Tehran

The modern powerhouse of the government and its engineers, Tehran (meaning warm slope) was ‎originally a village on the suburb of Rey, Iranian capital until Mongol invasion of the country in 1220 ‎AD, when it population moved to the present site of Tehran.‎

Actually, very little is known of the origin and early history of Tehran. It is possible that it may back to ‎the ninth century AD, but for the first few hundred years of its existence it was an insignificant ‎town, its development being retarded by its proximity to the larger and flourishing Rey (now 7 km to ‎the south of Tehran).‎

With a different in elevation of more than 500 meters, and an officially announced population of ‎‎8,154,051 (according to 2011 census) in an approximate area of 600 square km, modern Tehran is ‎situated on the northern fringe of the great central plateau and at the foot of the southern slope of ‎the impressive mountain chain of Alborz.‎‏

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Sights to See

National Museum of Iran
No visitor can afford to miss the National (Archaeological) Museum of Iran, the country's mother museum established in 1937 together with a group of other monumental buildings for various ministries and government departments. I f make for the Louver on arrival in Paris, this museum is 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.

Glassware and Ceramics Museum
The mansion housing the Glassware and Ceramics Museum, itself a museum is 80 years old. It was built by an Iranian politician named Ahmad Qavam as his personal residence.

National Jewels Museum
The National Jewels Museum (Crown Jewels before the Revolution) was organized by virtue of a legal bill passed in 1937. according to contemporary mineralogists, and gemologists, the treasury of the museum of Jewel is the richest and most dazzling single collection have never been able to summon up interest in precious, stones, this collection in the closely-guarded vaults is a breath taking expires.

Naderi throne-National Jewels Museum

Pahlavi Crown-National Jewels Museum

Darya-e Noor Diamond-National Jewels Museum

Iran’s Carpet Museum
Iran's Carpet 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.

Sa’d Abad palace-Museum
Known as the Sa’d Abad Cultural complex, It occupies an area of 410 hectares.
Actually, it is the greatest cultural complex in modern Tehran consisting of seven palace museums (out of 18, turned into public museums after Revelation).

Sa'd abad Palace gateway

Sa`d abad garden

Green place- museum
Standing on a natural platform and covering an area of 137,329 square meters, the green place- museum was built under Reza Shah in 1925.

Green palace - Sa'adabad Palace

Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art

Inaugurated in 1977, and built adjacent to Tehran's Laleh Park, the museum was designed by Iranian architect Kamran Diba, who employed elements from traditional Persian architecture. The building can be regarded as an example of contemporary art in itself. Most of the museum area is located underground.

It is considered to have the most valuable collection of Western modern art outside of Europe and the United States, a collection largely assembled by founding curators David Galloway and Donna Stein under the patronage of Farah Pahlavi. It is said that there is approximately £2.5 billion worth of modern art held at the museum. The museum hosts a revolving program of exhibitions and occasionally organises exhibitions by local artists.

The gate of Contemporary art Museum

Saloon No. 4 - Contemporary art Museum

Farmer man & woman - Contemporary art Museum

Mellat-Palace-Museum
What is now called the Mellat (Nation's) Palace Museum was previously known as the White Palace. It was built by Reza Shah to be used as his Imperial Court. But finding it majestic indeed, he preferred to make it his residence. Later it was used as both his and his son's Ceremonial Palace.

White House - Sa'd abad Palace

Ethnological Research Museum
Originally serving as the private residence of the last Shah’s brother Mohammad Reza, it was turned in to a museum following the Islamic Revolution.

Golestan and Other Palaces
The Qajars` royal residence, the oldest substantial building in the city, and on of a group of royal buildings.
Golestan place (Rose garden), too, was completed by Fath Ali Shah Qajar. The coronation ceremonies of the last two Kings of the Pahlavi dynasty took place in the first-floor hall.

Golestan Garden

Golestan Palace - Shams ol Emareh

Marble Throne (Takht-e marmar) Golestan Palace

Peacock Throne (Takht-e Tavoos) - Golestan Palace

Hall of Mirrors (Talar-e ayeneh) - Golestan Palace

Niavaran & Saheb Qaranieh Palace
Of greater architectural interest is the summer palace complex of the Qajars known as Saheb Qaranieh (Lord of the Centuries) at Niavaran. This was built by Nasser ad-Din Shah.

