IRAN  >  MIDDLE EAST  >  INDEX


Provinces in Iran : Ardebil, Boushehr, Chaharmahal, East Azarbaijan, Esfahan, Fars, Ghazvin, Gilan, Golestan, Hamedan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiloieh, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qom, Semnan, Sistan Balouchestan, Tehran, West Azarbaijan, Yazd and Zanjan.

Iran is located in the Middle East, bounded to the north by the CIS and the Caspian Sea, the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan, the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and the west by Iraq and Turkey.

The center and east of the country is largely barren undulating desert, punctured by Qantas (irrigation canals and tree eases, but there are mountainous regions in the west along the Turkish and Iraqi borders and in the north where the Alburz Mountains rise steeply from a fertile belt around the Caspian Sea.

Predominantly Islamic; mostly Shi'ite, with a minority of Sunnis. Many Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians also live in Iran.

Capital City Iran : Tehran


hotels, tour operators, travel guides, transportation / traveling to iran

links


Hotels / Guesthouses

 Hotel list Iran  -  see Irantour.org
Hotels in Abadan, Abadeh, Ahwaz, Aligodarz, Andimeshk, Arak, Ardabil, Astara, Azadshahr, Azarshahr, Babol, Babolsar, Bam, Bandar-Abbas, Bandar-Anzali, Bandar-Emam, Bandar-lenge, Bazargan, Behshahr, Birjand, Bojnord, Boshehr, Brojerd, Chabahar, Chaloos,Damghan, Delijan, Dezfol, Ghaemshahr, Gorgan, Hamedan, Isfahan,Iranshahr, Kashan, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khomain, Khoram-Abad, Kish, Lahijan, Mahabad, Mahalat, Mahan, Mahmodabad, Malayer, Maragheh, Marand, Marivan, Mashhad, Minab, Miyaneh, Natanz, Noor , Noushahr, Orumieh,Qazvin, Qeshm, Qom, Ramsar, Rasht, Sabzrvar, Saghez, Sanandaj, Saveh, Sary, Semnan, Shahrekord, Shahrood, Shiraz, Sirjan, Tabas, Tabriz, Talesh, Tehran, Tonekabon, Yasooj, Yazd, Zabol, Zahedan, and Zanjan.

Tour Operators / Travel Agents /



 Bestway Tours [ Canada, BC ] -
The Caspian from Baku to Tehran [ A cultural tour of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia ] and Iran
Overland Armenia to Iran [ A cultural tour of Armenia and Iran ]

Incoming Tour Operator

 Iran Paradise Tour and Travel Agency - based in Tehran
Package Tours, CIP, Visa en Hotel Reservation.
 Sito Tours and Travel - travel agency in Iran
Climbing Tours, Combinational Tours, Cultural Tours, Desert Trekking, Diving in Persian Gulf, Fishing Tours, Horse Riding, Hunting Tours, Mountain Trekking, Nature Tours, Nomad Tours, Religious Tours, Skiing Tours, Spas, Tailor-made Tours, etc.

Travel Guides Iran / Related Books

 Amazon.com - Books about Iran

Iran, The Bradt Travel Guide  - by Patricia L. Baker (Author)
Book Description : Patricia Baker's Iran is aimed squarely at cultural travelers attracted to this country's ancient sites, which include the ruins of Persepolis, innumerable beautiful mosques, and Islamic architecture.
Paperback: 296 pages; Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 2.00 edition (August 1, 2005); Language: English; ISBN-13: 978-1841621234 
Lonely Planet Iran - by Andrew Burke (Author)
Bustling bazaars and ancient sights, parched deserts and snowcapped mountains, awesome architecture and simple hospitality - discover Iran's myriad attractions with this bestselling guide to the Persian heartland.
Paperback: 384 pages; Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 4 edition (November 30, 2004); Language: English; ISBN-13: 978-1740594257

Transportation / How do I travel to Iran

 Tehran Mehrabad Airport

 Emirates US  -  Flight tickets Tehran

 Iran Air  -  Flights to Iran / Flight tickets Iran
 
 Airline Tickets / Bargain Flights

 Raja Raja Passenger Trains Co.  -  Iran Railways
Travelling Routes, tickets, train schedules, etc.

