Iran builds Mideast’s highest swing bridge
Iran has unveiled the Middle East’s highest suspension bridge in the lap of nature in the northwestern Ardabil province, known for its magnificent pastures, hot mineral springs and towering mountains. The bridge over the river of Khiyav Chai in Meshginshhar is 345 meters long, suspended 80 meters above the ground.
The region, known for its pure natural honey, is undergoing a flurry of construction and sprucing up its face to attract tourists.

It is tucked away at the foot of the iconic Sabalan mountain which oozes a rich stream of thermal waters with healing qualities, attracting millions of tourists every year.
Iran is aiming to raise its tourism revenues put around $6 billion a year, which account for less than 0.5% of the world’s total income from the sector.

“Iran’s 20-year vision plan targets attracting 20 million tourists by 2025 which will earn the country $30 billion,” director of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Masoud Soltanifar has said.
The country is seen as one of the world’s top potential tourist destinations as it holds countless ancient sites. Iran is home to 17 historic sites listed by the UNESCO.

It has a diverse landscape and its tourism industry offers a myriad of recreational opportunities.

They range from natural hot water showers in the northwest to hiking and skiing in the Alborz mountains to magnificent architectural sight-seeing in the center and beach holidays in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.

Apart from its glorious ancient sites, the country’s allure lies in its people’s reputation for hospitality.

 

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Band-e Kaisar a Roman ancient arch bridge in Shushtar

The Band-e Kaisar (Caesar’s dam‎‎), Pol-e Kaisar (“Caesar’s bridge”), Bridge of Valerian or Shadirwan was an ancient arch bridge in Shushtar, Iran, and the first in the country to combine it with a dam.Built by a Roman workforce in the 3rd century AD on Sassanid order,it was also the most eastern Roman bridge and Roman dam, lying deep in Persian territory.Its dual-purpose design exerted a profound influence on Iranian civil engineering and was instrumental in developing Sassanid water management techniques.

shadravan bridge Shoushtar

The approximately 500 m long overflow dam over the Karun, Iran’s most effluent river, was the core structure of the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System from which the city derived its agricultural productivity,and which has been designated by the UNESCO as Iran’s 10th World Heritage Site in 2009.The arched superstructure carried across the important road between Pasargadae and the Sassanid capital Ctesiphon.Many times repaired in the Islamic period,the dam bridge remained in use until the late 19th century.

shadravan bridge Shoushtar

According to Persian tradition, the Band-e Kaisar is named after the Roman emperor Valerian (253–260 AD) who was captured with his entire army by the Sassanid ruler Shapur I after having been defeated in the Battle of Edessa (260). This vast labour force, which may have numbered up to 70,000 men and included the Roman engineering corps, was employed by the victors for construction work in Shushtar, an important agricultural center in south-western Iran.To service its large stretches of arable land, altogether some 150,000 hectares, the Romans set out to construct three structures: a canal called Ab-i Gargar, and the two dams of Band-e Kaisar and Band-e Mizan which directed the water flow of the Karun river into the artificial watercourse.

shadravan bridge Shoushtar

The story is related by the Muslim historians Tabari and Masudi in the 9th and 10th centuries. Although their novelistic narrative cannot be blindly trusted, the historical presence of the Romans is corroborated by modern local names, such as “Roumischgan” for a nearby village, and a Lurs tribe by the name of “Rumian”.Moreover, local tradition ascribes to Roman settlers the origin of a number of trades, like the production of brocade, and several popular customs.

shadravan bridge Shoushtar

The dam bridge at Shushtar belonged to the important road connection between the Sassanid centres of Pasargadae and Ctesiphon.Two further Sassanid dam bridges on this road, the Pa-i-Pol across the Karkheh and the one at Dezful over the Ab-i Diz, are also assumed to be the contemporary work of Roman prisoners of war. Both exhibit typically Roman masonry bound with mortar, a technique completely foreign to indigenous architecture.

