GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT IRAN

Iran was settled some 3500 to 4000 years ago by Aryan people who migrated from the region around the oral sea. With an area of 1.648.195 sq.km. ( 16th largest country in the world ) , Iran is situated in the Eastern portion of the Northern hemisphere, in South West of Asia. Iran is a Mountainous Country, so that, mountains cover more than of the Country?s area.

Iran because of it's varied topography has a variety of climates but generally speaking it is said to have a continental of climate which is indeed true of a major part of it is interior. rainfall of Iran is rather scantily and this applies particularly to the plateau section of the Country.

This Country with a total population of 58.110.227(1992), is the 15th populous Country in the world. This Country is an offer to tourists of the world.

TEHRAN

This province, is of the smallest and the most populous in Iran, and it?s centre (Tehran) is situated at the foot of the Alborz mountains. The most important interesting places in Tehran are:

Museums: Iran Bastan (Archaeological), Carpet, National Jewels, Stamp & Coin, Ethnological and... . and also Palaces including: Golestan, Marmar, Niyavaran, and sad abad. Shahid Motahari ( Ex. Sepah Salar ) mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Tehran, this building started in 1296 AH. (1878 AD) by Mirza Hossien khan-e-Sepah Salar Gazvini , after whose death it was completed by his brother. One of the well - known Squares in the centre of Tehran is Maidane Vali asr, which is also a famous shopping centre. we Also invite you to see the beautiful building of Sarkis Church in Karim khan-e Zand Ave., it started in 1964 and was completed in 1970.

WE WISH MOST HAPPIEST DAY IN TEHRAN FOR YOU.

ISFAHAN Land Of Art And Culture

No city in the World could be compared with Isfahan in Introducing the world of arts. That is because, Isfahan possess 150 other historical works and monuments besides the great monument of masjed-e Imam (Imam mosque) which by itself is an Islamic museum of architecture.

Aliqapu and Masjed Jamie(Jamie mosque) are among the most beautiful post- Islamic works of art in Isfahan. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the architecture and Tile work masterpieces of the 11th century AH, (17th ad.), which has courts or minarets and its dome is one of the most beautiful domes of the Islamic world. It took 17years to build.

We Can Also Name Other Places Of Interest Such As:

Chahar Bagh School, Imam Square ( Naqsh-e jahan ), Shaking minarets ( Minar-e-Jonban ), Chehel sotun ( Forty Column ) palace, Vank Church, and old bridges in Isfahan (Shahrestan, khaju, Juei,

Sio-Se-Pole, marnan)
 
 

SHIRAZ

The Capital of Fars province is the world famous historical and beautiful city of Shiraz; the birth and resting place of the greatest Persian poets, Hafez and Sa?adi. This makes the city one the most important tourist attractions of the Country. Shiraz is about 900 km. away from Tehran at an altitude of 1540 meters above sea level.

Shiraz In History:

The name Shiraz has been mentioned in the clay tablets available at the Persepolis treasury. This city is located next to the ancient city of Estakhr. Shiraz was mainly flourished and developed in the post-

Islamic period. The architectural structure of the city?s older neighbourhoods mark its ancient historical background.

The city witnessed the peak of its prosperity at the time of Karim Khan when it became the country?s capital. the city?s modern fabric has found a new beautiful outlook with large streets, modern buildings

and a grand university. Shiraz is the birth place of many great Iranian men of science and letters

including Sibovaih, Sa?di, Hafez, Molla Sadra and Gha?ani. It is owing to the same scientific and cultural background that Shiraz has been named Darul - elm (the house of knowledge).

The Sights Of Shiraz:

A through visit to Shiraz takes more than a few days. However, the sights to see in this pleasant and charming city may be summarised as follows:

The Tombs Of Poets: The tombs of Hafez and Sa?adi located in the two worthy and pleasant gardens by the names of Hafezieh and Sa?dieh are visited everyday by thousands of Persian poetry and literature. the tomb of Khaju, the 14th century poet is also located in Shiraz at Tang-i-allahu Akbar.

The Holy Shrines: The magnificent holy shrine of Hazrat Seyed Mir Ahmad, son of Imam mussa (PBUH) the seventh Imam of the Shiite sect better known as Shah-i-Cheragh which is a major site of Shiite pilgrimage has lent a certain religious significance to Shiraz. There are also a number of other holy shrines in Shiraz including those of Hazrat Seyed Mir Mohammad - Shah-i- Cheragh?s brother, hazrat Seyed Aladdin, Hazrat Shah Mir Ali Hamza and Imamzadeh (the son of Imam) Ibrahim. Meanwhile, Christian and Jewish minorities have their own churches and synagogues in Shiraz.

