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| Tehran Bozorg" in Persian;
The capital of Iran |
Tehran Bozorg (Greater Tehran), the capital of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, is one of the largest metropolitans of the world, and it is the
country's largest economic center and the base for its large and small
modern technological and industrial establishments. Located on the
slopes of the mountains and at the foot of the magnificent Mount
Damavand, it has been the country's capital city for over 200 years
now. Nearly 14 Million people live in Tehran in contrast to two
hundred thousand in 1920.
The first mention of Tehran in an old
geographical text is made in the 10th century Massalek-al Mamalek
(The Ways of States) by Estakhri. It was just a village before the
Safavid era.
By the Mongols' invasion and the consequent severe devastation the
city of Rey received, most of the Rey's people took refuge to this
village.
This was a starting point for growth of Tehran, and gradually this
village that was famous for its fine fruits and beautiful gardens,
underwent new developments. Shah Tahmasb, one of the Safavid
kings, chose Tehran as administrative center for the Safavid
dinastry, which resulted in constructing many big governmental
buildings, castles and gates. |
At the time of the Zand dynasty, it was a small town that was
significant from a military point of view. The first of the Qajar
kings, Agha Mohammed Khan, named Tehran as the country's capital in
1789. Nevertheless, the capital's development started at the time of
another Qajar monarch, Fath-Ali Shah. The citadel, which Agha Mohammed
Khan had built, was developed to include the new royal buildings.
At the same time, the city's population was redoubled. With the
increasing importance of the city, soon gates, squares and mosques
were built and it was at the time of Nassereddin Shah that the city's
master plan was prepared and modern streets were formed. Later, large
central squares like Toopkhaneh (now Imam Khomeini) square and several
military buildings were constructed. With the decline of the Qajar
dynasty, Tehran soon took the shape of a modern city. The construction
of large government buildings, new streets, recreation centers, urban
service establishments, and academic and scientific centers were
started, while most of the old gates and buildings were destroyed and
the city's old architectural fabric replaced by a modern one.
With an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level,
Tehran is a city of all four seasons with hot summers, freezing
winters, and brief springs and autumns. The highest recorded
summer temperature in Tehran has been 42 degrees centigrade while
the lowest has been registered at 8 degrees below zero.
Tehran is pleasant, it derives its originality from its dry
climate, always cool in the evening, the nearness of the
mountains, its numerous parks and gardens where flowers blossom
throughout the year, the alleys of trees in the avenues or even
smaller streets, the water which runs down from the upper city
along deep and wide gutters which look like small rivers during
spring.
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Dams of Karaj, Latian and Lar supply Tehran's drinking water and parts
of the country's electrical power. These dam-lakes and river-sides
provide also valuable tourism sites for visiting and enjoying walking
and viewing beautiful natural sites as well as practicing various
kinds of sports, including water sports. There are dozen of small
coffee-houses with zinc roofs nestle among the bushes. Mountain
streams run among the tables. But everyone does not sit around a
table; many of the customers prefer the ancient-style comfort of low
divans covered with old carpets. Delicious "kababs" are consumed, and
hot teas are served from "Samawar".
| The Alborz range on the north of Tehran, which
host the highest peak in the country during winter provides a very
suitable climate for ski lovers. In winter, the mountain hotels
and ski-clubs at Shemshak, Shahrestanak and Dizine are full
several days a week. Some expert skiers consider the snow quality
in northern Tehran to be one of the best in the world. |
| The highest peak in the country, Mount Damavand
(5671 Meter), which is an extinct volcano covered in snow for most
of the year with its visibility from Tehran has an attractive
appeal for adventurers and climbers. |
The Golestan (Rose Garden) Palace is one of most visited places in
Tehran, which was the Qajars' royal residence. Its garden is an oasis
of coolness and silence in the heart of the city. The main building,
architecturally unpretentious, houses a museum with objects from the
Qajar period in the overloaded and pompous style of last century. In
the Golestan garden, a one-story pavilion to the right and slightly
behind the entrance, shelters one of the best organized museums in
Tehran. It contains about thirty showcases presenting everything,
which makes up the basic originality of Iranian life in the various
provinces of the country.
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