Modelled on the Roman example, the integration of a bridge superstructure into dam design became a standard practice of Iranian hydraulic engineering which lasted until about 1000 AD, when it culminated in the still existing Band-e Amir at Shiraz.

 

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Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan) a piece of Paradise

Masal Guilan

Guilan and interesting nature for nature’s astonishingly always has a surprise.. Village summer Avlsblanga(Olasbelanga) Or Avlsblangah 25 km south of the city of Masal Masal higher in 1200 where one of the attractions of Gilan known that many travelers in spring and summer to bring their. The opportunity to spend the night in a wooden house Avlsblanga memorable experience.

Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)

Masal is 50 kilometers West City. To Avlsblanga which means a tree at high altitude, you should have took the road south out of Masal. This road is approximately 25 km by taxi or car easily accessible. Mirza Koochak Khan testimony loation is also slightly higher than Avlsablanga its enthusiasts.

Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)

Route easy access to the countryside, the main reasons for overcrowding and address of the area.

Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)

Except New hotel construction this summer that has not yet opened, the houses are made of wood and construction materials will not be permitted.. This beautiful village has no electricity grid and lighting and other needs are provided by the electric motor

Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)

If you’re lucky misty and cloudy landscape of the village will experience the beautiful nature that we did not

Masal countryside is an ideal place for the townspeople in the hot days of the year. Where only half an hour away from their homeWith a little walk around the house and away from the road through the village and almost reached the point that the Masal city can be seen.. Sunset in the mountains of Olasabelanga is fantastic.

Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)

Indeed, it is fitting to name this Countryside.
There are two residences in the countryside Olasbelanga during the holidays can be a busy place with limited facilities reserved.

Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)

At the end of Countryside asphalt road, dirt road and pass the end of the dirt road to the Gilvan and Masouleh-Khalkhal road. In the hope that this beautiful countryside evergreen and remain happy and to preserve nature for future generations the pleasure of seeing these areas.

Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)
Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)
Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)
Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)
Olasbelanga Countryside(Masal, Guilan)
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Kandovan  Village Iranian Cappadocia
The  beautiful and historical Kandovan  Village is placed 22 Km from the city  Oskoo and to Kim Tabriz the pyramid-shaped houses of this Village  have rocky architecture. Due to some researches is history dates  back to the seventh hegiras century, some others showed indications of pre-Islamic era in it . The  existence of mineral water, which emanates from the mountain and is used for  kidney diseases, is one the privileges of Kandovan Villasgs . The unique  characteristics of this village alongside with its pleasant and magnificent nature attracts domestic and foreign tourists regardless of the distance .Kandovan  International Hotel is located at side of the stunning village.

The houses in this beautiful rocky village are not built on the mountain but carved inside the volcanic rocks partially formed by volcanic remains from a strong Mount Sahand eruption hundreds of years ago. The name ‘Kandovan’ is the plural of ‘kandoo’ meaning a bee hive. The houses do indeed look like bee hives as they are all triangular in shape. The village is said to have been built some 700 years ago in the heart of rocks. Locals say it was built as a shelter against Mongols invasion in the 13th century A.D.

Mini Cappadocia
The village is redolent of Cappadocia in Turkey. However, it is far much smaller but more graceful and untapped. What makes Kandovan Village unique is that people are still living in the rocky houses. These cave dwellers are very hospitable and kind.  They may invite you for a tea in their cave-houses!

Memorable Night
Stay overnight and enjoy the tranquility of the village and watch the brilliant twinkling stars. There is an international “rocky” hotel inspired by and connected to the style of the village. You can also spend the night in one of the cave-houses!

 

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Qara Kelisa, St. Thaddeus Church: Day of St. Thaddeus

Iran’s Qara Kelisa will honor the memory of Saint Thaddeus and his faithful followers during a ceremony in the northern province of West Azarbaijan.

Scores of Armenians, Assyrians and Catholics from Iran and other countries will attend the annual event as part of their pilgrimage on the Day of St. Thaddeus.

