and Laleh are of more significance. The mountainous areas near the city, the most important of which are Darband, Darakeh, Belenjak and Farahzad, enjoying fresh air and lush vegetation, attract large numbers of people at weekends. There are numerous traditional restaurants, built near rivers and brooks, from which one can see the scenic splendours of the mountains. In Mt. Tochal (3960 meters), to the north of the city, there are cable railways for travelling up and down. There are a number of ways to climb this mountain, including Darband, Darakeh, Manzariyeh and Velenjak. On the way to the peak one can visit some monuments like the tomb of Orus, Shah Castle and the Edifice of Shahrestanak. On the lakes formed behind the Dams of Amir Kabir and Latyan, there are facilities for fishing, boating and water-skiing. Fishing on Lake Tar and Lake Lar and also on the Lar, Karaj and Jajrud rivers is allowed in the case of obtaining licence. Lake Lar is highly suitable for fishing. Every year in the early July a fishing festival is taken place on this lake. Lake Lar and its surrounding areas have been established as a wildlife sanctuary where the hunting of animals and birds and gidhinh str prmitted only in certain seasons. They attract a lot of people when hunting is not prohibited. The Shrine of Imam Khomeyni, the leader of the Islamic Revolution and Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, located south of Tehran is a pilgrimage centre, attracting large numbers of people. In the other cities of Tehran Province also there are numerous sights. The Following are some of the cities with their points of interest. |
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DAMAVAND:
Jame' Mosque, mineral and hot springs, the castle of
Malek, and slopes of Mt. Damavand. SHAHR-E REY: the relics of ancient Rey, a rock relief belonging to the Sassanian period, the Hill of Mil, Harun prison, the Mausoleum of Bibi Shahrbanu, and the shrine of his holiness Shah Abd ol-Azim, the brother of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam of the shiites, the spring of Ali, and tower of Naqqareh Khaneh (a place where the drums are beaten at stated intervals). SHAMIRANAT: the country areas of Fasham, Oshan, Meygun and Lavasanat with fresh air, rivers, numerous springs, and waterfalls are among pleasure-grounds at weekends. KARAJ: the Amir Kabir Dam built across the Karaj River. VARAMIN: Jame' Mosque, the Mausoleum of Imamzadeh Yahya and Soltan Ala ad-Din Tower. |
