IRAN

Location - Middle East; Capital - Tehran; Population - 77 million; Currency - Iran Rial

Coming from Turkey, I headed for Rasht near the Caspian Sea, in 1999. I found the Iranians to be the friendliest, most hospitable people I've ever met

The Iranian Rial

Local shop workers in Rasht pose for a photo

The hills surrounding Ramsar

Ramsar is on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the World's largest lake

Closer to Rasht is the hillside town of Masule, where the slate roofs form the paths for the level above

Masule, at an altitude of 1050 metres - it's well worth a day trip from Rasht

Picnicking with the very kind Mogaddam famliy in Masule

Tehran's city centre

The mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, on the outskirts of Tehran

The shrine containing Imam Khomeini, Tehran.
He's better known in the west as Ayatollah Khomeini

The beautiful mosques at Imam Khomeini Square, Esfahan

The 17th century Imam Mosque, Esfahan

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Imam Khomeini Square, Esfahan

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Esfahan

Blue tiles cover the entrance to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Esfahan

A mural in Esfahan. Khomeini on the left, Khameini on the right

Chehel Sotun Park, Esfahan

Atigh Friday Mosque in Shiraz

The gardens of the Hafez mausoleum, a Persian poet from the 14th century, Shiraz

Relaxing in the teahouse of the Hafez Mausoleum gardens, Shiraz

The ruins of Persepolis, built around 518 BC under the Achaemenian Empire. This is the Xerxes Gateway

The Parade of the Nations, Persepolis

A badgir, or windtower, in the South Eastern city of Bam - they cool homes by channelling breezes

The incredible 16th century mud citadel called the Arg-e Bam, Bam

Bam's inner citadel - an earthquake hit this area in 2003, and reports say that Bam was 'levelled', though I don't know how accurate these reports are

The inner citadel of Arg-e Bam, Bam

Army barracks within the inner citadel, Bam

Path to the entrance to Arg-e Bam citadel, Bam

A superb view from the top of the Arg-e Bam. Beyond the mud city are date palms followed by desert, desert and more desert. Bam

View from Arg-e Bam, Bam

Website and content Copyright © 2008-2011 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.

LINKS

www.tourismiran.ir - Iran tourist board

www.irantouronline.com

www.irtat.ir - news and info

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.