The ceremony is known as one of the largest religious ceremonies held by Armenians.

Qara Kelisa, also known as the St. Thaddeus Church, is one of the oldest and most notable surviving Christian monuments of Iran that carries great significance for the country’s Armenian Orthodox community.

Armenians hold that Qara Kelisa is the world’s first church and was constructed in 68 CE by one of the apostles of Jesus, Saint Thaddeus, who traveled to Armenia, then part of the Persian Empire, to preach the teachings of Christ.

The church is composed of two parts: a black structure, the original building of the church from which it takes its name and a white structure, the main church, which was added to the original building’s western wing in 1810 CE.

An ancient chapel two kilometers northwest of the church is said to have been the place where the first Christian woman, Sandokh, was martyred. The chapel is believed to be as old as Qara Kelisa.

The structure was inscribed along with two other monastic ensembles of the Armenian Christian faith namely St. Stepanos and the Chapel of Dzordzor.

Saint Thaddeus Monastery
The Saint Thaddeus Monastery is an ancient Armenian monastery located in the mountainous area of Iran’s West Azarbaijan Province, about 20 kilometers from the town of Maku.

The monastery is visible from a distance because of the massiveness of the church, strongly characterized by the polygonal drums and conical roofs of its two domes. There are several chapels nearby: three on the hills east of the stream, one approximately 3km south of the monastery on the road to Bastam, and another that serves as the church for the village of Ghara-Kilise.

One of the 12 Apostles, St. Thaddeus, also known as Saint Jude, (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot), was martyred while spreading the Gospel. He is revered as an apostle of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Legend has it that a church dedicated to him was first built on the present site in AD 68.

Not much appears to remain of the original church, which was extensively rebuilt in 1329 after an earthquake damaged the structure in 1319. Nevertheless, some of the parts surrounding the altar apse date from the 10th century.

Most of the present structure dates from the early 19th century when Qajar prince Abbas Mirza helped in renovations and repairs. The 19th century additions are from carved sandstone. The earliest parts are of black and white stone, hence its Turkish name Kara Kilise, the Black Church.

A fortified wall surrounds the church and its now-abandoned monastery buildings.

According to Armenian Church tradition, the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew traveled through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of God; many people were converted and numerous secret Christian communities were established there.

The ancient Christian historian Moses of Khorene tell the following story, considered a legend by most modern historiography.

Thaddeus converted King Abgar V of Edessa. After his death, the Armenian kingdom was split into two parts. His son Ananun crowned himself in Edessa, while his nephew Sanatruk ruled in Armenia. About AD 66, Ananun gave the order to kill St. Thaddeus in Edessa.

The king’s daughter Sandokht, who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her tomb is said to be located near the Ghara Kelisa.

History and Architecture
In Turkish, Qara means black and the church was called so because a part of it was black. Apparently the main building of the church was built entirely of black stones but after reconstruction part of the stones was replaced by white ones. This was most probably done intentionally so that future generations would be informed of the original shape and façade of the church.

The church was destroyed and reconstructed at different eras for different reasons. A great part of the church was destroyed in the year 1230 (616 Lunar Hejira) during the attack of Genghis Khan.

When Hulagu Khan was residing in Azarbaijan, Khaje Nassireddin Toosi embarked on its reconstruction.

The main church, built in 1811-1820 is a massive structure, built of light sandstone and adorned with blind arches and decorative and geometric shapes.

Its twelve-sided tambour has been built in alternating light- and dark-colored stones and has an equal number of windows.

The church has two large courtyards, the first of which seems to have been used for agricultural purposes, while the second encircles the white structure, the portico, and a number of rooms.

The first courtyard includes oil-extracting rooms, a miniature windmill, an oven, and a fountain. It is decorated with ornamental motifs and two intricately designed stone crucifixes.

A small door opens to the second courtyard where the refectory and the kitchen along with rooms for resident monks and abbots are located.