Niavaran Palace - Ahmad Shah`s Pavilion

Nice room - saheb gharaniyeh palace

Azadi Tower Cultural Complex
The inverted Y-shaped monumental Banay-e Azadi (Azadi Tower) in the vicinity of Tehran airport, now a symbol of Tehran as the country's capital, and composed of 25,000 facing stone pieces in 15,000 different shapes, was built in 1971 in commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of establishment of the Iranian Empire.

Malek National Museum
Its construction dates back to the late Qajar period. Affiliated to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, its articles on exhibition (precious coins, paintings, rugs, etc) are housed in a one-story building.

13th Aban Museum
This small museum was originally used as municipal stables since the advent of Pahlavi dynasty. Transformed into museum in 1946 and sponsored by the Red Crescent organization, it is crammed solid with various watercolor paintings and bronze figures by the famous modern Iranian sculptor Seyed Ali Akbar-e San’ati.
All status are life-size or larger and the subjects.

Coin Museum
It hoses one of the greatest and most valuable specialized collections of ancient Iranian coins from pre-Islamic (Achaemenian), Islamic, and contemporary periods, as well as foreign coins from all over the world (particularly Phoenician Babylonian, Indian etc).

Coin Museum - Parthian silver coin

Bazaar
Tehran is the greatest of the Iranian markets. Squat and once black in the heart of the city, like a covered railway station, stand the bazaars in the southern part of Tehran.

Imam Mosque
Imam mosque (historically Known as masjid-e Shah or the Royal Mosque), the constriction of which began by Fath Ali Shah Qajar in about 1809. It stands at the northern entrance to the bazaar not far from the Golestan place.

Tamashagah-e Tarikh
Meaning promenade in the arena of history, this is a quite recent museum inaugurated in mide-1996 with a display of ancient and highly interesting variety of artifacts, document, and objects of historic value in a very attractive atmosphere.

Ghazali Cinema Town
Affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Services and covering an area of 10 hectares, the complex was established in 1971, partially simulating old Tehran. It comprises various state and historic buildings, streets, and places of more than 100 years ago decorated by Iranian decorators, particularly Gianni
Cortina.

UrShalim - Ghazali Cinema Town

Old Tehran`s Street

Old Mercedes Benz - Ghazali Cinema Town

Post Museum
This is a very recent museum (established in 1988, to replace another one which existed since 1954). Affiliated with the Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone, the museum is organized in a two-story building plus a basement.

The Wildlife Museum
The Museum of Natural Remains and Wildlife of Iran, Wildlife Museum, is located in Niavaran, Dar Abad, at the far end of northeast Tehran, displaying in taxidermy rare species of animals from around the world, especially southern Africa, in an area of 12,000 square meters of lush green and forested land, away from the tumult of the city, where you can enjoy the real tranquility, fresh air, and the grandeur of nature as well.

Natural History Museum
Established in 1987, this museum is located on the former premises of the Environment Preservation Organization. It is arranged in four floors to display the existing fauna and flora in a chronological order, as follows: evolution of the earth, plants, and the animal kingdom.

Parliament
The former palace of Moshir od-Dowleh, a nobleman at Nasser ad-Din Shah's court, had for many years housed Iran's Majlis or Parliament (Baharestan Square)

Majlis-e Shoray-e Eslami
Formerly Iranian Parliament (Literally meaning the Islamic Consultative Assembly), holds its meetings in an unusual contemporary style building located in Imam Khomeini Avenue, erected in 1960.

Motahari Mosque and College
Historically known as the Masjid-e Sepah Salar (Mosque of the Commander-in-Chief), and serving both as a mosque and a theological college, the Motahari Mosque with its eight minarets set close to each other is the largest and most important mosque in Tehran (3,700 square meters in area).

Parliment & Sepah Salar Musque

Sepah Salar Musque

Reza Abbasi Museum
Housing a valuable collection of arts, paintings, calligraphy and the art of the book, the Museum consists of two divisions: Pre-Islamic and Islamic Galleries.

Decorative Arts Museum of Iran
It was originally established in 1959, while its official activity commenced in 1961, the new building housing the collections gathered and donations made by those interested in the Iranian arts and crafts, comprises four floors and a basement in which the various items are displayed.

Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini
Located at the southern edge of Tehran, the resting-Place (haram-e motahar) of His Holiness Imam Khomeini the late founder and leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran is gradually being developed into one of the greatest Islamic buildings in modern history.

