Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran and is also the most populous city in the Middle East

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Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran and is also the most populous city in the Middle East. Tehran is one of the world's most fascinating cities located on the slopes of the Alborz Mountains Chain at an elevation of about 1210 m. The Damaavand Peak (5671 m high) can be seen from every point of the city.
A unique civilization and Islamic heritage that has flourished for over 25 centuries offers to visitors a distinct charm of oriental traditions. Tehran is also the capital of Iran with residents numbering well over 10 million, occupying about a sixth of the total population of Iran. All the main stream of politico-economical and cultural activities runs into and out of Tehran, which makes it a very colourful city encompassing a variety of elements.
Tehran is a metropolis where roads and cultures come together. Palaces in the north and centre of downtown Tehran provide an opportunity to relive great moments in the city's history and to expose the visitor to a rich architectural heritage. Downtown Tehran is rich in exclusive shops, bazaar, galleries and museums. The bustling northern part of the city is alongside the fantastic natural setting of magnificent mountains and the spectacular Damaavand Peak.

Tehran, located in the northern part of the country. Tehran is Iran's administrative, economic, and cultural centre as well as the major industrial and transportation centre of the region.

The climate has marked seasonal contrasts, with short springs and autumns separating cold winters and hot, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is around 230 mm (9 in), again with notable differences between the northern suburbs (393 mm/16 in) and the lower southern areas (93 mm/4 in).

It is possible that it may date 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).
Karim Khan Zand, Shah of Iran (1750-79) came to Tehran in 1759.
He was evidently most favorably impressed with the town and its situation, for he gave orders for a government office to be erected there that would rival the great Sassanian palace at Ctesiphon, as well as a number of other buildings.
He entertained for a time the idea of making Tehran his capital in place of Shiraz, but finally he dropped the idea and returned to Shiraz.
Tehran’s development as an independent city, however, began in the 18th century, when it was finally made Iran’s capital by Agha Mohammad Khan, the first of the Qajars impressed with Tehran, in 1975, because of its enjoying special importance from the geographical, political and economical points of view.
That is why most of the historical buildings of Tehran are of the Qajar period. With a difference in elevation of more that 500 meters, and an officially announced population of 6,620,461 (according to 1992 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.
The Towchal ridge, just under 4,000 meters high (which was climbed by Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, successor of Agha Mohammad Khan) dominates the town on the north; while nearly 80 km to the northeast, but seemingly much closer in the clear air of the Iranian uplands, is the magnificent snow-capped volcanic cone of Damavand, 5,670 meters in height, the highest mountain in Iran with which many legends are connected.
According to one such legend, Zoroaster once lived on the lower slopes of Damavand, close to where the picturesque village of Ask now stands.
Also according to another legend, may of the episodes of Ferdosi’s Shahnamehhave taken place in and around this same mountain. The 200th anniversary of Tehran’s nomination as the nation’s capital was celebrated in 1991.
Probably the first European to visit Tehran was Don Ruy Gonzales de Clavijo, the Ambassador of King Henry III of Castile to the great Timur.
Clavijo halted at Tehran in July 1404, while on his long journey to Timur’s court at Samarqand.
Despite being a creation of early twentieth century, the present-day Tehran is becoming an established highlight on the foreign tourist’s itinerary because of its vestiges of antiquity dating mainly from the Qajar period.
For some, its attractions are shops, well stocked with every modern product, as well as local handicrafts, and the museums with their spectacular exhibits on display. Since most international flights take in Mehrabad Airport, the town has become an important distribution centre for visitors from abroad.
Furthermore, its status as a capital city and commercial centre brings many businessman and diplomats every year. As a result, most of the country’s hotels, both large & small, as well as tourist facilities have grown up in Tehran.
Summer relaxation resorts and recreational centres are equally available for local and foreign travellers and tourists in and around Tehran: Parks, reservoirs & banks of three major dams (Amir Kabir, equipped for water skiing, boating and swimming, Latyan & Lar), mountain entertainment facilities north of Tehran, Towchal telecabin, Damavand peak, bowling and other wholesome pastimes, the valleys of Jajrud and Karaj rivers (both a trout fisherman’s paradise), ad ski resorts of Dizin, Shemshak & Ab-e-Ali. Reception and accommodation facilities are so versatile in Tehran and its suburbs that they would no doubt suit the taste and choice of every tourist.
When in Tehran, most probably a taxi will take you to your hotel from Mehrabad International Airport (an ultra-modern airport is already under construction) while passing around a spacious roundabout in the middle of which the remarkably beautiful monument of Azadi Tower attract one’s attention.
There are three bus lines from the Mehrabad Airport to three major destinations in the north (Vanak Sq.), centre (Enghelab Sq.) & south (Rah-Ahan Sq. or railway station) of Tehran, which are incomparably cheaper then any taxi. After getting settled, in all we advice travelling everywhere in Tehran by service taxi and planning your visit to each of the following sites in advance.
Three are sufficient number of package tours and all other tourist centres, which you can book either through the hotel or personal contact. The prices are not so ruinous compared to American or European standards.

Attractions

Aladdin Tomb tower

Built during the Mongol period, the exterior is formed of 32 right-angled flanges.
Just below the conical roofs is an inscription and decorative elements in blue faience.
The vertical joints between the bricks forming the flanges are decorated with plaster brick plugs.