The portico, which has been left unfinished, dates back to the mid 19th century.

The building’s exterior is adorned with five rows of alternating dark and light stones as well as numerous round and blind arches, decorated with rosettes, coats-of-arms, flowers and animal figures.

Statues of angels adorn the front facade of the church and its northern and southern facades are decorated with dark-colored stone crucifixes.

Sculptured bas-reliefs bearing passages from the Old and New Testaments, mythical animals and effigies of saints have added to the beauty of the monument.

In the eastern part of the complex, there is a chapel and a sacristy hall. An Armenian inscription, carved on stone, gives an account of the construction of the buildings.

The church was destroyed as a result of an earthquake in 1319 and as narrated by Andranik Hovian there is a document showing it was rehabilitated by Saint Zachary in 1329.  The church was repaired in 1691 with black stones, in 1810 with white stones by Maku archbishop, Simon Beznoni and during the Qajar era by Abbas Mirza.

Qara Kelissa enjoys specific Armenian architecture and is considered one of the most valuable historical monuments of the country in terms of technique and volume. The building is world famous and a great number of Armenians from inside and outside the country come to the church to hold religious rituals.

Armenians believe Qara Kelissa or St. Thaddeus Church was the first church constructed in the world at the orders of evangelists and apostles of Jesus and since from religious point of view they consider martyrdom the highest of salvations for humanity, every year a special service is held at Qara Kelissa in the second half of July which coincides with the murder of Saint Thaddi and his Christian followers.

Anyway, the church is annually the gathering place of Armenians of Iran and even neighboring countries on the occasion of an annual ceremony. On the week beginning July 22, Armenians from the cities of Tabriz, Uremia, Tehran, Isfahan, Qazvin, and… converge at Qara Kelissa church in groups or as a family.

In addition to Armenians, Assyrians and rarely Catholic families take part in the ceremony.

One of the rituals held during the three-day pilgrimage is the baptism of Armenian children and youngsters because some believe baptism of their children at the first church of Jesus Christ and the martyrdom site of his apostles will bring blessings. Some parents also baptize their children with some vows and pledges and for this reason the age of those being baptized sometimes reaches 15 to 20.

To Armenians, the Qara Kelissa ceremony is a combination of theological, racial, traditional, family, emotional, and entertainment motives as well as traveling and enjoying summer weather and visiting friends and relatives. Preparing food, eating and drinking is the public entertainment of families over the three days.

Food is served inside tents or at the entrance of tents day and night and the tables set or food cloths spread on the ground serve as a center for gathering of families and relatives.

Visiting friends and relatives is one of the characteristics of the three-day festivity so that some of the Armenians see each other only when they gather at Qara Kelissa.

Church services are held in the morning and evening on July 19 and 20 but on the third day the service is held only once and within a special festival held by an archbishop who comes from Tehran as well as the Tabriz bishop.

Participation in the church services on the festival days is not obligatory and some people are seen who have never attended the ceremony.

There is a chapel on a hill two km northwest of the church which, according to sayings, is the martyrdom place of Sandokh, the first Christian woman martyr. This chapel is as old as the Qara Kelissa church.

The church is located at the end of a road which has been constructed merely for this church and a small nearby village.

Qara Kelissa was registered as the ninth historical-cultural heritage of Iran at the 32nd International Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Quebec, Canada.

 

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Blue Mosque the Turquoise of Islam
one Mosque of Tabriz Mozafariyeh Monument . built upon the order of Jahanshah . ebn – e shah-yusef,a ruler of the

Qara – Qoyunloo dynasty .

