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Iran's Cities > Tehran |
Tehran Province
Human settlement of the region dates from Neolithic
times, but the development of Tehran, which started as a
small village in the foothills of the Alborz mountains,
was very slow and its rise to prominence largely
accidental.
In 1197, after the Mongols sacked the nearby town of Rey
(at that time the major urban center in central Persia),
Tehran began to develop in its place as small,
moderately prosperous trading center.
In the nid-16th century. Tehran's attractive natural
setting, many trees, clear rivers and good hunting
brought it into the favor of the early Safavid king,
Tahmasbi, under his patronage, gardens were built and
heavily fortified walls were erected to protect the town
and its steadily increasing population the later Safavid
kings.
As a result of the Ghajar threat to his throne, in 1758
Karim Khan Zand transferred his army here from his
capital at Shiraz, with the intention of moving in on
his enemy. At the same time he refortified Tehran and
began the construction of a royal residence.
 Perhaps
he had intended to move his capital here, but when his
army killed the Ghajar chieftain, Muhammed Hassan Khan,
and took his young son Agha Muhammed Khan hostage, Karim
Khan abandoned the unfinished palace and returned to
Shiraz.
In 1789 Agha Muhammed Khan declared Tehran his capital
and six years later he had himself crowned as shah of
all Persia. He destroyed of Karim Khan and carried it
back to Tehran in a final act of revenge. The town
continued to grow slowly under later Ghajar rulers.
From the early 1920s the city was extensively modernized
on a grid system, and this period marked the start of
the phenomenal population growth and uncontrolled urban
development that continues to this day.
In 1887,the population was 250,000.and by 1930 had only
increased to half a million, with the cities rapid
expansion only slowing during WWII. In1956 however the
population was 1.8 million by 1976, it had risen to 4.5
million and by the time of the 1986 census Tehran's
population had soared to more then 8.7 million.
Exact figures of the current population are unavailable
and the government possibly underestimates the figure
anyway, but it is probably more than 10 million.
Golestan Palace
This palace was constructed in the year 1268 AH. under
the order of Naseredin Shah. This palace is comprised of
the entrance along with various pavilions, such as
mirror, diamonds, ivory and crystal pavilions as well as
Salam pavilion in which the famous ‘Takht-e-Tavoos’ or
‘the Peacock Throne’ that Nader Shah took as ransom from
India in his conquest in 1739, is placed.
This throne has seven jeweled stands with two steps. On
its back there is a statue of a dragon. It has a
delicate back seat which is ornamented by beautiful
inscriptions.
Azadi Monument
 Built
in 1971 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the
Persian Empire, is an inverted Y-shaped 45 m high
monument. Upstairs, the Azadi Museum contains a small
collection of art and archaeological finds.
Mt Damavand
The magnificent conical volcano of Mt Damavand (5671m)
is the highest in the country. Shaped like Mt Fuji, the
mountain is worth a closer look, even if you have no
intention of climbing it.
The mountain is actually just in Mazandaran province,
but is more easily accessible from Tehran.
Carpet Museum
This beautifully architecture structure, with the carpet
shaped facade is located north west of Laleh Park. The
display area covers 3,400 sq. m. and consists of two
halls exhibiting carpets and Kilims.
It was inaugurated in 1977. Its library is enriched with
3500 books. The collection of carpet museum comprises of
samples of Iranian carpets from the 9th century AH. up
to this date. About 135 master pieces of Iranian carpets
are displayed in the ground floor. The art of carpet
weaving in Iran, considering the 2500 year old ‘Pazirik’
which was discovered in southern Siberia in the year
1949, dates back to pre-Achaemenian period. |
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