VisitIran

20/02/2017

34 incredibly beautiful reasons to visit Iran or things to see in Iran :)

Iranian photographer Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji offers a stunning pictorial guide to his homeland.

13/02/2017

You will also enjoy this incredible combination of colours in Narenjestan Ghavam in Shiraz-Iran

Æ - 360° View within Naranjestan Qavam
- Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran
▫Built between 1879 and 1886, by the Qavam merchant family, the Qavam "Naranjestan" to this day offers visitors a glimpse into the elegance and refinement enjoyed by the upper-class families during the 19th century in Iran.
▫Much of the paintings on the ceilings of the house were inspired by the European Victorian era.
▫Today the house is a museum and open to the public.

Photosphere created by ©Omid Jafamezhad
omid360.com - facebook.com/omid360

13/02/2017

This 360° View of inside the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz-Iran is amazing

360° View inside the "Pink Mosque"
- Nasir al-Molk Mosque
Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran

Photosphere created by
©Omid Jafarnezhad
omid360.com
facebook.com/omid360

19/01/2017

"Tehran is an amazingly cosmopolitan city. It’s obviously been a warily-named place for decades, but I wouldn't necessarily agree with what the media say on it. The people, particularly the young people, are so open-minded, and probably some of the smartest people I've ever met.They love everything about all different cultures, and they all want to have conversations with you."

We asked James Asquith, the youngest person ever to visit all 196 countries, which beautiful places around the world are being overlooked.

08/01/2017

"For intrepid travelers, the question is not whether to visit Iran; it’s how to get there before an influx of tourists taints the experience"

Make this year your most adventurous one yet.

04/05/2016

Today is Shiraz day and Ordibehesht (late April-early May) is the best month to visit this magical city, as the whole city is scented with the sweet fragrance of bitter orange blossoms..

01/04/2016

Sizdah-bedar, translated as "thirteenth in outdoors," is an Iranian festival, and part of the Nowruz celebration rituals, held annually on the thirteenth day of Farvardin (the first month of the Iranian calendar), thirteen days after the vernal equinox. The custom is to spend the day outdoors, in the parks or the countryside. It is believed that joy and laughter clean the mind from all evil thoughts and the picnic is a festive or happy event. People also take the sabzeh from their Haft-Seen and throw it in a river or running water which is a symbolic act from Zoroastrian time to venerate Tishtrya (the protector of rain).

Wikipedia.com
historicaliran.blogspot.co.uk

20/03/2016

Happy Norooz and Persian New Year to everyone :)

Haftseen next to Ferdowsi (a well-known Iranian poet) tomb in Shahre Toos-Mashhad-Iran

09/03/2016

Kandovan is a village in the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran. This village exemplifies manmade cliff dwellings which are still inhabited. The troglodyte homes are excavated inside volcanic rocks and tuffs of now-dormant Mount Sahand eruptions. Most cave dwellings range from two to four stories with living rooms, a storage room and animal shelter. Many have porches, windows, doors and stairwells carved into the rocks.

Wikipedia.com
Atlasobscura.com

08/03/2016

Chaharshanbe Suri (loosely translated as Red Wednesday or Wednesday Light) is a Persian festival celebrated by all Iranians. On the night before the last Wednesday of each year, Iranians lit bonfires all over the Country to symbolically burn away the negatives of the old year. Jumping over a tall fire on Chaharshanbe Suri is a Zoroastrian purification rite dating back to the Sassanian Period. People sing a traditional song "zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man" while jumping over the fire, asking the fire to take their pallor, sickness, and problems and in turn give them redness warmth, and energy.
Although the traditional way of celebrating Chaharshanbe Suri only involves the fire, in modern times, this ritual has been augmented by the use of pyrotechnics that transform quiet neighborhoods into battle fronts!!



gaurdian.com
wikipedia.com

04/03/2016

Khaneh Tekani (spring-cleaning)- In the month leading up to Nowruz, households purchase new clothes, spring-clean the home, and make preparations for the Norooz table spread.

Norooz is the time of renewal in different aspects of life: one's personal life, interpersonal relations, the home, and the community. Spring cleaning the home is called Khaneh (home or house) Tekani (shake-up).