Kaboud Mosque Entrance door

Attests to the  constructive efforts of this dynasty in an Tabriz and constitutes an example of the refined taste of the noble people of Iran. The perseverance  of whose fearless heroes is rooted in its history.The construction of the Blue Mosque of Tabriz was begun at the request of Khatun-Jan Beigom, the consort  of Johanshah, under the supervision of Ezz-ed-Din gamchi. and was completed in Rabi’-ol-Avval 870 AH / AD Oct.-Dec. 1465. A thorough examination of this monument reveal that its construction was based on a predetermined project comprising plans and decorative schemes prepared by eminent architects and artists of the time. The exterior appearance of the building bears a mystical character which calls upon devotees to Serenely approach the house of God, where the wish of joining the beloved fills the lovers’ mind. The artists in charge of the construction of the mosque ; utilizing indigo, turquoise-colored, white and black tiles in tessellated patterns, which represent the most perfect type of tie-work in the Islamic world. and benefiting from various delicate arabesque motifs have  created a masterpiece

unparalleled in the entire Islamic world. Tall Spaces . Well proportioned masses  and an exquisite decoration have brought into being a  composition which leaves the Viewer dazzled.Jahan shah had his dynastic mausoleum built in the southern part of the mosque, in a flawless organic unity with it. This adjacency was chosen in reason of the loftiness deriving from the

Kaboud Mosque Entrance door

nearness with the house of God. The entrance of the mausoleum. has been intentionally  located inside the mosque so that visitor entranced by the heavenly atmosphere of the mosque may Pray  for the forgiveness of the deceased in all purity. The spandrels of the mausoleum are faced with 160 cm -high marble slabs on which verses from An-Naba’. Al-Bayyeneh and al-Farsurahs are engraved in thulth script on a background of fine arabesques. The adoption of thulth script on a background of delicate arabesques indicates the perspicacity of the engravers, who have combined the harmonious slow of God’s words with patterns as refined as man’s thought and as firm as his faith. The use of indigo tiles in a magnificent Oroder in the decoration of the mausoleum attests to the mastery of the artists of the the ninth century AH /15th century AD. who have been able, using simple hexagonal tiles, to give birth to an unequaled clcganece  – Although simple . the stalactite interior decoration of the mausoleum of jahan shah constitute an admirable example of ninth century architectural decoration .

Kaboud Mosque Inside dome

The roof of the mausoleum and the main dome chamber of  the mosque. Which provably collapsed during an earthquake in 193 AH / AD 1779 – 8 was rebuilt in 1973 thanks to the efforts of the late master Reza Memaran .
A famous architect from Tabriz, and under the supervision of the National Organization for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments. The roof of the dome chamber, spanning 17 meters at a height of 20 meters, was rebuilt following a twin-layered method. The walls of the main prayer hall (dome chamber) are decorated with indigo, turquoise-colored, white and black tiles in various tessellated patterns. The use of verses from the Holy Qor’an. the names of God and episodes from the Prophet’s tradition in the tile-work decoration has further enhanced its majesty.The decoration of the lateral prayer hall, which follows that of the dome chamber. Complement the art and knowledge used throughout the mosque. The most beautiful tile –work of the mosque can be admired in its prayer niche. Stalactites faced with tessellated turquoise-colored, indigo, white and golden tiles and arabesques distinguish this prayer niche and its flanking walls.The arabesques in the tiles of the outer edge of the prayer niche are most elegant  and elaborate, indeed unique, laying the foundations of .a style which was later copied and perfected in the Safavid period. The main Portico of  mosque is adorned with tessellated tile-work, Qor’anic

