Tehran - Vibrant Metropolis
The young capital of Iran is located on the slopes of the Alborz Mountains between 1100 m above sealevel in the south and 1700 m in the north. The area of Greater Tehran together with its suburbs has a population of about 15 Million people. At first glance, the city seems to be a vast and noisy agglomeration of faceless concrete houses, suffocating in its own traffic chaos. But the city is also a very modern and dynamic metropolis full of life – it is the heart of the country. Therefore, give the city a chance and have a closer look at it.
History
600 BC
Tehran
is first mentioned as a well-known village near the important city of
Raghes in the Median Empire. Raghes becomes later known as Ray and is
nowadays a suburb of Greater Tehran.
11th and 12th Century
Raghes
is at times capital of the Seljuk dynasty, while the nearby Tehran is
still an insignificant orchard settlement with clear water north of
Raghes. The inhabitants live in underground passages and caves and are
famous for their excellent pomegranates.
Borj-e Milad
Tehran's latest landmark is the telecommunications tower Borj-e Milad. It was opened in 2008. With a height of 435 m, it is the tallest structure in Iran and among the tallest towers in the world. The head of the tower, which extends over 12 floors, is the largest in the world and houses a restaurant, a coffee shop as well as a gallery and several shops. On clear days there is a fantastic view over the city and the surrounding mountains. The tower is part of the new Tehran International Trade and Convention Center. It was commissioned by the city administration.
Golestan - Garden of Roses
Located in the noisy city center of Tehran, the Golestan Palace is
situated in a nice park with water basins and canals. In the early 16th
century the Safavid kings had a citadel built, which was surrounded by a
parkland. About 200 years later, Karim Khan Zand extended the parks and
started to build a first government palace, which he never finished.
After the Qajars had made Tehran their new capital in the 19th century,
they took over the building and rebuilt it. . In the late 19th century, the five-storey Sun Palace in
the east, with its striking two towers, was added.
The Golestan Palace has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013.
Mount Tochal
From North-Tehran you can get straight away to the next skiing area. The 7.5 km long telecabin-ride to Mount Tochal is one of the longest in the world. The journey takes you from the northern outskirts of the city over spectacular mountain ridges and past six stations up to 3900 m above sea level. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the summit and you must change gondolas once on the way up. When you reach the top, you are in the middle of a small skiing area with two chairlifts and a hotel with a restaurant. The view is terrific. In summer, Mount Tochal is also a very popular hiking destination.
National Museum
This brick building with its impressive entrance area was built in 1937.
It was inspired by the palace of the Sassanian King Ardashir I in
Firuzabad. The museum shwos a variety of archaeological exhibits such as
ceramics, pottery, stone figures and objects of daily life from
excavations in Persepolis, Shush, Ray and other places. Noteworthy is an
original relief from the treasury in Persepolis. It shows the King
Dariush I sitting on his throne and his son Xerxes I.
There is also a
copy of the famous law code stele of Hammurabi from the 18th century
BC, which was found in Shush (Susa). The original stele is in the Louvre
in Paris.
Park-e Mellat
Public green spaces and parks are a welcome oasis in the big city of Tehran. The Park-e Mellat (Park of the People) is one of the oldest parks in the city. It is located next to Vali-Asr street in the northern part of Tehran. With its artificial lake, the many walking paths and free spaces on the lawn, the park is popular with young and old. On summer evenings and weekends Tehranis love to come here and enjoy life. Fathers play football with their children, young people meet under the trees and discuss, families have a picnic on the lawns, children play in the playgrounds and adults exercise on the gym equipment. On the lakeshore there are also rowing boats for rent and a popular coffee shop. The Park-e Mellat with its relaxed athmosphere is well worth a visit.
Saadabad Palace Complex
The Sa'adabad palace complex with its 110 hectares of park was already
used by the Qajar Shahs as a summer residence. The Shahs of the
subsequent Pahlavi dynasty also appreciated this estate and continued to
expand it, so that now a total of 18 palaces are scattered on the site.
The most important of them is the White Palace. The interiors reflect the luxurious lifestyle of the last monarchs.
The
Green Palace, so called because of its greenish marble facade, was the
favorite palace of Reza Shah. It is said that he went on with his simple
military lifestyle by sleeping on a thin matress on the floor next to
his sumptuous bed.
After the Islamic Revolution,
the whole complex was converted into museums.