During the Khaneh-Tekani, all members of the home help and cooperate in thoroughly cleaning every nook and cranny of the home. Debris from the past is removed from within the home and detritus from the outside. Carpets and curtains are washed, silverware polished, and windows cleaned.

After the cleaning, fragrant plants such as hyacinths and tube roses are brought into the house to freshen the air. Some Zoroastrians in India burn sandalwood in a fire chalice and walk the chalice throughout the house daily, filling air in the house with the scent of sandalwood. In the same manner, Zoroastrians in Iran burn and use wild rue, esfand. Some believe that the aromatic fumes help ward off evil spirits while welcoming the spirits of the departed during the Farvardigan Days.

After spring cleaning, the home is ready for a fresh start to the new year. The home is also ready to receive guests during the customary Nowruz visitations.



http://www.heritageinstitute.com/

01/03/2016

As Norooz (Iranian New Year) is approaching, in the following days we bring you all the history and traditions surrounding the celebration. Share them with your friends and feel free to share pictures/stories of how you celebrate Norooz on the page :)

29/02/2016

From the amazing stained glass and tile works of the mosques and historical buildings to the distinctive views of lands and mountains; From the eye-catching clothes of nomads and locals to the mouth-watering food; from the smallest to the largest peices of crafts, Iran is the land of rich, dazzling colours.

25/02/2016

Alamut (meaning Eagle's Nest) was a Nizari Ismaili castle located in the heart of Alborz mountains. In the 11th century Hasan Sabbah (~1050-1124), a leader of the Ismaili branch of Islam, converted the local population and founded the feared Hashshashin (or Assassins) group. With his group he built a series of amazing castles in the Alamut valley. The Hashshashin group successfully resisted many attacks by outsiders, but these castles were finally captured and razed by Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan in 1256, more than a century after Hasan Sabbah′s death. Today, little remains of these castles, but the Alamut Valley is still a fascinating place with beautiful scenery, a strong sense of remoteness, and extremely friendly and independent people.

The access path starts about 700m beyond the village square and requires a steep, sweaty 25-minute climb via an obvious stairway. On top, archaeological workings are shielded by unsightly corrugated metal sheeting. But the phenomenal views from the ramparts are unmissable.

The view is from the castle is incredible. In the east, you see Alam Kuh, one of the highest and most challenging mountains in the Alborz. In the south, you see the colourful Alamut valley. In the east, you see Gazor Khan village and some impressive rock formations and in the north: More mountains.



http://ai.stanford.edu/
https://myroadtoisfahan.net/
http://simergphotos.com/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

24/02/2016

Another treat for the eyes and soul :)

Mohammad Domiri, a talented architectural photographer from northern Iran, takes stunning photos of grandiose mosque architecture throughout the Middle East. Middle Eastern architecture is often recognized by its elegantly curved arches and spiraling columns, which feature heavily throughout Domiri'…

24/02/2016

Have a look through these mesmerising pictures of Iranian mosque ceilings..

Middle Eastern architecture is renowned for its kaleidoscopic beauty. If you haven’t had a chance, yet, to witness it for yourself, Instagram photographer m1rasoulifard can take you on a mesmerizing visual journey. He captures the best of Iran’s architectural details in his hypnotizing photos.

23/02/2016

The Badab-e Surt Natural Spring is located south of Sari and is considered one of the most incredible sights of its region. It is at a height of 1,841 meters above sea level and just west of the village or Orost. It is believed that the Spring was created during the Paleocene Era and at the same time as the latest folds in the Alborz mountain range.
The Badab Soort Spring is actually comprised of two separate springs with completely different colored and scented water. The first spring contains very salty water that gathers in a small natural pool. The second spring has a sour taste and is predominately orange mainly due to the large iron oxide sediments at its outlet. Over the course of thousands of years the water from these two springs emanating from the mountain range have combined and resulted in a number of orange, red and yellow colored pools shaped as a naturally formed staircase. The surrounding vegetation to the north consists of pine forests while to the east we mainly see short trees and shrubs and rock quarries to the west.
The Orost village and Badab Soort Spring are easily accessible through Semnan with most of the way being paved and vehicles being capable of utilizing the dirt roads leading up to the spring. The best time to visit the area is undoubtedly during either sunrise or sunset when the sun’s orange reflection blends in perfectly with the colored spring. The Badab Soort Spring has been registered as a national heritage site.

historicaliran.blogspot.co.uk
pinterest.com

20/02/2016

One of Iran’s Unesco World Heritage sites, Choqa Zanbil’s magnificent brick ziggurat is the best surviving example of Elamite architecture anywhere. Even if you’re not a fan of ancient ruins, the great bulk and splendid semi-desert isolation of Choqa Zanbil can’t fail to impress. Although close access is prevented after 6pm, the ziggurat arguably looks most appealing after dusk when the golden floodlighting emphasises the structure’s form better than the hazy desert daylight.