Kaboud Mosque Inside dome

inscriptions on thulth CP on indigo and white backgrounds, and panels of verses from the Holy Qor’an in masons, kufic script, displaying the besi example of the tile-work decoration of the Islamic period. Remains of tessellated  tile p work and  stalactite adornment on the exterior surfaces of the building indicate that these surfaces were entirely decorated in this manner. The diverse kusic. thuluh, naskh and ta’liq scripts, the exquisite arabesque patterns and the admirable chromatic compositions of these facades, which are truly stupendous, were created by Ne’matollah ebn-e Mohammad al-Bavvab the famous artist of the ninth century A.H. The bequeathal document of the mosque, written in 869 AH / AD 1464-5, certifies that hundreds of villages: caravansaries, bathhouses and markets were bequeathed to the Mozaffariyeh ensemble, with the death of Jahanshah in 872 AH / AD 1467-8 during a war with Uzun-Hassan Bayandor, the founder of the Aq-Qoyunloo dynasty. the enlargement and completion of the mosque remained unfinished. and the restoration of the mosque and the completion of the ensemble were Resumed by Jahanshah’s daughter. Saleheh Khatun, during the reign of uzun-Hassan’s successor, Soltan Ya’qub. As extant documents indicate this majestic monument was extensively damaged by the earthquake and snow. Rainwater and harsh winters in subsequent years damaged the remaining decoration and tile-works. In 1318 As AD 1939 the main portico of the mosque,

Bluemosque

and in 1327 AS / AD 1948 and  1328  AS / AD 1949 some of its  walls were restored by Esma’il Dibaj and Haj-Ahalqassem  Me’mar Also .

Necessary protective restorations have been carried out in recent years , and now one Blue Mosque so solid enough and apt to be utilized.
The brick dome  of the Blue Mosque of Tabriz is one of to larges brick constructions created by Muslim architects in the ninth century , AH (870 H /  AD 1465-6), who perpetuated the 11 -khanid architecture . The distribution of the domes weight on a multitude of pillars , visible inside the  Blue Mosque. was one the greatest achievements of Iranian architects in the course of this country’s history which was rooted in the ancient pass particularly ,the Sasanian period. The stone spandrels. uniform exterior brick surfaces and great height of this building well display the majesty of the Blue Mosque. Extensive attention to the interior decoration and its suppression on the outside are expressive of the introvert architecture of the Qara – Qoyunloo period. The architectural style and the tessellated tile-work within the main prayer hall. particularly on the massive walls of the dome chamber illustrates the culmination of the trend begun in Iran in the early 8th century AH / 14 th century AD. reaching an exceptional degree of perfection in the Blue Mosque .

 

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The Hara forest

 

 

The Hara forest the common name for mangrove forests on the southern coast of Iran, particularly on and near the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf. Dominated by the species Avecennia marina , known locally as the  ” Hara ” or ” Harra ” tree , the forests represent an important ecological resource. The “Hara protected area” on Qeshm and the nearly main land is a biosphere reserve where commercial use is restricted to fishing (mainly shrimp), tourist boat trips, and limited mangrove cutting for animal feed. Hara tree characteristics
The Hara tree, Avicennia marina, grows to heights of three to eight meters and has bright green leaves and twigs. The tree is salt – water plant that is often submerged at high tide. It usually blossoms and bears fruit from mid July to August, with yellow flowers and a sweet almond – like fruit. The seeds fall into the water, where wave action takes them to more stationary parts of the sea. The Hara seeds become fixed in the soil layers of the sea and grow. The area on the north shore of Qeshm and the neighboring main land is particularly suited to the growth of the plant, and large mangrove – forests have developed . The long , narrow , oval leaves of the tree have nutritious value for livestock roughly equivalent to barley and alfalfa . The roots of the trees are knee – form, aerial, sponge – like and usually external. There is a filtration property in the Hara tree’s bark which allows the plant to absorb water while salt is eliminated .

Forest extent and significance

The Hara forest on Qeshm and opposite mainland covers an area of approximately 20km by 20km, with many tidal channels. The traditional stock breeders of Qeshm Island used the leaves of the Hara tree for feeding livestock. In 1972 the Hara protected area was established to preserve suitable condition for the growth of maintenance of the forests . The area is a major habitat for migratory birds in the cold season and for reptiles , fish , and varieties of arthropoda and bivalves , Green (or hooked) turtles and venomous aquatic snakes are also indigenous to the forests. Bird life includes herons, flamingos, pelicans, and anger eagles. Another important feature of these forests is the appropriate and suitable seabed conditions for the ovulation of fish in the Persian Gulf .

