SANANDAJ CITY

The name "Sanandaj" is the variant of the Kurdish name "Sinedijh" (Sine fortress). Sanandaj is a rather new city and was built less than 400 years ago by the Ardalan principality in 17th century. After the Islamic conquest in AD 642 , majority of the inhabitants accepted Islam. Today most inhabitants follow Sunni Islam which is the predominant religion. This differentiates this area from most of Iran which is primarily Shi'ah.
Suleyman Khan Ardalan the governor of the region constructed the Sine dijh (castle) during the Shah Safi period (1629-1642). Sanandaj was under the control of the Ardalan household for four centuries. In the war between the Safavids and the Ottomans, this family sometimes sided with the Safavids and sometimes with the Ottomans. In 1733, Karim Khan Zand destroyed Sanandaj. After a period of chaos, Khusrow Khan Ardalan took over power in this part of Kurdistan. From 1799 to 1824, Amanolah Khan Ardalan, son of Khusrow Khan Ardalangoverned, ruled in Sanandaj. He worked to build up and inprove Sanandaj. In 1867, due to the dissatisfaction of the inhabitants, Haj Mirza Mu'tamid-u-lleh, the uncle of Nasser-al-Din Shah, came to power. He governed in the region until the year 1874.
The main landmark of Sanandaj is a fortress dating back to the period of Abbasid rule. Sanandaj was very prosperous in the Safavid era but was completely destroyed at the time of Karim Khan of the Zand dynasty. It was later chosen to be the capital of this province and is presently one of the most prominent cities of western Iran.
Tracing their roots to the village of Kilaneh, the Sanandaji family, which since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 have moved to Europe and the United States, were the predominant land and farm owners in the state of Kurdistan throughout its modern history. Until the White Revolution during the Shah's reign, the family heavily influenced the economy and society of the region. It is for this reason that they bear the title of Khan, and the name Sanandaji.
The Founder of the Sanandaji family, Kohzad (the son of mountains) was the son of Bahram who was the son of Khodadad born 1660 A.D. in Kilaneh, situated 20 Kilometers south of Sanandaj. Kohzad migrated to Sanandaj around 1750, setting up a modest cloth trading business which his sons followed up. By the end of the 18th century the family was wealthy enough to become one of the most influential landowners in the then largely feudal society of Persia.

A sizable Jewish minority settled down and thrived in Sanandaj due to the tolerant attitude of the Kurdish citizens plus the support of the ruling elite. A great majority of this Jewish community migrated to Israel by the end of 1980s.

HAMEDAN CITY

According to an inscription from the first Assyrian king, Hamadan's construction is dated at 1100 BC, but some historians believe it dates back to 3000 BC.

Hamadan was established by the Medes and was the capital of the Median empire. It then became one of several capital cities of the Achaemenid Dynasty.

Hamadan is mentioned in the biblical book of Ezra as the place where a scroll was found giving the Jews permission from King Darius to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. (Ezra 6:2). Its ancient name of Ecbatana is used in the Ezra text. Because it was a mile above sea level, it was a good place to preserve leather documents.. During the Parthian era, Ctesiphon was the capital of the country, and Hamadan the summer capital and residence of the Parthian rulers. After the Parthians, the Sassanids constructed their summer palaces in Hamadan. In the year 633 the battle of Nahavand took place and Hamadan fell into the hands of the Muslim Arabs.

During the Buwayhids, the city suffered much damage. In the 11th century, the Seljuks shifted their capital from Baghdad to Hamadan. The city of Hamadan, its fortunes following the rise and fall of regional powers, was completely destroyed during the Timurid invasion. During the Safavid era the city thrived. Thereafter, in the 18th century, Hamadan was surrendered to the Ottomans, but due to the courage and chivalry of Nader Shah Afshar, Hamadan was cleared of invaders and, as a result of a peace treaty between Iran and the Ottomans, it was returned to Iran. Hamadan stands on the Silk Road, and even in recent centuries the city enjoyed strong commerce and trade as a result of its location on the main road network in the western region of Persia and Iran.

During World War I, the city was the scene of heavy fighting between Russian and Turko-German forces. It was occupied by both armies, and finally by the British, before it was returned to control of the Iranian government at the end of the war in 1918.

Tehran,capital of IRAN

about Tehran

Tehran, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the largest metropolitans of the world, and it is the country's largest economic center and the base for its large and small modern technological and industrial establishments. Located on the slopes of the mountains and at the foot of the magnificent Mount Damavand, it has been the country's capital city for over 200 years now. Nearly 14 Million people live in Tehran in contrast to two hundred thousand in 1920.

Tehran is pleasant, it derives its originality from its dry climate, always cool in the evening, the nearness of the mountains, its numerous parks and gardens where flowers blossom throughout the year, the alleys of trees in the avenues or even smaller streets, the water which runs down from the upper city along deep and wide gutters which look like small rivers during spring.

The Alborz range on the north of Tehran, which hosts the highest peak in the country during winter, provides a very suitable climate for ski lovers. In winter, the mountain hotels and ski-clubs at Shemshak, Shahrestanak and Dizine are full several days a week. Some expert skiers consider the snow quality in northern Tehran to be one of the best in the world.