 Valfajr Hasht Shipping lines - several passenger shipping route [ a.o. Kuwait v.v. ]. See Iran Tourism

 Coaches: routes available to all parts of Iran. Buses depart daily to all corners of Iran, specially Jonub (south) station, the largest existing in Iran. See Iran Tourism

 Metro Tehran  -  virtual tour possible

 Online Map of Iran [ Uni Texas - Perry-Castañeda Library - Map Collection ]


Links 

 Travel Insurance 

 Iran Tourism  -  ITTO  -  Iran Tourism & Touring Organization  -  travel guide to Iran

 Salam Iran  -  embassy of Iran in Canada
News & Media, Tourism, Iran info, Culture & Religion, etc.

 Teheran  -  Capital City Iran
at the foot of the Alborz mountain range
The city has numerous large museums, art centers, palace complexes and cultural centers. Besides Persians there are Azeri, Armenian, Jewish and Afghani communities in Tehran.

 Ardebil - province
 Boushehr
 Chaharmahal
 Esfahan
 Fars
 Ghazvin
 Gilan
 Golestan
 Hamedan
 Hormozgan
 Ilam
 Kerman
 Kermanshah
 Khorasan
 Khuzestan
 Kohkiloieh
 Kordestan
 Lorestan
 Markazi
 Mazandaran
 Oost-Azarbeidjaan
 Qom - Governer of Qom
The region now called Qom province, located to the south of Tehran, has been inhabited by man since pre Islamic times.
Qom is another important holy city in Iran the holy shrine of Hazrate Masomeh is located in this city. Islamic institutes of higher education called Madrasah, especially the one called Hawzeh-e-Elmiyyeh-e-Qom. Imam Khomeyni the leader of the Islamic Revolution and many other honorable Ayatollahs have educated and taught here.This Madrasah had a major contribution to the Islamic Revolution. Sowhan, a kind of candy made of flour, honey and pistachios is traditional candy of Qom.
 Semnan
 Sistan Balouchestan
 Teheran - province
 West-Azarbeidjaan
 Yazd
 Zanjan.

 Abhar - city
 Bam - earth quake in 2003.
Ancient City in South Iran, situated around 200 km southeast of Kerman. Citadel of Bam [Arg Bam] near the city of Bam. This building goes back some 2,000 years.
 Hamadan
 Isfahan
 Nagsh-e-Rajab
 Naghsh-e-Rostan
 Persepolis - Persepolis Official Website
 Shiraz
Shiraz was one of the most important cities in the medieval Islamic world and was the Iranian capital during the Zand dynasty (1747-79), when many of its most beautiful buildings were built or restored. Through its many artists and scholars, Shiraz has been synonymous with learning, nightingales, poetry, roses and, at one time, wine.
 Soltanieh
 Zanjan
 Tabriz