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Isfahan Armenian Cathedral among must-see stops for British tourists

The Holy Savior Cathedral, an Armenian church in Iranian city of Isfahan was included in the International Business Times’ recommendations for British tourists who will from now on be able to travel to the Islamic Republic thanks to direct London-Tehran flights.

The Holy Savior Cathedral, commonly known as Vank Cathedral, is an Armenian Apostolic church built in the early 1600s in Isfahan and located in the New Julfa district.

The cathedral was established in 1606, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees that were resettled by Shah Abbas I during the Ottoman War of 1603-1618.

The interior is covered with fine frescos and gilded carvings and includes a wainscot of rich tile work.

Also included in the list are Mount Damavand, the Bazaar of Isfahan, the Ali Kapu Palace, Isfahan’s Allāhverdi Khan Bridge, Persepolis, Golestan Palace in Tehran, the Zagros Mountains and many other wonders.

British Airways resumed direct flights to Iran, running six round trip flights per week with more flights scheduled to be added later this year. Some sanctions against Iran were lifted earlier this year as part of the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

“Iran is expected to experience a tourism boom. Visitors may be surprised to discover the riches the country has to offer, including ancient ruins, pristine beaches and popular ski resorts. Iran made it on to the top destination lists of major publications thanks to sights that include 2,500-year-old ruins at Persepolis near Shiraz and 16th-century Islamic architectural gems in Isfahan,” IBTimes said.

 

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Jahan Nama, Golestan

Jahan Nama is a village in Chaharkuh Rural District, in the Central District of Kordkuy County, Golestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 99, in 43 families. This area is situated in the southern heights of Gorgan and the southeast of Kord Kooy. In 1973, it was claimed as a protected place with 30,650 hectares in area. This region was a recreational area for people of Gorgan and its nearby villages. Some important regions like Torkat, Chalestan, Cholqoleh, Aq Reza, Chakel Geda, Landeh Kooh, Talou, Khoshdasti, Landou and Maqzi, are around this protected area.
The most important varieties of wildlife are: wild goat, wild sheep, vension, panther, wolf, beer, owl, eagle, shoulca, weasel, and porcupine and its important plants are: Rosh, Azad, Barberry, Sorkhdar, Kolahe Mir Hassan, Bolandmaza Namdar, Borage Cowslipe, Ras, and Darmaneh. Several studies in the area during 1999,2000, 2004, 2007 and 2008 found 1350 specimens, which included a total number of 607 vascular plant species that were identified from this area
The most important rivers and springs of this protected place are: Sefid Rood, Tarkan, Mahzi, Chaar Baq, Ziyarat, Marsang, Sbumargah, Shahpasand, Haji Abad, Gachian, Mord Cheshmeh, Vara, Khosh Dasti, Kalichal, Qormehtou, Pazeebon. Ancient relics of the said area are: water tank, ancient center of Kamarsarak and Jelingbling, Imamzadeh Razi and Marzieh, and the tower western of Radkan.

hircaniatourism
Everything in north of Iran.

 

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Golestan national park
For the first time in 1958 the jungles located in eastern parts of Golestan province was selected as a protected area. Later in 1976 it was changed to the first national park in the country and now it is the oldest and biggest national park in Iran and one of 50 UNESCO biosphere reserve on the earth.
Golestan National Park with 900 square kiloometer area, has 1350 plant species and 302 animal species including half of the mammals of Iran. It is one of the best natural reserve in middle east.

The Shirabad Waterfall is a waterfall in the northern Iranian village of Shirabad. It is 7 kilometers south of Khanbebin, in the Fenderesk district of Golestan Province and in the slopes of the Alborz mountains in a forested area. This waterfall is in the form of a stairway and includes 12 large and small waterfalls. Its largest waterfall is 30 metres high and its plunge pool is 40 to 80 metres deep.

 

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