Chogha in Bakhtiari means "hill". Choga Zanbil means 'basket mound'. It was built about 1250 BC by the king Untash-Napirisha, mainly to honor the great god Inshushinak. Its original name was Dur Untash, which means 'town of Untash', but it is unlikely that many people, besides priests and servants, ever lived there. The complex is protected by three concentric walls which define the main areas of the 'town'. The inner area is wholly taken up with a great ziggurat dedicated to the main god, which was built over an earlier square temple with storage rooms also built by Untash-Napirisha. The middle area holds eleven temples for lesser gods. It is believed that twenty-two temples were originally planned, but the king died before they could be finished, and his successors discontinued the building work. In the outer area are royal palaces, a funerary palace containing five subterranean royal tombs.

The zigqurat lies approximately 42 km (26 mi) south-southeast of Dezful, 30 km (19 mi) south-east of Susa and 80 km (50 mi) north of Ahvaz.

lonelyplanet.com
wikipedia.com

20/02/2016

Chelow kabab or Chelo kabab (Persian: چلوکباب) is the national dish of Iran. Kebabs are taken very seriously in Iran – so seriously that the kebab menu alone may run a full page and feature every style and cut of meat that could imaginably be skewered and grilled. Lamb – in chunks or minced – is most popular. The meal is simple, consisting of steamed, saffroned basmati or Persian rice (چلو chelow) and kabab. This dish is served throughout Iran today, but was traditionally associated with the northern part of the country.

Chelow kabab is served with the basic Iranian meal accompaniments, in addition to grilled tomatoes on the side of the rice, and butter on top of the rice. Somagh (powdered sumac) can be sprinkled on the rice.

wikipedia.com
gadventures.com

18/02/2016

Little visited by foreigners, Khorramabad is nonetheless scenically appealing and a possible base from which to discover Lorestan province, the glorious Zagros Mountains and the Lori (Lurish) people.

Khorramabad lies in a long, wide gorge sandwiched by dry, impressive crags in which have been found at least five Palaeolithic cave-dwelling sites. Historians disagree whether Khorramabad was the site of Shapurkhast or of Samha. Both are ancient ‘lost’ cities that had advanced irrigation and milling systems over 1500 years ago, judging from archaeological clues like the Gerdab-e-Sangi cistern.
In the Middle Ages a fortified central citadel was built here by the Atabegs, the powerful clan who ruled Lorestan from the 12th century until subjugated by Shah Abbas around AD 1600. The citadel later became the residence of Persian governors who developed it into a classical fortress that soared so impressively that it became known as Falak-ol-Aflak (Heaven of Heavens). In the 1830s, the governors moved into a mansion at the castle’s base (now a military academy) and the fortress became a prison. It’s now an interesting museum (Lonely Planet).

16/02/2016

One of the main problems mentioned by all foreign nationals who have travelled to Iran is the visa process!

"Iran is to issue visas for all foreign nationals upon their arrival at Iranian airports, except for those from Britain, the US and seven other countries. Visas in those cases must still be applied for in their home countries."

Iran is to issue visas for all foreign nationals upon their arrival at Iranian airports, except for those from Britain, the US and seven other countries. Visas in those cases must still be applied for in their home countries. The move is aimed at promoting tourism with the numbers of foreign visiter…

16/02/2016

Known in classical times as Ecbatana, Hamadan was once one of the ancient world’s greatest cities. Although little of the antiquity remains, you can still find a number of unique historical sites to explore. ().
Hamadan has a green mountainous area in the foothills of the 3,574-meter Alvand Mountain, in the midwest part of Iran. The city has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and carpets and is home to many poets and cultural celebrities (wikipedia).