The Gardens Of Shiraz: Shiraz has always been famous for its pleasant gardens, tall cypress trees and heart ravishing rose gardens. The most well - known gardens of Shiraz are Eram garden with its enchanting building, Delgosha & Afif abad gardens.All of these gardens are holiday resorts for both the people of Shiraz and the tourists that come to this city. They are all remarkable examples of the art of Persian gardening.

Public Buildings: There are many beautiful old public buildings in Shiraz. The Koran Gate (Darvazeh Koran), Sara -ye- Moshir, Vakil Bazaar, the Karim Khan Fortress (Arg) and the Narenjestan Building are just some of them.

PRE ISLAMIC HISTORICAL MONUMENTS: The highly significant Persepolis complex that dates back to the time of the Achaemenids, Naqsh-e-Rostam (including the tomb of Achaemenid kings, Sassanid epigraphs and relieves, and the Zoroastrian kaba monument ) in the vicinity of Syrus the great tomb Morghab plain, are among the important sights of Shiraz and Fars.
 
 

Khorassan Province

The historical and the famous province of Khorassan is the country?s largest province with an area of 314.000 sq. kms. It is bounded on the north by the Republic of Turkmenistan, on the east by Afghanistan, on the south by the provinces of Kerman and Sistan & Baluchestan, and on the west by the province of Yazd, Isfahan, Semnan and Mazandaran. The word Khorassan means ? where the sun rises?, i.e. the east.

Khorassan In History:

The vast territory of Khorassan once covered parts of today?s Afghanistan , Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan when it was called the greater Khorasan. Khorasan has been the cradle

of the Persian language and the civilisation of eastern Iran.

Socially and politically it has always had an extraordinary importance in the organisation of the Iranian state. In the post - Islamic period, Khorasan was the first place where men like abu

Muslem and Taher Zulyami began their struggle for independence against the influence of the Umavid and Abbassid khalifs . Cities like Marve , Bukhara , Samarkand and Balkh were the capitals of Taherain, Samanid, Ghaznavid, Seljuk and Kharazmshahian state and the centre for the expansion of the Persian language and culture. Khorassan was destroyed by the invasion of Mongol, but stood against the invaders with uprisings and movement like Sarbedaran.

Enemy troops again invaded Khorassan during the reign of Afshars and, Qajars; and finally some major parts and cities of it were separated from Iran and annexed to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, during the expansion of the British and Russian colonical influence in Iran.

Khorassan Today

As the country?s largest province, Khorassan today is one of the major economic and social centres of Iran . its economy is particularly flourishing because of the importance of the holly shrine of Imam Reza (PBHD) , the eighth Imam of the Shiite sect, which attracts lots of pilgrims to the centre of this province.

Mashad

The holy city of Mashad, with the shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH), the eighth Imam of the shiite sect as its focal point, is located in a distance of 850 kms. from tehran. Millions of people pay pilgrimage to the holly shrine, undoubtedly the largest and most magnificent of its kind , every year. Before the city became know as Mashad, i.e., the place where the Imam was martyred in the year 203 A.H(Hejri), it was a small place by the name of Sanabad in the vicinity of the old city of Tus. The city of Mashad and its suburbs have a population of more than two million people. The city?s climatic condition is varied with very cold winters, usually mild summers and pleasant springs and autumns.

The Sights Of Mashad

The magnificent holly shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) and the historical and artistic complex attached to it including the courtyards, portico?s and porches, the Goharshad Mosque (of timurid period) as well as its rich museum and library are the most significant sights to be seen by any visitor and pilgrim. There is a magnificent golden dome over the shrine?s building; surrounded by several porches. The Grand Goharshad Mosque is located at the south of the Shrine, the museum. Other besides than a number of large beautiful parks, the other sights of Mashad are the tomb of Nader Shah, the national park, Kooh -e Sangi pool and recreation centre. among the other sights are the tomb of the great poet Ferdowsi in Tus, 24 kms. away from Mashad; and the summer resorts at Torghabeh, Torogh, Shandiz . Mashad is a tourist city with many hotels of various categories as well as a great number of guest houses for the pilgrims who come to this city everyday by tens of flights, trains and buses.
 