 Dideh Art
 Elahe Gallery - Art Galery in Tehran - abc-list Iranian artiists
 Golestan Palace Museum
The oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran, the Golestan Palace (Palace of Flowers) belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran's Historic Arg (citadel).
The Arg was built during the reign of Tahmasb I (r. 1524-1576) of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736), and was later renovated by Karim Khan Zand (r. 1750-1779). Agha Mohamd Khan Qajar (1742-1797) chose Tehran as his capital. The Arg became the site of the Qajar (1794-1925).Court and Golestan Palace became the official residence of the royal family.
The Peacock Throne of the Persian Shahs can be found in this palace.
 Iran Ski Federation Websitee - 
Ski Resorts Iran : Dizin Ski Area, Shemshak Ski Area, Ab Ali Ski Area, Darbandsar Ski Area enz.
Iran Miras
 Iranian Movies
 Iranian coast
 Kargah.com - Iranian Artists Website - many links
Iranian photography, Iranian paintings, and more
 Niavaran Palace
The suburb of Niavaran is a summer resort in northern Tehran which attracted the attention of Qajar monarchs. Fath-`Ali Shah first created a lush garden here and had a small building erected in it as his harem's summer house. After him, Mohammad Shah had the building transformed into a simple two-sided upper house. After Mohammad Shah's death, Nasser-ed-Din Shah adopted the garden as his summer vacation spot and had a large palace built in it which was first called Niavaran Palace and later Sahebqaraniyeh Palace. During the Pahlavi period , all the buildings except the Sahebqaraniyeh Palace and the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion were demolished and the Niavaran Palace was erected in a modern European style north of Sahebqaraniyeh Palace.
 Sa'd Abaad Palace Museum 
 Salam Iran - embassy of Iran in Canada
News & Media, Tourism, Iran info, Culture & Religion, etc.
 Carpet Museum Theran - virtual tour possible
Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Iranian culture and art, dating back to the Bronze Age, but as the materials used in carpets including wool and cotton, decay into dust during the course of time, archaeologists couldn't make any special discovery during the archaeological excavations. What have remained for us from the early ages as evidence of carpet-weaving are nothing more than a few pieces of worn-out rugs.
Such fragments do not help very much in recognizing the carpet-weaving characteristics of pre-Seljuk period (13th and 14th centuries AD). Among the oldest pieces discovered are those found in Eastern Turkestan, dating back to the third till fifth centuries AD, and also some of the hand-weavings of the Seljuks of Asia Minor on exhibit in Ala'edin Mosque in Konya and Ashrafoghlu Mosque in Beyshehir, Turkey. These pieces attracted the attention of researchers earlier this century, and now they are kept in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul and the Mowlana Museum in Konya.

Culinair - Iranian cooking

The Legendary Cuisine of Persia - Margaret Shaida
Persian cooking is very suited to the contemporary style of eating. Many of the dishes are vegetarian, and the marriage of sweet and savoury, such as grains and pulses sweetened with fruit and spices, makes for delicious meals. This book showcases a selection of these dishes.
Paperback 256 pages (August 30, 2000); Publisher: Grub Street Publishing; Language: English; ISBN: 1902304608
New Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies 
By Najmieh Khalili Batmanglij
The food of Iran is rich and varied and embraces some of the most sophisticated dishes to be found anywhere. This beautifully produced cookbook provides recipes for a wide range of mouthwatering creations for every occasion, from quick starters and snacks to robust, slowly cooked stews and exotic desserts. Readers may find some of the ingredients called for, such as angelica, barberries, unripe grape powder, sahlab, and quince blossoms, hard to find, but most staples are readily available at Middle Eastern groceries and well stocked supermarkets. There is much pleasure to be derived from merely looking at the stunning illustrations, which is reason enough to want to own this book
Mage Pub 01 December, 1992 Hardcover - ISBN: 0934211345
 Traditional Persian Cuisine [ polow, khoresht, kebab, fish, chicken recipes ]

History of Iran

Independence: 1 April 1979 [ Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed ]

The ancient nation of Iran was historically known to the West as Persia until March 21, 1935. The name was used in the West due to the ancient Greek name for Iran, Persis. Persia is used to describe the nation of Iran, its people, or its ancient empire. Iranians have always called their country Iran.