The Golestan (Rose Garden) Palace is one of most visited places in Tehran, which was the Qajars' royal residence. Its garden is an oasis of coolness and silence in the heart of the city. The main building, architecturally unpretentious, houses a museum with objects from the Qajar period in the overloaded and pompous style of last century. In the Golestan garden, a one-story pavilion to the right and slightly behind the entrance, shelters one of the best organized museums in Tehran. It contains about thirty showcases presenting everything, which makes up the basic originality of Iranian life in the various provinces of the country.

For more information visit the below link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran

Mashhad is spiritually capital of IRAN

MASHHAD (Mash-Had) is located between two mountain ranges of Binalood and hezarmasjed, 900 Kilometers east of Tehran. In the year 823 Ad., after the martyrdom of Imam Reza (Muslim Shi'a 8th Imam, Saint) in a place around Toos named "Sanabad" which was called MASHHAD-e-Reza (place of martyrdom), the main nucleus of today MASHAD appeared. Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi built a mausoleum opposite to the Shrine and in 13th century AD., due to destruction of Toos city by Mongols, MASHHAD developed and so many people migrated to this city.

At the first, the Toos area was the residence of non-Aryan tribes and some parts of it was conquered by Arabs in the period of Caliph Osman and was annexed to Islam territory in the time of Caliph Omar.

Toos was amongst the first cities which was subject to destructive Mongol onslaught and. like other cities of Khorasan, was completely ruined.

Toos, due to its specific and sensitive conditions, in the period of Teymoorian and Ilkhanan, was passed on from hand to hand between different governors and people were massacred. Finally, in 1438 AD. Shahrokh, the son of Amir Taymoor, took the throne as monarch. Afterhis reign on, Toos had been paid special attention causing its expansion and development. Since second half of 15th century AD. this city was commemorated as suburb of MASHAD. There have been remained some ruins of old Toos, but new Toos Due to existence of the tomb of "Ferdowsi" the great Iranian poet, has its own reputation and importance. However, today MASHAD has unbreakable tie with the history of the old Toos and annually hosts hundreds of thousand of pilgrims and visitors.

Isfahan, the City that is Half the World

Because of its unmatched beauty and historic ambiance, Isfahan is called “Half the World” as dubbed for the first time by French poet Renier who visited this city in the 16th century.

Esfahan, Isfahan or ancient Espadana is and has been the center of the province of Isfahan since 900 years ago. The most famous Persian description of the city of Isfahan is “Esfahan Nesf-e Jahan” which means Isfahan is half of the world, which the Isfahanis coined in the 16th century to express the city’s grandeur.

 The history of Isfahan can be traced back to the Paleolithic epoch. During their excavations, archaeologists have succeeded to discover enormous historical artifacts dating back to Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages.

The architectural style implemented in Isfahan’s historical monuments is a combination  of eight traditional forms which all together form the foundation in the same way that music was once based on a finite number of notes. These are modulated by the use of colors and textures to leaven the surfaces and are held together in an overall construction similar to that of a sonata in which connection leads to culmination through a transition space.

 

The bazaars specially the ones in Naqsh-e Jahan Square are so crowded that you can easily have the imagination of its old times. On that time, those riding on horseback used to send their footmen ahead to clear the way because there were hundreds of people on the way.

 A noteworthy town in Sassanid times, Isfahan was flourished during the Islamic period and became the capital city of the Safavid kings.

 

In the 11th century, it was captured by the Seljuk Turks, who made it the capital of their empire. In the early 13th century, it was occupied by Mongols. Tamer Lane conquered the city in 1388 and, after its inhabitants rebelled, slaughtered nearly 70,000 persons in revenge; It is said that he built a large hill with the skulls of the dead.

 

Isfahan, chosen and designed capital under Shah Abbas I (1598), was reconstituted with so many new mosques, fine palaces, bridges known as masterpieces of world’s architecture, etc.

The main street, Chaharbagh, runs North-South right through the main part of the city and most of the historical sites are accessible by 10 up to 30 minutes walk if you have chosen any of the hotels located in this street. It should also be said that the Vali-Asr Street in Tehran with its attractive side-road trees is a copy of Chaharbagh Street in Isfahan. Shah Abbas I had ordered his soldiers to raise trees in Chaharbagh Street in order to enjoy their shadow while crossing by carriage. Reza Khan, the first Pahlavid king, also followed the same way enjoying the shadow of trees in Vali-Asr Street.

Isfahan’s Main Tourist Attractions:

 

Naqshe- e Jahan Square is the main tourism attraction of city of Isfahan which has been registered in list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in 1979. Having a large area 510 in 165 meters, Naqsh-e Jahanhistorical Square is one of the largest squares in Iran which was constructed by order of Shah Abbas the Great, Safavid King, at the beginning of the 17th century, and bordered on all sides by monumental buildings linked by a series of two-storied arcades which was used for playing Polo during Safavid dynastic era (1501-1736 AD).

Chaharbagh Street built in 1597,  Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Imam (Shah Abbas) Mosque, Alee Ghapou Palace, Khajou Bridge, Sio-se-pol, the Shaking Minarets, Birds Garden, Flower Garden, Jame Mosque, Vank Cathedral, Chehel Sotoon palace, Hasht Behesht Palace, etc are among the other tourism attraction of Isfahan.

Souvenirs of Isfahan:

Sweets such as Gaz and Poolaki, Silver and Cupper works, Miniatures, and carpets.

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