Tourism Attractions in Iran
Iran, due to its historical background and sustainable social and cultural Evolution, has a lot of diverse worth-seeing sites which satisfy all kinds of Tourists with different tastes. every tourist, whatever his incentive, may find Many spectacular places based on his taste. It should not be forgotten that the best way for recognition of every country and its people is direct contact with them.
Iranians are famous for their hospitality, compassion, and generosity. It is Easily possible to go in Iranians' homes with a slight acquaintance with them to become familiar with their life style, attitudes, livelihood, and many of their unwritten characteristics.
The ancient Iranian culture, which is reflected in historical and architectural heritage, has brought about many worth seeing-places. The culture of today’s Iran is a perfect aggregate of near and far past of this territory and everybody can satisfy his intellectual and aesthetic needs according to his taste through visiting this wide and rich country. the existing historical monuments in Persopolis, Susa, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Firoozabad, Syraf and many other ancient centers of Iranian civilization, are the incentives enough for visiting this country.
Travel and Transportation in Iran
The best means for travel to Iran is airplane. The major international Airlines, especially Iran Air(Homa), have regular flights between Tehran And large cities of the world. Almost all international airlines have Independent branch offices in Tehran.
Travel to Iran is possible by other means of transportation such as Turkey, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Azarbaijan, Armenia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The main roads, which connect Iran to neighboring countries, are as follows:
-Iran-Turkeyin Bazargan border city, north-west of Iran.
-Zahedan-Mirjaveh in the Iran-Pakistan border, east south-east of Iran.
-Taybad-Harat in the Iran-Afghanistan border, east of Iran.
-Astara-Jolfa in the Iran-Azarbaijan border, north of Iran.
-Ghasre shirin-Khosravi in the Iran-Iraq border, west of Iran.
Moreover, Iran is connected to northern countries by waterways through Northern ports located on the coasts of the Caspian Sea as well as littoral states of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean through southern ports.
Hotels,Guest-Housesand other
Accommodation Facilities
There are different accommodation facilities in Iran with diverse classification with reasonable prices like hotels, motels, guesthouses, inns, hotels, etc. for the welfare of tourists, a series of hotel or guest houses have been established by
Iran Tourism Organization in several tourism regions or even in remote cities with suitable and healthy services and reasonable prices all equipped with necessary services like restaurant, teahouse, air conditioner, and parking with pleasing atmosphere. Other suitable tourist facilities like tourist complexes and camping sites are available in several locations.
General Information of Iran
The plateau of Iran is amongst the oldest civilization centers of antic era in the world, and has an important place in archeology science.
Covering an area of 1,648,000 square kilometers, Islamic Republic of Iran is a wide country located in southwest of Asia neighboring the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Azarbaijan and Armenia in the north; Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east; and Turkey and Iraq in the west. All southern borders of the country ends to the shores of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. Total terrestrial borders of the country are 5.170 km. and total water borders in the north and south is 2,510 km.
Iran is situated in the heart of the Middle East and, as a bridge, links the Caspian Sea, the most beautiful land-locked and the largest body of water in the world, to the Persian Gulf, and also, it is a crossroads on the way of East to West, i.e. the junction of cultural,intellectual and political manifestations of the worlds of East and West.
Among significant characteristics of vast land of Iran, which is very important from tourism point of view, is the existence of high mountains, flat plains, desert areas, different rivers and lakes which all together have caused a unique geographical condition in which, at any time of the year and at each part of it, one of the four seasons is visible. Thus, in winter swimming and water skiing are possible in warm waters of the Persian Gulf and, at the same time, winter sports like skiing are possible in the northern and western mountains of the country, simultaneously enjoying the pleasant spring weather in several cities at the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Limpid water springs, pomegranate orchards, pistachio gardens, rows of lombardy poplars, decampment of nomads in different seasons, stelliferous nights, rocks, mountains, endless high and low lands, snow-clad extinct volcanoes, luxuriant forests of Alborz mountain range, and coastlines of the Caspian Sea are amongst the eye-catching and memorable landscapes of Iran's nature which leave unique memoirs in the minds of tourists.
