Located in the Arg Square in Southern Tehran, the Bazar has several corridors that are over 10 kilometers in length. Tehran’s bazaar is one of the most important places of trading and selling goods in Iran, and it is an amazing fundamental and economical structure. A market that its main structure is a heritage of the Qajar era.

When Agha Mohammad Khan of Qajar period was the king, the Bazaar started a time of booming that continued for several years. In these times, different segments of the Bazaar was restored, new sections were added and many buyers and sellers from all over Iran came here. Naser Al Din Shah, the Fourth Qajar King, ordered the construction of a portal that today is known as Grand Bazar. Without a doubt, Naser Al din Shah was the man that made the most changes in the Bazaar. The changes that made the tradesmen so powerful, they could influence the political decisions of the governmental officials. Although the development of Bazaar helped with the financial situation of the country, it made the rulers less powerful. When the money was at the hand of a group of traders then they would want a saying in the political decisions that affected them as well. So the power the king gave them was used against him and later his son when the traders of Bazaar became the main supporters of the oppositional groups that wanted constitution and limitation of Monarchy’s power.

Tehran’s bazaar is one of the most important places of trading and selling goods in Iran, and it is an amazing fundamental and economical structure. A market that its main structure is a heritage of the Qajar era.

The current architecture of the grand bazaar is very complex, the winding corridors, the traditional ventilation system in the ceiling, the decorations and sections of the bazaar all can prove the magnificent architecture used to build this bazaar. The place wasn’t always this complex. Tehran bazaar was developed over time, for example parts of the market was roofed due to summer heat. These developments also took place in the service spaces so that cafe, gymnasium, baths, mosques and religious site were made. There were constantly new parts constructed and added to the old part in order to trade goods for individual buyers. Gradually, there were special arcades for different type of products in the marketplace. The new sectors had their own bath and mosque in a way that they could run their feasts, mourning ceremonies, and other occasions.

One of the most important parts of the Old Market is Sabze Meydan (the green square) in the northern part of the market that dates back to the Safavid period. In the Qajar era, by the order of Amir Kabir, fundamental changes were applied to this square. This is the central place for gatherings to celebrate religious, political and social occasions. The renovation and refurbishing plan for the grand bazaar has been started over years, numerous activities have been happening such as: floor lamps, structure-building, the porch of the dome and roof and the building.

The grand bazaar of Tehran is on top list of all the visitors that come to Tehran from abroad and even other cities of Tehran. A very crowded and alive place which can take you to old days of Tehran. Grand bazaar of Tehran offers visitors a chance to enjoy good food as well with various traditional cuisine restaurants and fast food. The food here may not be very cheap but it is definitely worth your money because you will receive good quality food. These restaurants, which some date back to more than 100 years ago, show the visitors what authentic Persian meal is. Even one of the oldest pizzeria in Tehran is located in this market.

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Gonbade Mina Planetarium in Nowruz park, Tehran, Iran

Although the inception of modernity took place first in Europe in the 19th century, its aftermath affected the whole world including Iran. In this period, the Qajar kings were ruling over Iran, who encouraged modernity in the country. One of the important contacts between Iran and Western countries dates back to its war with Russia, where Iran was defeated.

By the time, Abbas Mirza who was Fath Ali Shah’s (2nd Qajar King reigning from 1797-1834) Son and the Crown Prince led the army in the war. The defeat against Russia made Abbas Mirza considers the advancement of the Western modern world, encouraging him to dispatch merchants and students to the West in order to learn science. The return of these students and merchants to Iran marks the beginning of modernity in the country.

However, when Amir Kabir became the Prime Minister of Naser Al-Din Shah (4th Qajar King reigning from 1848-1896), modernity moved into a new phase as he was in fact the initiator of organized reformations, introducing him as the founder of modernity in Iran.

Particularly, he founded Dar ul-Funun, a college for teaching modern sciences, sent students to Europe to learn new sciences, and ordered the publication of Vagay-e Etefagheye newspaper to increase public awareness.

Metro Station, Tehran, Iran

Following the travel of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar to Europe, and his acquaintance with the European culture and lifestyle, the reforms were kept continued. He sent a group of students to Europe to learn lawmaking and on how to establish different ministries. In this regard, the House of Law and Legislation Studies was created that aimed to study and justify the need for written and codified rules. The intellectuals who had gone to Europe came back while they were influenced highly by Western culture.

