The mountains of central Alborz including known summits such as Damavand surround the north of Tehran. Because of altitude differences, Tehran has a considerable diversity of climates such that the higher the altitude, the higher the rainfall and the lower the temperature, and vice versa.

Tehran province is one of the oldest areas of Iran’s central plateau with human settlement dating back to the pre-Islamic period, the time of the Median Empire (678-549 B.C.). One of the most important historical cities of the region is Ray city placed near Tehran city in the current Tehran province. At the time, Tehran was in fact a large village located between Ray and the foothills of Alborz Mountain.

By the commencement of the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736), Tehran came to the attention of the Shiite Safavid rulers because of neighboring Imāmzādeh Hamzah tomb – the ancestor of Safavid kings – and the holy shrine of Abd al-Azim al-Hasani. The Safavid kings would accommodate in Tehran when going to visit the Shrine of their ancestors in Ray. The expansion of traveling to Ray convinced Shah Tahmasp Safavid to build watchtowers and fortification for Tehran.

During the Afsharid Dynasty (1736-1796), the significance of Tehran was boomed, leading   Karim Khan Zand to turn it into the center of his government for four years. It was finally chosen as the capital of Iran by Aqa Mohammad Khan, the first Qajar Dynasty’s (1796-1925) king and was entitled “Dar al-Khelafeh” meaning the capital of a country. Following the expansion of the Qajar government’s power, Tehran developed more and this has been continuing to the present. Of its natural attractions include Ski resorts of Tochal, Shemshak, and Darband Sar.

The Golestan Palace as the mansion of Qajar’s kings remained from Zand (1751-1794) and Qajar Dynasties dating back to 440 years ago and witnessing great historical events, was registered as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Furthermore, there are more than 30 diverse museums with valuable collections in Tehran. For example, the National Museum comprising two sections of Ancient Persia and the Islamic Museum is one of the main museums of the capital. The Museum of National Treasury and the Carpet Museum are other popular museums of the city, while Azadi Tower, Tehran Bazaar, Milad Tower Cultural Complex, and Sa’dabad Museum-Palace are also among the attractions. The main attractions of Ray city also include Abd al-Azim al-Hasani shrine, Tughrul Tower, and Cheshmeh-Ali.

Among the various handicrafts of the province, it can be pointed out to vitreous enamel (Minakari), Jajim (a kind of rug), wood products, and painting on glass and leather. Of the examples of native foods are different kinds of kebab, Dizy (meat stew), Aush (a kind of soup), and Dampokhtak (rice and beans). Zakariyyā al-Rāzī (scientist), Jahān Pahlevān Takhti (wrestler), Fereydoon Moshiri (poet), and Ali Akbar Dehkhoda (linguist) are among the celebrities of Tehran province.

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The Alborz Mountains cover a large part of the south and southwest of the province, while Turkmen Plains (Turkmen Sahra) surrounds its north with Kūh-e Gāv Koshān as the highest point. The climate of Golestan varies widely in different seasons such that the southern and western parts have mountainous, frigid, and semi-arid climates, while the northern areas are temperate and humid.

Before the advent of Islam, Golestan province was one of the oldest, largest and most developed lands in the northwest of Iran. In the middle of the second millennium B.C., this area was the main center of the Aryan civilization, known as Hirkani (Hyrcanian) during the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 B.C.).

There are many historical monuments in these areas including the remains of Alexander’s wall (dam) with an approximate length of 155 km referring to the Sassanid Empire (224-651 A.D.).This dam was built to prevent the invasion of the northern tribes. After the Muslim conquest of Persia in 651 A.D., the Samanid (819-999), Buyid (934-1062), and Ziyarid (930-1090) dynasties ruled over the area. The tomb of Qabus ibn Wushmagir, one of the Ziyarid Sultans still exists near the ruins of the ancient city of Jorjan. This area was widely known as Gorgan until the seventh century but it was later called Esterabad during the seventh to fourteenth centuries.

Golestan province contains various natural and historical attractions, tempting many foreign and domestic tourists to visit it. The main attractions of the province include Caspian Sea shores, Gulf of Gorgan, Miankaleh peninsula, Khalid Nabi shrine, historical cemetery, Ziart waterfall, Kaboud-Val waterfall, Nahkarkhoran forest, Emadieh school of Gorgan, historical bridge of Aqqala, Miran castle, Seyyed Gelich Ishan Mosque and school, Naftiljeh mud volcano, and the Gonbad-e Qabus Tower.

Gonbad-e-Qabus tower has been registered as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In terms of handicrafts, silk weaving, Plaas Bafi (kind of floor mat), Jajim, carpets and rugs of Turkmen, Khorjin, Kilim, and needlecraft could be found in Golestan. However, the province’s souvenirs mostly include caviar, fish, citrus, kiwi, honey, silk, carpet, rug, Turkmen backrest, and Jajim. Furthermore, native dishes include Chakdormeh (Traditional Turkmen rice), Manty, Tomato Aush, mung bean Aush, Aush-e-Heli, Aush-e-Kei, Aush-e- Siyah Sholeh, Kumeh Lakey Borek (Borek of mushroom), Pusigh, Chafati, Akmak, and Potato Borek. When it comes to prominent celebrities, we can mention to Fakhruddin As’ad Gurgani (Poet), Mir Damad (Philosopher), Mir Fendereski (Philosopher), and Magtymguly Pyragy (also known as Ferdowsi of Turkmen Sahra, a poet, and spiritual leader).

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