Tehran

INTRO
Tah - ran: "Bottom of the Mountain Slope"
Tiran/Tirgan: "The Abode of Tir"
Tehran: "A Warm Place"
vs. Shemiran: vs. Shemiran:

City Profile
City: Tehran
Country: Iran
Area: 1,500 km2
Population: 7,797,520
Districts: 22
Mayor: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Language: Persian
Rating:

Contrary to what you may think, these are no code names for military operations. These are examples of the three theories about the origin of the name of Iran's capital. Pleasantly located at the foot of the towering Alborz Mountains, Tehran is the largest city of Iran as well as the administrative center of Tehran Province. So-called "The City of 72 Nations" represents the diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious composition of the country. As a major economic, educational and sports hub plus an attractive destination for winter tourism, Tehran stands out as a truly modern city in the heart of ancient Iran.

LOCATION
Tehran is situated in the north-central part of Iran. The city sits on the slopes of the Alborz mountain range at an altitude of about 1210 m above sea level. It lies moreover on the north-western fringes of the Dasht-e Kavir, a desert in central Iran. The metropolitan area of Tehran called Greater Tehran comprises a county within the Teheran Province. This county borders Damavand county to the east, Shemiranat county to the north, Karaj and Shahriar counties to the west as well as Eslamshahr, Pakdasht, and Ray counties to the south.

TIME TO VISIT
Tehran has arid or semiarid climate with marked seasonal contrasts. There can be distinguished four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The relatively short springs and autumns separate cold winters and hot, dry summers. The hottest period of the year is from mid-July to mid-September with temperatures ranging from 28-30°C. The average winter temperatures are 1-5° C and the coldest months occur around December-January. Average annual rainfall is approximately 230 mm, reaching its maximum during the winter season. There are notable differences between the northern suburbs and the lower southern areas in terms of both temperatures and rainfall.

POPULATION
The number of inhabitants of the city itself is estimated at around 7,797,520 but the population of the metropolitan area reaches 14 million people. Teheran is home to a variety of ethnic and linguistic groups, represented in the whole country. The official language is Persian, which is spoken by the majority of the residents. Azeri-speakers comprise the second largest linguistic group in the city. Minority groups include Kurds, Turkmen, Arabs, Armenians, Sikhs and many others. Most of Tehranis are followers of Shia Islam and the minorities belong to different sects of Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity.

DISTRICTS
The city is divided into 22 municipal districts. Each of them has its own administrative centre. These districts are further subdivided into a great number of neighborhoods. Some of the most important areas and districts include the following:

Tehran's Grand Bazaar is one of the older remaining districts of Tehran and together with Udlajan, Sangelaj, Chaleh Meydan and Doulat forms the old part of the city. The bazaar has a long history and today is considered to be the world's largest market of its kind. It is situated in southern Tehran and split into corridors over 10 km in length, each specializing in different types of goods.
Abbas Abad is a large neighborhood in north-central Tehran. It is particularly worth visiting because of its commercial corporate business district with headquarters of many domestic and foreign companies. Mosalla-e Tehran, Iran's largest ceremonial mosque is also located here.
Gisha is the future home to the Milad Complex, scheduled to be finished in late 2007. The most impressive part of the complex is the world's 4th highest tower, Milad Tower. Here you can also find Bazzar e Nasr, one of the best shoping centres in Tehran
Hasan Abad is an old and traditional business area, originally developed during the Qajar dynasty. The district is also notable for a square by the same name, composed of four identical buildings in the four corners.
Shahrak-e Gharb is regarded as the most affluent and upscale district in the city. Located in northwestern Tehran, it is one of the only big districts to comply with international standards for modern cities. It houses three large shopping centres, numerous parks and entertainment facilities and appears to be a perfect residential area.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
The city of Tehran is prepared to impress you with a considerable amount of tourist attractions. They vary in character appealing to all tastes. From amazing parks and ski resorts to grand cultural landmarks and modern structures, the sights and attractions of Tehran will surely be the highlight of your trip. The most noteworthy among them are:

Azadi Tower is a national symbol of Iran and marks the entrance to the city of Tehran. When it was built in 1971 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire, the tower was named Shahyad, meaning "Remembrance of the Shahs". Following the Iranian revolution in 1979, it was however renamed Azadi, meaning "Freedom". The tower stands 50 metres tall, clad in cut marble in the middle of Azadi Square. It is also part of the Azadi cultural complex. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.persiatours.com/museums_tehran_azadi.htm
Golestan Palace was the Qajars' royal residence. It was originally constructed in the time of the Safavid dynasty and is therefore the oldest historic monument in Tehran. It has a marvelous garden and also houses the Peacock throne of the Persian emperors. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.golestanpalace.ir/En_Site/collections/E-history.htm
The National Museum of Iran was the very first museum in the country and houses Iran's foremost collection of archaeological and cultural treasures. Opened in 1937, it consists of two buildings. The main building houses a collection of objects from prehistoric Iran whereas the extension built in 1996 hosts treasures from the early years of the Islamic period to the present times. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.nationalmuseumofiran.ir/en/main.htm
Niavaran Palace Complex is located in northern Tehran. The palace was the chief residence of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Imperial family until the Iranian Revolution. The complex consists of several buildings, including Sahebqraniyeh Palace dating back to the times of Nasir al-Din Shah of Qajar dynasty, and a museum. Niavaran Park lies south of the complex. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://niavaranpalace.ir/English/home-english.htm
Tochal ski resort is the fifth highest ski resort in the world. Its highest 7th station is erected at over 3,730 metres. The construction of the resort was completed in 1976. There is an eight kilometre long gondola lift covering a huge vertical. The view from Tochal peak (3,964 m) is spectacular, including the Mount Damavand, a dormant volcano. There is also a modern hotel in a valley at the bottom of the lift. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.tochal.org/en/

AIRPORT
Tehran can be reached directly from European, African, Asian cities and the cities situated in the Middle East. There are two international airports in relatively close proximity to the Iranian capital.

Mehrabad International Airport is the old pre-revolution airport but will soon be replaced by the new Imam Khomeini International Airport. Mehrabad Airport is located in the western part of the city, some 10 km from the city centre. The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi which should cost you around IR 20,000 - 40,000. More info at: http://www.mehrabadairport.ir/eng/home.asp
Imam Khomeini International Airport was completed in 2004. Now it handles flights from the Persian Gulf but will eventually be converted into international port. The airport is situated about 30 kilometers south of the city centre. A taxi ride costs IR 60,000 - 80,000. More info at: http://www.ikia.ir/pages/templates/Template1/

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
There are several efficient ways of getting around the traffic-clogged city of Tehran.

The public bus network is expansive but confusing. Bus numbers, route descriptions and other information are only in Persian. Tickets cost IR 200 and can be bought from booths next to the bus stops.
The metro system is brand new. It has three lines at the moment but the most useful are lines no. 1 (north to south) and no. 2 (east to west). Trains run daily, from 6.30 am to 10.00 pm. The ticket fare for one trip is IR 750.
Shared local taxis usually run straight lines between main squares and landmarks. They have set rates dictated by the local governments: IR 1,000 - 5,000. Hailing such a taxi is a real art. You can also rent a taxi by the hour to go sightseeing - expect to pay from IR 20,000 to 30,000 per hour.

HISTORY
The settlement history of Tehran can be traced as far back as 6000 BC. Tehran was a well known village in the 9th century. After the Mongol invasion and the consequent devastation of the city of Ray in the 13th century, most of its inhabitants took refuge to Tehran. It became the residence and administrative centre of the Safavid dynasty in the 17th century. Tehran was significant from a military point of view at the time of the Zand dynasty. It was finally named as the capital of Persia in 1795 by the Qajar king Agha Mohammad Khan. The population increased and Teheran soon took the shape of a modern city. It was the site of the Tehran Conference in 1943. After World War II the city's older landmarks were systematically destroyed under the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah and replaced with modern 1950s and 1960s buildings. The Iranian Revolution in 1979 led to the overthrow of the Shah and the beginning of the Islamic republic.

CITY LINKS

Tehran Times, a daily newspaper in English: http://www.tehrantimes.com/
Tehran Geographic Information Centre: http://www.tehrangis.com/atlas/htmls/english/home.htm
Useful tips: http://wikitravel.org/en/Tehran
Photos from Tehran: http://www.tehran24.com/tehran/
Official City Homepage: http://www.farsinet.com/tehran/

UNIVERSITY LINKS

The University of Tehran, the oldest and largest university in the country: http://www.ut.ac.ir/en/index.htm
Sharif University of Technology, one of the largest engineering institutions: http://www.sharif.ir/en/
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran's largest and most prestigious medical school: http://www.tums.ac.ir/index.html