Bahman Cultural Center
Located in the southernmost part of Tehran, the Bahman Cultural Center occupies a vast area. In this cultural center concerts, religious plays accompanied by hymns, and other rituals are performed.

Tehran Metro
The decision to build a metro in Tehran was first made in 1958. However, upon the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and withdrawal of the French contractors, and following the recommendations and emphatic supports of President, the Metro Company (TMC) was reactivated in 1986.

Darband Coastal Park
Located in the northernmost part of Tehran at the intersection of Dar Abad Street and a stream by the same name, this is the only park of Tehran on the riverside.

Park-e Ferdowsi
Located in Niavaran district, at the foot of Kolak Chal mountain, The Ferdowsi Park is the highest park of Tehran and occupies an area about 120,000 sq. m. It was called Park-e Jamshidieh until early March 1997.

Park-e Laleh
Located in the north of Keshavarz Boulevard and formerly used exclusively for parades, it occupies an area of 35 hectares and was constructed in 1966.

Park-e Mellat
Located to the north of vanak square, along Vali Asr Avenue, north Tehran, the Mellat Park with an area of 341,770 sq.m. was originally designed as an English park and constructed during the 1968-75 period.

Park-e Niavaran
Located in northeastern part of Tehran, and called Saheb Qaranieh until 1969, Niavaran Park occupies an area of about 63,000 sq. m. Weather wise, it is one of the most pleasant parks of Tehran. The plants in the park include many varied and exotic species, which attract a great number of researchers in botany.

Park-e Sa`ei
Located in Vali Asr Avenue and to the south of Vanak Square, this is a 12-hectare park designed by a university professor in 1945.

Park-e Shatranj
Located in Ajudanieh Street, Darband Street, North Tehran, it was built in 1991 and covers an area of 3,500 sq. m. literally; the name Park-e Shatranj means the Chess Park.

Excursions around Tehran

Damavand City
Sixty-six km to the east of Tehran, to the right of Tehran-Firuz Kuh road, Damavand is a small town set in a closed-off and well-watered valley below the foothills of Mount Damavand whose cone is not visible from this place.

Damavand City

Mount Damavand

Mount Damavand in Spring

Karaj Town
A growing town 35 km to the west of Tehran, 1,320 meters above sea level, with more than 2.5 million inhabitants, and occupying an area of6,000 square kilo meters, Karaj is situated in the crossroads and starting point of the road to Chalus over Alborz mountains.

Rey City
Closest visit from the capital and some 7 km to the south east of Tehran along the old national road to Qum, is situated the little bustling, holy, and modern town of Shahr-e Rey, or just Rey. The plain surrounding the city is still being irrigated, to some extent, by the ancient Iranian-type of subterranean canals known as the qanats. According to a 10-century geographer, it used to be the finest city in the east, discounting Baghdad. From 5,000 BC to 1200 AD Rey, formerly Raques, or Raga, was a large and important city.

Rey - Ebn-e Babevaye

Rey - Old Locomotive

Toghrol Tower
Also known as the Mongol Tower (because of being the only building in the city which was not destroyed by the Mongol invaders) and facing the Ibn-e Babeveyh Mausoleum, is a huge 20-meter high brick structure slightly embellished with deeply grooved brickwork.

Shrine of Hazrat-e Abd ol-Azim
Hazrat-e Abd ol-Azim, a third-century descendant of Imam Hassan (the second Imam), was martyred in the 9th century AD in Rey.

Cheshmeh Ali
Being a spring, it is famous for its fine flowing water mainly used for carpet-washing.

Harun`s Prison
Locally called Zindan-e Harun, this two-story historical structure 12 km from the Tehran-Mashhad road at the foot of Mesgar Abad Mountains, consists of a rectangular construction built with rough-hewn dark-colored stones and plasters mortar, and has a brick ceiling.

Harun`s Prison

Harun`s Prison-Stepping down from the floor upwards

Varamin Town
Situated in a fertile plain from which the formidable range of Alborz can be seen in all its glory, famous for its cereals, cotton, melons, and wheat production, food processing (cooking oil and sugar refineries), and gradually developing into an industrial town, Varamin is a small town 42 km to the south of Tehran through Rey.

Iraj Castle of Varamin

Varamin mosque - medieval period

Inscription inside Varamin mosque

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