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Iran is located in the Middle East, bounded by Turkmenistan and the Caspian Sea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, Iraq and Turkey. The centre and east of the country is largely barren desert with mountainous regions in the west. Tehran, the capital, is essentially a modern city, but the best of the old has been preserved. The Shahid Motahari Mosque has eight minarets, from which the city can be viewed. The Bazaar is one of the world's largest. More traditional towns, such as Rey, Varamin, Qazvin and Shemshak are within easy reach of Tehran. The town of Tabriz is known for its restored blue mosque built in 1465. The covered Qaisariyeh Bazaar dates back to the 15th century. The Golden Triangle is the name popularly given to the region enclosed by the ancient cities
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Azadi Tower in Tehran province
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.
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Darvazeh Bagh e Melli in Tehran province
This imposing brick gateway, decorated with high Haft Rangi tiles, was built in 1922 by command of Reza Khan when he was minister of War.
It faces what it used to be the Ministry of War, an old Qajar building a few hundred yards to the north; the space between was for many years a big military parade ground, the Maidan-i-Mashq, but has now been built over.
On the right through the gateway are the large police headquarters, built in neo-Achaemenian style during Reza Shah`s reign; on the left a museum completed in 1967, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Apart from numerous faience inscriptions, the tiling on both sides of the gateway illustrates military subjects such as machine guns and soldiers. The main faience inscription over the central arch, which is crowned by a chamber where military music was played, is an Arabic and records well-known words of the Prophet Muhammad as quoted by the Imam Reza.
Another inscription states that the gateway`s wrought-iron work was made in the Tehran arsenal.
Dizin in Tehran province
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.
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About Golestan Palaces in Tehran province
During the reign of the Safavid Shah Abbas I, a vast garden called Chahar-Bagh (Four Gardens), a governmental residence and a Chenaristan (a grove of plane trees), had been created on the present site of the Golestan Palace and its surroundings.
Then, Karim Khan Zand (1163-1193 = 1749-1779 A.D.) ordered the construction of a citadel, a rampart and a number of towers in the same area.
In the Qajar period, some royal buildings were gradually erected within the citadel; for instance, in 1268 A.H. (1813 A.D.) which coincided with the fifth year of the Nasir al-Din Shah, the eastern part of the royal garden was extended and some other palaces were built around the garden, called palaces the Golestan Garden. The group of palaces located in the northern part of the Golestan Garden, consists of the Museum Hall (Talar-i-Brilian), the Ivory Hall, the Crystal Hall, and the Talar-i Narinjistan (orangery hall), which have all been built prior to the construction of the other parts of the palace.
 The Museum Hall has been built in 1296 A.H. (1878 A.D.).
In the upper section of the Royal Reception Hall of the Golestan Palace, there is a large bejeweled golden throne, called Takht-i- Tavus (The Peacock Throne), which must be the same as the Solar Throne (Takht-i Khorshidi).
The Qajar`s royal residence, the oldest substantial building in the city, and one of a group of royal buildings then enclosed within mud walls known as the Arg, the Golestan Palace (Rose Garden), too, was completed by Fath Ali Shah Qajar. However, its construction is attributed to the Safavid Shah Abbas I.
Nasser ad-Din shah, influenced by what he had seen during his first European tour in 1873, added a Museum in the from of a large, first-floor hall decorated with mirror work, where some of the priceless Crown jewels were put on show side by side with many other things of much less value, mainly acquired by the King during his European tour.
The coronation ceremonies of the last two kings of the Pahlavi dynasty took place in the first-floor hall, however, after a re-arrangement, complete renovation and redecoration of the interior with the intention of reviving the palace`s ancient splendor.
The last King used to hold New Year and Birthday Salams in the Coronation Hall, where Ministers, foreign Ambassadors and other dignitaries in full dress offered their congratulations to the King of Kings. But generally, the Golestan Place is open to strollers and tourists.
The Palace garden offered an oasis of coolness and silence in the heart of the city, Shade is provided by what the inhabitants of Tehran call (the finest plane tree in town), rose bushes, blue fountain-bowls and ancient of water recall the charm of ancient Iranian gardens.
Altogether, here you will see little more of the palace than the visitor hoping for a tour around Buckingham Palace who is fobbed off with the Royal Gallery.
But while the state-rooms of the Palace may appeal to some others will turn to the Palace Library for the discovery of Iranian paintings, which owes its relative lack of popularity to the inaccessibility of originals scattered from Cleveland to Istanbul, from Washington`s Freer Gallery to ST Petersburg, and from the British Museum to Cairo`s National Library.