 

KERMAN

Kerman Province : With an area of 193.000 sq.kms. Kerman is one of the largest Provinces of Iran. Kerman city with a height of 1755 m. is located on a high margin of Kawir-e-Lut, this city is not a densely populated province owing to the nature of its lands , its dry climate and the long distance is currently 1.700.000 people living in ten cities of Kerman : Jiroft, Bam, Rafsanjan, Kouhnouj, Sirjan, Zarand, Baft, Shahr babak and Bardsir. There language is Persian with a delicate Kermani accent.

A majority of the people are Muslims, however, Religious minorities, particularly Zoroastrians have been living in the area since a long time ago. Turkish and Baluchi languages are also spoken among some nomadic tribes of the Region. The people of Kerman are friendly and hospitable and committed to their rich national and religious traditions and customs.

The Sights And Historical Monuments In Kerman:

The historical monuments of Kerman include among other monument, the Ganj-Ali-Khan complex including the Bath, School, Bazaar, and Caravanserai. The Ebraham khan complex including the school, bath and ghaysariyeh, the vakil bazaar and Sray, the 14th century grand Jamie Mosque, the 11th century malic mosque, the 12th century pamenar mosque, Moshtaghiyeh dome ( the tomb of Moshtagh- Ali Shah), the Jabaliyeh Dome, Ghaleh Dokhtar, the fortress of Ardeshir, the tomb of Atabac, the fine architecture and plaster work at the Shrine Imamzadeh(the son of Imam) Shahzadeh Hassan, and the chehel sotoun mosque of Haj Ali Agha, however, a visit to the bazaar and Carpet weaving workshops would be very interesting. Kerman?s grand bazaar which is about 3kms. Long, is by itself a historical work of art dating back to the times of the Safavids and Zands. The tomb of the Renowned mystic and Sufi.Shah Nematollah - e - vali, with its beautiful architecture and masterly tile works by the Safavid period artists is located in Mahan, in a distance of 35kms. from Kerman. Mahan has one of the most beautiful desert scenarios; and at high time its sky is clear and in spring with big bright stars. There is a Tourist guest house in Mahan.
 
 
 
 

Bam:

The enchanting historical city of Bam is located 200 km. Southeast of Kerman with tropical climate; and excellent farms, citrus gardens and palm plantations. Bam?s historical background dates back to legendary times. The remains of the old city of Bam which was inhabited until the early Qajar period are located on top of a hill in the vicinity of Bam with an area of 6 sq.kms. It is called Arg-e-Bam (the citadel of Bam). The citadel is one of the most interesting historical sights of Iran and living example of the style of urban planning and social life in the regions that were always threatened by the invasion of enemies; tall walls and ditches around the citadel and then there are circles of residential quarters and then the ruler?s building on a hilltop at the centre. Parts of the building at the citadel area still intact.

Bam was a highly reputed city along the Silkroad . Today?s city has accommodation facilities including a tourist guest house, restaurants and the other necessary urban services. A main road links Bam to the centre of the province.

AHWAZ

This city is counted as one of the oldest in Iran and was called ?Oscine?in the inscription and Hormoz Shah in the Sassanied period.

Ziggurat- e- Choghazanbil :

Elamid Temple of Choghazanbil is located on a hill, at the side of the Dez river.The most interesting article found in this temple is a delicately carved statue of an enameled cow, and the inscription on it is in elamid writing, and it is kept in Iran bastan museum now.

Other Interesting Areas Of This City Are:

Susa including Darius palaces, Shushtar including Acheamenid dom., Haft Tappeh, Evan-e Karkheh and Jamie mosque in Dezful. You can see ever burning flames of unconsummated natural gasses around Ahwaz.

YAZD

Yazd is one of the oldest and typical cities of Iran. Some of Islamic historian attribute its construction to Alexander, who built a prison there for great men and at the beginning of the Islamic area Yazd was known as Alexander?s prison.

Yazd is famous for it?s architecture, and is one of the most beautiful cities. this city and its villages and districts are the most important gathering centres of Zoroastrian who are living in tarea from ancient times.

There Is a Sacred Place Called:

Pire - e - Saabs check check at 72 kms. of the city, where Zoroastrian from different parts of the world gather for religious ceremonies every summer, Building and lover Dowlat abad garden, Jamie mosque, Zoroastrian fire Temple, Tower of silence and Amir Chakhmagh complex. Also are among the beautiful places in this city.