Iran enjoys a considerable climatic diversity, which is subjected to various seasons in different parts of the country, in a way that in some areas, the coldness of winter and the warmth of summer can be seen simultaneously. Thus the weather in Iran must be judged regionally.
The cities of Shiraz, Isfahan, Meshed, Tehran and Tabriz, which are the main tourism centers of Iran, enjoy different climate.
Briefly, entire north of the country,especially countryside of Alborz slopes like Noorvally, Kelardasht, and Katalem, as well as Azarbaijan, Khorasan and central regions of Zagross mountains-between Tooyserkan and Golpayegan are very suitable locations for spending of week-ends and holidays by domestic as well as foreign tourists in summers. Tourists may use the southern regions of Iran, regarding their different parts, 5-6 months of the year especially in winters.
Those foreign tourists, who go to the southern coasts of Iran in winters,face a very pleasant weather; while at the same time the cities of Isfahan and Fars provinces are rainy and snowy with a very cold weather. In summers, the weather in the most parts of the country is warm but not intolerable. Spring and autumn, especially Nowrooz holidays (Iranian New Year beginning from March 21 st ) are suitable time for touring all around the country.
Population and Ethnic Groups in Iran
According to the latest census made in 1996 the population of Iran was a little more than 60 million of which about 37 million were urban dwellers and about 23 million villagers and a small percentage are nomad tribes. The majority of urban dwellers live in major cities like Tehran, Meshed, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz, Qum, Ahwaz, Rasht, Orumyeh, and Kermanshah.
Tourists, especially regular ones, are very interested in visiting the decampment of nomad tribes. This can be attributed to many reasons. The main reason is the fact that these nomad tribes have well safeguarded their old tradition and culture. Generally,the present life style of nomads in Iran, is not so different from our ancient predecessors. Therefore, visiting the nomad tribes and recognition of their life style, especially decampment between winter and summer quarters, will help you to get acquainted with the life and culture of ancient Iranians.
Handicrafts
The most important handicraft of Iran, which has a world wide reputation, is the industry of weaving carpet and Gelim (short-napped coarse carpet).
Iranian carpet, due to its design, texture, and fixed color has its own special privileges, which is unique in the world. Today, there are many people, especially women, who are involved in this industry in large and small carpet workshops, scattered all around Iran. Nomad women weave a simple kind of carpet in their leisure time, which is called Jajim (coarse). Jajim is softer and lighter then Gelim. In addition to these, other hand-woven products like cashmere, shawl, and different cloths are produced in Iran for different uses.
Every tourist who comes to Iran, wishes to buy a small carpet or Jajim. Everybody knows the reputation of Iranian carpet, as one of the best and invaluable handicrafts of the world. This industry and its workshops are owned both by government and private sector. Most of the carpets are produced in rural and tribal regions of Iran.The carpet of every region has its own texture, design, and color. The cities of Tabriz, Isfahan, Meshed, Kashan, Kerman, and Hamedan as well as the region of Turkmen, Baluch, ghashghai, Afshar, Kurd, and Lor tribes are important centers of carpet industry in Iran
Traditional and National Foods in Iran
Iranian "Sofreh" (cloth which is spread on the floor and on which food is served) is a colorful one and the food culture of this country is very rich.
This richness is due to the diversity of natural environment. In different areas of the country, based on existing possibilities, diverse local foods are cooked. but there are some foods, which are common all around the country, so they are considered as traditional and national foods. The most famous foods of this kind are: Chelokabab (steamed rice with grilled lamb or beef); Abgosht (the mixture of lamb, beans, spice,and potato); Khoresht (a kind of food which is commonly cooked with different ingredients and served with rice); fesenjan (poultry, especially goose or duck, walnut pomegranate souce, suger, and spice); and Dolme or stuffing(a mixture of meat and other materials wrapped in the fresh lives of grapevine).