Address: 15th Khordad Square.
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Alang Dareforest in Golestan Pprovince
with several natural wells
Alang Dare forest with several natural wells and small rivers is just 4 km southern Gorgân. It is easy to reach Alang Dare forest by private car.There are some tourist facilities like camping, electricity and toailets/shower here
Golestan National Park in Golestan province
One of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in northeast of Iran, this beautiful national park stretches from Gorgan to the west to Bojnurd to the east & Shahrud to the south. It is home to some of the most famous animals of Iran: Urial Ram, Mountain Gazelle, Wild Boar, & Persian Leopard. The park also hosts a variety of plants & trees. It has an ideal setting: Caspian Sea is only 1 hour drive when heading west, Alborz mountains are less than 1 hour drive to the south, & the fertile plains of Torkman Sahra & Khorasan are situated to the north & east.
Such proximity to different geographical features has resulted in wonderful climatic varieties. Snow in the winter, hot temperatures in the summer, migrating birds in 3 out of 4 seasons, & colourful & wide-ranging plants, flowers, & trees. It is therefore not surprising to see such an interesting combination of wildlife in the region. Many Iranians visit Golestan National Park every year, mostly in the summer. Their favourite destination is NaharKhoran camp, where wildlife expeditions are planned & ecological & adventure tours take place. When in Iran, make arrangements to visit this magnificent place.
Nahar Khoran forest in Golestan province
Situated only 6 km southern Gorgân, this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the northen Iran, with plenty of hiking trails through dense forest which are easy to find.
There are facilities like restaurant, cafe, hotel and camping here.
About Gonbad-e Harounieh in khorasan province
In the vicinity of Mashhad, in the town of Tus, the birth place of Iran`s great epic poet Ferdowsi, there is a quadrangular mausoleum covered with a cupola, whose construction has been attributed to the 8th century A.H. (14th century A.D.).
The cupola is of the double- covering type and is made of kin-fired brick. The interior of the monument is simple and undecorated. There is a mihrab with plaster moldings in the northern part of the hall.
Above the main wall of the structure, there are a number of chambers, reminiscent of the construction of the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar and Oljaitu.
The Nadir Shah Mausoleum in khorasan province
Located in Azadi street is a curious piece of architecture completed more than three decades ago, consisting in a heavy slab of concrete which forms a crypt and of a colossal bronze group representing soldiers led to battle by a sort of an equestrian commander on horseback bearing a turban and a large ax (Nadir Shah). Two sm
all museums have been set up nearby: Nadir Shah souvenirs, mainly 18th and 19th century weapons, and bronze objects unearthed during excavations in the region.
Neishabur (Nishapur) in khorasan province
Neishabur is the earliest known capital of Khorassan, and was once one of the most glorious centres of all Persia. During the Seljuq period, it became a thriving literary, artistic and academic centre. However, this glorious period in Neishabur's history was short lived and the city fell rapidly into decline in the 12th century after a series of disasters befell it. Invasions by Turkish tribes, internal wars, earthquakes, and finally the catastrophic arrival of the Mongol troops in 1221 who massacred the cities entire population, all contributed to its decline. Neishabur was later rebuilt but it never regained its former position.
Today, Neishabur is a small provincial town and is famous for having been the hometown of the poet, astronomer and mathematician Omar Khayyam (1048 - c.1125). Among the handful of tombs in the outskirts of Neishabur, the most famous is that of Omar Khayyam. It was built in 1934 in the gardens of the imamzadeh Mohammad Mahruq.
Other famous men buried at Neishabur include the 13th century Sufi poet Attar-od-Din and the 20th century poet Kamal-ol-Molk (died in 1938).
Tus in khorasan province
The small town of Tus, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of Mashhad, was once the regional capital. The Turkish and Monghol invasions, as well as its proximity to the great city of Mashhad, contributed to its decline. Today, it is best known to most Iranians as the hometown of the poet Ferdowsi, the author of the epic Shah-Namah. His mausoleum lies over what is believed to be the exact place of his death. It was built in 1933 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the poet's death a year later. The overall shape of Ferdowsi's tomb is reminiscent of the Mausoleum of Cyrus the Great at Pasargadae, and in a room underneath the tomb, there are a series of modern bas-reliefs illustrating a few episodes from the Shah-Namah.