Amir Kabir Dam

The settlement in 1954 of the costly Anglo-Iranian oil dispute resulted in an increase in Iran’s oil revenues. Under the second Seven Year Plan, launched in 1955, work was begun on three dams at Dez, Karaj and Manjil, designed to provide water and electric power over wide areas.
The 590 ft. high, double-curvature arch dam near Karaj is about 40 miles north-west of Tehran on the road to Chalus.
Built by American consultants and contractors, it was opened in October 1961, and supplies electric power (85,000 KW. capacity) and industrial and drinking water for Tehran, previously dependent on Qanats and the water cart for this vital necessity.
Amir Kabir, after whom the dam is named, was Nasser ol-Din Shah`s reformist Grand Vizier, murdered in the royal gardens at Fin in 1852.

Azadi Tower

This tower which represents the city of Tehran is part of Azadi cultural complex which is located in Tehran’s Azadi square in an area of some 5 hectares.
This complex is composed of the following sections; The 50 meter high Azadi tower, which forms the main part of the museum and its architecture, is a combination of Islamic and Sassanid architecture style. The audio - video hall of the complex which has been designed based on Iran’s geographical map displays the regional characteristics of Iran in so far as cultural, life style, religious and historical monuments are concerned.
A mechanical conveyer allows the visitors to visit the hall in total comfort. Some art galleries and halls have been allocated to temporary fairs and exhibitions.
The Diorama hall with 12 chambers puts to display activities in agriculture, handicrafts, modern industry, etc. A cinema, library and sideline services complement the activities of this complex.        

Bahman Cultural Centre

Located in the southernmost part of Tehran, the Bahman Cultural Centre occupies a vast area that used to be the city’s old slaughterhouse just seven years ago.
Considered to be the most deprived area of Tehran. Its southern part was in need of help, especially with cultural overtones. In this cultural centre concerts, religious plays accompanied by hymns, and other rituals are performed. It is open on all days and nights of the week and serves as a gathering place for the youth of southern Tehran.
The young people can use the centre for activities such as sports, various arts fields, wholesale entertainment, etc. The centre includes the following sections: Chahar Bagh (four Gardens), centre for Children’s Drawings, chess club, visual Arts Gallery, Charlie Chaplin Terrace-Movie House, and a Theatre.
The Charlie Chaplin Terrace-Movie House, with an area of 1,450 Sq. m to house 450 people, has a mobile ceiling which can be opened by a push button in three minutes.
A comprehensive description of Tehran may not end like this, but they don’t intend to provide you with the opportunity of just sitting and reading about Tehran. The town is a really modern metropolitan with thousands of interesting places about which you will certainly discover after the first few days of your stay.

Damavand Mountain

With a high point of 5610.27 meters, Damavand is the highest mountain peak in Iran located almost in the centre of Alborz mountain range. Damavand is higher than all west Asian and European mountain peaks. Damavand peak is situated in Larijan district, southwest of Amol and 69 kilometres northeast of Tehran.
What is peculiar about Damavand is its height, which clearly highlights this peak amidst an array of high peaks in the region and a permanent layer of snow, which remains un-melted on top of it all year long. The relative height of Damavand peak from the surface of the Plateau, on which it has been erected, exceeds three thousand meters. The bottom side of the cone is about 20 to 23 kilometres in diameter. Its volcanic mouth is 400 meters in diameter, and is bounded by a frozen lake. The magnitude of the mountain is doubled since the diameter of the cone compared to its height is negligible. Structure - wise Damavand cone is Strata - volcanic From the geological point of view, though the Damavand cone belongs to a modern era, the volcanic activities which have formed the Damavand cone belong to the Holosen era and the lava discovered in the alluviums of the fourth era in Haraz river attest to the very fact that volcanic activities in this area are new. The slopes and skirts of this mountain are filled with volcanic lava and sulphur gases flow out of many volcanic mouths of this peak. The lava and other volcanic substances have been piled in layers on a sediment base composed of the stones belonging to the first and second eras.
The surface on which the volcanic mass has been placed is a corrosive one which crosses wrinkled stones and rocks. The waters flowing here have dug deep valleys which have been later on filled with a variety of volcanic substances.
Damavand mountain is the epicentre of an earthquake belt which stretches along Mazandaran province and many spas containing various substances flow out of it. Such spas include Ask, Talkh Roud and Larijan. All springs flowing from Damavand mountain pour into Haraz river.
Damavand mountain contains about 70 volcanic mouths and one of them is filled with a thick sulphur crest producing a beautiful conical peak with a diameter of some 400 meters.
Stone sand, clay sand, clay and coal sediments form the bottom of this mountain and on the top of this layer limes belonging to the mid- Jurassic era are found. The wrinkles of this mountain range extend to east and west and the width of the range widens in a spot located between the Karaj - Chalus road and Haraz valley. This section of the mountain represents three ranges beginning from the Lar and Noor valleys.
The highest spots of Alborz mountain range are located here. The heights of peaks in this mountain range are no less than 3500 meters and a few peaks come in heights of over 4000 meters. Because of the fertile soil and appropriate climatic situation in the skirts of Tochal mountain, 3933 meters high in the north of Tehran many people have opted to inhabit these regions hence developing many villages there including Polur, Ask, Reineh, Abe Garm - e - Larijan, Garang, Larestan, and Razan. The most suitable path to climb Damavand Mountain is through Razan valley from the northeast part or through the Tarikh village from the west and southwest

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Dizin

Skiing has become immensely popular in Iran. The first ski-lifts seen in Iran were installed after World War II at Ab-i-Ali, about 40 miles by road east of Tehran, which is still a popular ski resort despite the counter attractions of the longer and steeper slopes at Dizin and Shemshak, the latter about 35 miles north of the capital.
The skiing season usually lasts from December until March or April.

Darvazeh Bagh e Melli

This imposing brick gateway, decorated with high Haft Rangi tiles, was built in 1922 by command of Reza Khan when he was ...

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