In the northern and western regions of Iran,several kinds of local foods are cooked with wild plants or vegetables and beans, which are served with, or without meat and are very tasty. Persian Caviar, which is obtained from Sturgeon fish in the Caspian Sea, has worldwide reputation and is very tonic. Different kinds of food are cooked in northern and southern parts of Iran with fish. the shrimp of the Persian Gulf is amongst the best in the world and due to its quality, varieties of foods are cooked with it.
Baking of bread in Iran is done in different ways. Basically, Iranian breads thin and heated on the surface, so they are very soft. In Iran bread is commonly used freshly. The different kinds of Iranian bread are Sangak, Lavash, Taftoon, and Barbary.
One of the common traditional Iranian beverages is Doogh (yogurt drink), which is consumed with fragrant vegetables.
Religion and Culture in Iran
Iran is the birthplace of Zoroaster, one of the oldest prophets of the world And founder of Zoroastrian religion. The official religion of Iran, based on Article 12 of the Constitution, is Islam (shiite), and about 99.56% of people Are Muslims. Disciples of other branches of Islam like Hanafi, Maleki Shafei, Hanbali, and Zaidi in Iran are highly respected and live freely Without any limitations. In the Constitution of I.R. Iran, religion of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Jewish are recognized officially and their Disciples have equal political, social and economic rights like Muslims. Religious minorities of Zoroastrian, Armenian, Jewish, Assyrian, and Chaldean have their own independent representatives in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (the parliament).
Architecture
Every region of Iran has its own architectural style. Hereunder, the architecture and the style of house building in different parts of Iran are briefly pointed out:
In the coastal regions of the Caspian Sea (Gilan and Mazandaran provinces), wooden houses are built on woody pillars with roofs made of straw or earthenware.
In the margin of great Iranian desert (Kavir), the most distinct kinds of houses have dome-shaped roofs which are traditionally built according to the climatic conditions of these regions during centuries till now.
In Azarbaijan, the foundation of houses are built of stone and have flat roofs.
In some areas of very hot regions like Khuzestan, especially Dezfool, the basements as well as summer shelters are essential for rural and urban life.
In mountainous areas of Alborz, since many centuries back, most of the houses are made of woode structure with mud walls and flat roofs.
Recently, some houses with bricks and iron beams have been built in this region.
In Sistan and Baluchistan the houses are quadrangular with dome-shaped roofs. there are some simple reticular structures in the roofs for ventilation.
These manifold, different, and worthy styles of architecture which manifest themselves in the construction of houses and other buildings in different parts of the country, attract so many foreign tourists who are fascinated to them. Also, domestic tourists get acquaintance with the extent, greatness, and cultural wealth of their homeland.
Museums in Iran
The museums of Iran are the treasury of cultural, historical and natural heritage of this land. there are some museums in the large and old cities of Iran, which have demonstrated numerous antique, artistic and natural vestiges of ancient Iran.
The museums of Tabriz, Maragheh, Orumieh, Kashan, Khoy, and Miandoab in Azarbaijan, Museums of Kashan and Chehel Sotoon in Isfahan, Kermanshah museums, Museums of Reza Abbasi, Carpet, Decorative Arts, Contemporary Arts, Glass and Earthenware, National Arts, Iran Bastan, Anthropology, and in Tehran; Toos and Naderi in Khorasan; Susa, Haft Tappeh, and Abadan in Khuzestan; Falak-oaflak inLorestan; Ganjali Khan in Kerman; and museums of Qazvin, Zanjan, Shahrood, Semnan, Zahedan, Rasht, Gorgan, Hamedan, Persopolis and Sanandaj are amongst the rich museums of Iran. In some cities especially in Tehran, there are established several palace-museums, which are worth seeing places of these cities.
Some Natural History museums have been established in the large cities some of which may be pointed out: the Natural museums of Orumieh, Isfahan, Tehran and Shiraz. These museums are the important centers for research activities on human sciences and arts and are memorable.