The presence of Europeans in Iran intensified the locals’ direct contact with this culture and modernity. Such initiatives and situations could be regarded as a start point of a great evolution in Iran.

Tabiat Steel Bridge connects two public parks by spanning the Modarres highway in northern Tehran – Iran

Development of cities, streets, vehicle imports, and most importantly the Constitutional Revolution of Iran during 1905-1911 are the results of Europe’s effects. After the Constitutional Revolution, parliament and law-making were established, leading to a decrease in the power of the monarchy. Pahlavi Kings (1925-1979) also made many more reforms and improvements, out of which include the construction of universities, railways, and roads.

The reforms led to the development of the economic and civil lives of the citizens but at the same time, religious beliefs and values were challenged and downplayed. The Iranian, on the whole, with their Islamic beliefs did not accept the Constitutional Revolution or modernity on its Western style.

This made a kind of Islamic modernity in the country such that local cultural and religious Islamic Shiite values were mixed with Western modernity and in fact, a localization of Western lifestyle occurred. When Islam became an inseparable part of this new school of thought, the Iranian on the one hand, and the authorities, on the other hand, accepted it.

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This province has 16 counties including Rasht city as its center. Most of the people in the province are Gilak and speak Gilaki with different dialects, while in some parts of the province people also speak Farsi. Gilan province has the heaviest amount of rainfall in the country due to its proximity to the Caspian Sea, causing its weather to be moderate and humid.

Greek historians have referred to Gilan as Kados and Kadosyan. During the Achaemenid (550-330 B.C.) and Sassanid (224-651 A.D.) Empires, independent local governments ruled continuously in this area. The impassibility of the region made limited the accessibility of the Islamic army that invaded Iran at the end of the Sassanid Empire but Islam faith was gradually scattered throughout Tabarestan and Mazandaran regions in the province by the Shiites of the Zaidiyyah sect during the eighth century.

Later, during the Mongol (1206-1368) and Karkiya (1370-1592) dynasties, this region was captured but when Abbas I during the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736) attacked there and conquered it, Gilan lost its independence and officially became a part of Iran.

The land of Gilan was in the past divided into the three districts of Talesh, Deylam, and Gilan (Jilan) but when captured by Safavids, its center was transferred to Rasht. Based on the Treaty of Golestan, a part of Talesh in the north of Astara River was separated from the land of Iran. During the constitutional movement, Aqabaala Khan, the ruler of Gilan, was killed in the garden of Modiriyeh, Rasht and the area’s constitutionalists moved to conquest the capital Tehran city. They first captured Qazvin and then after three days, along with Bakhtiari constitutionalists conquered the capital and Mohammad Ali Shah was dethroned from the monarchy.

The beautiful nature of Gilan province and the Caspian shores are among the most important attractions in this area, attracting a huge number of nature lovers throughout the year. Of the spectacular natures of the province include the dense forests in the northern slopes of Alborz especially in the south of Sinalak city and Deilman forests, south of Lahijan, and the areas around Shafte, Fouman, Masal, Talesh, Rezvanshahr, and Astara cities. The Lahijan tea fields, Masouleh village, Rudkhan Castle in Fuman, Tomb of Mirza Kuchak Khan, and Herzwil’s millennia-old cypress are among the cultural and historical attractions of the province.

The area also benefits from various handicrafts including mat weaving, woodcraft, shawls, bamboo, pottery, Jajim, carpet, Kilim, Chador-Shab, crocheting, felt, and Charooq. In terms of cuisine, a variety of cookies, especially Lahijan and Fouman’s ones, jam, pickles, tomato paste, olive, fish, rice, citrus, herbs, caviar, and Reshteh khoshkar could be found as the souvenirs of a trip to Gilan.

Rasht city was registered in December 2005 as the creative city in gastronomy by UNESCO and joined the Creative Cities Network.

Finally, Fazlollah Reza, Anoushirvan Rouhani, Mohammad Moein, and Mohammad Shams Langeroodi are among the celebrities of Gilan.

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