 Iran's History - Wikipedia
The name Persia [ The rise and fall of empires in Persia ], The first Persian state: Achaemenid Persia (648 BC -330 BC), Hellenistic Persia (330 BC-170 BC), Parthian Persia (170 BC-226 AD), Sassanid Persia (226 AD-650 ), Islam and Persia (650-1219), Persia under the Mongols and their successors (1219-1500), A new Persian empire: the Safavids (1500-1722), Persia and Europe (1722-1935), List of Kings and Emperors of Persia
A History of Modern Iran Since 1921: The Pahlavis and After 
By Ali Ansari
Straddled between the world's two major energy basins, the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, and possessing a rich reservoir of hydrocarbon resources as well as diverse minerals, Iran has always been economically significant. The Islamic Revolution thrust the country back onto the political centre-stage, and dramatically altered relations between Iran and the West.This book looks at these developments within an historical context. It charts how Iran sought to respond to the challenge of the West through reform and revolution, and to reverse the deline of the previous century with an ambitious programme of development.
Combining detailed historical narrative with comprehensive analysis and explanation, Ali Ansari presents a new interpretation of the complex cultural polity that is modern Iran.
Paperback 272 pages (February 5, 2003); Publisher: Longman; Language: English; ISBN: 0582356857
The Mantle of the Prophet - Roy Mottahedeh
Drawn from the first-hand accounts of eyewitnesses, Roy Mottahedeh's account of Islam and politics in revolutionary Iran is widely regarded as one the best records ofd that turbulent time ever written. The true story of a young mullah, hi life in the sacred shrine city of Qom, and the dramatic events of the 1979 Revolution, this account paints a vivid picture of contemporary Iran, while providing a panoramic survey of Muslim, Shi'ite and Persian culture from the middle ages to the present day. From the ancient time of Zoroaster to the world of Khomeini, this saga interweaves biography with history, politics and religion to offer new levels of understanding into Iran past, present and future. Written with feeling, sympathy and clarity, Professor Mottahedeh's compelling and highly readable account offers an insight into one of the most significant players on the contemporary world stage.
Paperback 384 pages (August 2000); Publisher: Oneworld Publications; Language: English; ISBN: 1851682341
 Nationaal Museum of Iran

 History of Ancient Near East - Mark Alan McDonald Website

Music, Culture & Entertainment

 La Rythme de la Parole - Musical conversations between Iran, South India and Mali
Accords Croisés ac 112 - 113 [ 2 CDd & 1 DVD ] - see Accords Croisés
Lonely Planet Farsi (Persian) Phrasebook  - Yavar Dehghani
Includes an extensive food section, transliterations throughout for easy pronunciation, a concise grammar section geared toward immediate and practical use, insider tips on culture and social etiquette, and a comprehensive two-way dictionary.
Paperback 256 pages (March 2001); Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; Language: English; ISBN: 0864425813
 Iranian Classical Music
Iranian classical music is modal and monophonic. The most serious interpretations generally consist of a melodic soloist (or sometimes, a duet) and often a percussion accompanist.
 Iranian Cultural heritage Organization 
 Persianartmusic
 Saad Abad Art Gallery
Founded on January 14, 1999 in order to promote the Iranian national and native arts by means of facilitating the display of works of innovative artists who are inspired by the original Iranian tradition and heritage,and meanwhile create an environment to support the growth of artistic talents of noble Artists.
 The Iranian - Music
 Maremmat - Research Center for Conservation of Cultural Relics
 Qom Cultural Heritage
The Art of Persian Music - Jean During, Zia Mirabdolbaghi, Dariush Safvat
The Art of Persian Music uses a multimedia, multifaceted approach to introduce the music and culture of Iran through its art. Persian music is as fine, subtle, and beautiful as a Persian carpet, and yet for the most part it has remained unknown in the West. It has unique aesthetic qualities quite different from Western music. It is monophonic, undramatic, and mostly solo, with rich modal variety and melodic subtlety--an intimate music of the spirit most appreciated by the initiated. This book provides the keys and definitions essential for understanding Persian music: its history, instruments, repertory, organisation, rhythms, and modes (or dastaghs). Through quotes and anecdotes by and about masters past and present, the reader can grasp the ethos, spirit, and philosophy of Persian music. Filled with exquisite illustrations of instruments and musicians from museums around the world, as well poetry and calligraphy, this volume will introduce the enthusiast both to the whole aesthetic of Persian art and the art of Persian music. Although it is based on the most recent scholarship, this book is intended for the general audience. All details superfluous to the general reader have been intentionally omitted. But The Art of Persian Music is not just a compilation from past sources -- it is full of new ideas and insights that illuminate the state of contemporary Persian music and reward both the layman and the specialist. Anthology of Persian Music, the 72 minute compact disc which comes with the book gives the reader and listener a taste of some musical styles, both rare and remarkable. Includes Audio-CD.
Hardcover 280 pages (June 1997); Publisher: Mage Publishers, Incorporated; Language: English; ISBN: 0934211221

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Personal and customized search, news, directory, email service, blogs, weather, art, culture, polls, books, music, Iranian singles, forum and Gallery
 Iranmania
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