16/02/2016

Things to do before and during your trip to Iran from an Icelander's point of view:

"On our one way ticket to the Far East we never planned on stopping in Iran, a country we knew little about. However we had heard some amazing stories from backpackers who had visited Iran.

So we decided to go for it! And boy are we happy that we did. We spent one month travelling the country, from the date palm trees in the south, through the deserts in the west to the freezing mountains in the north.

Iran seems to offer everything a nature-lover can desire, where you can enjoy four seasons all-year round. Here you’ll find the hottest deserts on earth, the world’s largest water cave and the tallest mountains in the Middle-East. Not to mention, being repeatedly titled the most hospitable nation in the world by experienced travellers, with an unrivaled cultural heritage of ancient Persia."

Iran has everything a traveller desires, everything from deserts, mountains, skiing resorts and ancient Persepolis. Visit cities like Shiraz, Theran & Yazd

15/02/2016

A fascinating bazaar, a deeply human heart and passionately helpful freelance guides make this gigantic, sprawling city a surprisingly positive introduction to Iran. It had a spell as the Iranian capital and has proven extremely influential in the country’s recent history. Sometimes stiflingly smoggy and hot in summer, it can be freezing cold in winter, but the Azari welcome is generally very warm any time of year ().

Tabriz is the most populated city in the Iranian Azerbaijan, one of the historical capitals of Iran, and the present capital of East Azerbaijan Province.
Its population consists mostly of Iranian Azerbaijanis who speak the Azerbaijani language. Tabriz has been one of the influential hubs for the country's recent history. The city is famous for its handicrafts including hand-woven rugs and jewelry. It is known for locally made confectioneries, chocolates, dried nuts, and traditional food (Wikipedia).

14/02/2016

A 2 hour drive from Kerman (if your driver is going reallly slow!) and you will find yourself in the exclusive beauty of Lut desert and the Kaloots (Shahdad Kalouts). Try to arrive at least an hour prior to sunset to witness magnificent views. Be sure to turn around at some point to see the moonrise. And after sunset, enjoy every bit of the desert silence and stars. Be aware that the weather can get extremely hot during the day.

14/02/2016

City of Yazd is one of the oldest cities in the world according to UNESCO. With its winding lanes, forest of badgirs, mud-brick old town and excellent range of accommodation options, Yazd is one of the highlights of any trip to Iran. This is a place to wander and get lost in the maze of historic streets and lanes, not to mention your imagination (Lonely Planet). Make sure you get yourself to a rooftop in the old city for an incredible view over the city.
Yazd is located in the central part of Iran. Flights and trains are available from major cities, however you will need to take a road trip if travelling from Isfahan or Shiraz. Many local agencies/hotels offer day trips to the nearby towns and villages, as well as tours to explore wonders of the central desert of Iran.
Note that Yazd has very hot and dry summer days and cold winter nights.

13/02/2016

A few tips on travelling to Iran from a British travel writer..

"Travel to Iran doesn’t have to be difficult at all – tourism is growing as relations develop; hatred of the western world is not as rife as the media likes you to think; ancient Persia is within easy grasp, most notably in the central region where key sites has been maintained and infrastructure linking them is growing; and tourists are not subjected to as heavily enforced rules as the locals.

With enough pre-planning and prior research, you can easily avoid the limitations and stresses that come with travelling in what is perceived to be a closed and tricky country to traverse."

Many travel to Iran to discoverPersia, yet are unaware of the limitations faced by the rules of this Islamic Republic. What you need to know before you go.

13/02/2016

Iran has so much more than historical buildings/sites to offer..You should definitely check those out as well!

"Although most travellers to Iran will opt for traditional destinations such as Isfahan's stunning Naqsh-e Jahan Square and Shiraz's ancient Persepolis ruins, a minority, including me, will choose less-trampled routes. New Iran Tours offers everything from fully escorted trips with guides to hotel bookings for those travelling on a shoestring. We used them to plan a trip from the lush pastures of the north-east over the vast central desert plateau to the sultry lowlands of the Persian Gulf."

On a tour of Iran, taking in Tehran and the Persian Gulf, Arron Merat finds that its less-travelled roads reveal towns and islands just as captivating as its star attractions

13/02/2016

It's time to pack your bags!

As the British embassy in Tehran reopens and travel restrictions are lifted, tour operators are gearing up to show visitors Iran’s natural and man-made glories