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.
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. |
Tehran
Time