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Atashkadeh in Yazd province
The most important Zoroastrian fire temple, Atashkadeh (located on a hill in a small garden on the east side of Ayatollah Kashani St.) is open to the public from 08:00 to 11:00 am and 02:30 to 04:30 Pm Saturday to Thursday, expect holidays.
There is no entrance fee, but donations are welcomed. It is surrounded by evergreen trees and a large round pool in the courtyard which gives a clear reflection of the temple for artistic photography.
 The sacred flame behind a glass visible from the small museum inside has, according to the Zoroastrian elder in attendance here, been burning since about 470 AD and was transferred from its original site in 1940.
This attracts Zoroastrians from around the world, and there will probably be someone who speaks English to explain things to you.
There are also a couple of paintings here, including one of Zoroastrian, Architecturally, there are certain similarities between this fire-temple and those of Iranian Zoroastrians.
There are plenty of other Zoroastrian sites such as Qoleh Asadan (the Fortress of Lions) in the far northeast of Yazd, and the most important one, Chak Chak (see below), 52 km to the north.
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Chak Chak in Yazd province
This important Zoroastrians fire-temple is on a hill 52 km to the north-northeast of Yazd. It attracts thousands of pilgrims for an annual festival, which lasts for ten days from the beginning of the third month after Nowrooz. To visit, it is best to get the permission of the religious authorities at the Atashkadeh in Yazd. The Return trip, by a difficult stretch of road off the main route to Tabas.
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Dowlatabad Garden in Yazd province
The heat is blistering in the south, on the edge of the Great Desert. High chimneys acting as air-vents bring some comfort to these dwellings.
This is a complex built according to the original Iranian architectural style and consists of a large garden and some buildings.
Being watered by a qanat, until the very recent past it was used for the residence of the provincial governor, The most impressive part of the Complex are a 33-meter high bad-gir (wind tower) on the roof and a water stream in the interior.
The air was conducted into the interior and cooled through the action of the flowing water. Lattice doors and windows with stained glass patterns impart a pleasing sight to the Complex
About Tower of Silence in Yazd province
Dakhmeh or Qol-ye Khamushan (towers of Silence):
These are three impressive buildings remaining from several other structures on hilltops outside and in the immediate vicinity of Yazd (about 15 km to the south-west) where the bodies of the dead Zoroastrians would be brought to the foot of the tower so that a ritual ceremony could be held in presence of the relatives and friends of the deceased.
The body was then carried by the priests into the tower where it was laid on the flat stones on the ground –thus avoiding that earth, water, and fire, the divine elements be contaminated, the soul of the defunct person having already been by Ahura Mazda.
In a short time the body would be torn apart by the passing vultures and crows. The bones were then thrown into a circular pit in the center of the tower. At the foot of the towers stand the remains of the buildings, which once served for the funerary ceremonies.
When the towers were still used for Zoroastrian burials, only the priests were allowed into them. Nowadays, however, some of them have been opened to the public.
 Beneath the hill there are several other disused Zoroastrian buildings including a defunct well, two small bad-girs, a kitchen and a lavatory.
The custom of exposing corpses in a tower of silence largely disappeared throughout the Zoroastrian world around 50 years ago, at about the same time that the eternal flame was transferred to the newly constructed Atashkadeh in the center of Yazd.
As a matter of fact, the towers were used until 1987, after which all Zoroastrian dead were buried in the cemetery at the foot of the towers. The site can be reached only by taxi or private car.
About Ganjali Khan Complex in Kerman province
Ganjali Khan was one of the famous rulers during the reign of Shah Abbas. As the ruler of Kerman province he constructed many monuments and buildings. Ganjali Khan complex is composed of a school, a square, a caravanseray, a public bath, a water reservoir, a mint house, a mosque and a bazaar. A number of inscriptions laid inside the complex indicate the exact date when these places have been built.
Out of Ganjali Khan complex, the Khan public bath located in the grand bazaar of Kerman serves as an anthropology museum today and attracts an increasing number of Iranian and foreign tourists. This is a unique work of architecture with beautiful tile works, paintings, stuccos, and arches.
The bath rendered service no later than 60 years ago. In the closet section and main yard of the bath there are many statues which are unbelievably interesting. These statues were designed at Tehran University`s faculty of fine arts in 1973 and then transferred to this museum.
This complex has been built during the Safavid era (1499 - 1723 AD) enjoying a modern architectural style of the time. This bath is an association of architecture and application of an array of constructional materials in an appropriate space with totally popular approaches. The architect of the bath and the complex is a master from Yazd city named Mohammad Sultani.
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