Rasht is located 327 kilometers from Tehran. It is one of the metropolises of Iran, the center of Gilan province in northern Iran and also the largest and most populous city among the three Caspian Sea provinces; Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan.

Climate

It is one of the greenest provinces of Iran and most of its popularity is due to its unique climate. The weather in Rasht is moderate and semi-Mediterranean, with warm and sultry summer and humid and cold winters. It has the first rate of rainfall in Iran and is known as City of Rain.

Rasht has been also named the city of silver rain due to rate of rainfall. Lowest precipitation is in the summer months especially in August, and most of it is in September and November.

The continuous rains in Rasht and Guilan have forced the people of these areas to use appropriate coverings in their roofs. The best and most appropriate cover for their roofs was the use of pottery.

The minimum temperature is 11° C and the maximum 20° C in Rasht.

Culture

Although Gilan is one of the smallest provinces in Iran but it is a province with ethnic and dialectal diversity. Different ethnic groups in Rasht and other areas of Gilan have peaceful coexistence which has created a common culture.

People of Rasht has different and various rituals which have caused the city’s reputation and cultural excellence among different ethnic groups in Iran.

Rasht has been playing a major role in Iranian history. It was Iran’s gateway to Russia and Europe; therefore it was influenced by western architecture. Iran’s first public library was built here and it was the first city in Iran where girls were allowed to go to school.

Iran has designated January 2 as Rasht Day to commemorate the historic city of Rasht.

Language

The people of Rasht speak Gileki; it is a Caspian language and a member of the northwestern Iranian language branch, however Persian is the official national language.

Traditional Foods

Rasht has got UNESCO’s recognition as one of the best places in the world for its gastronomy. Its gastronomy sector benefits from a rich variety of natural resources and rely on the exploitation of local resources, especially various species of fish and in-season products. Rashti cuisine has not only carried on ancient recipes, but also unique cooking utensils and methods.

Rasht is full of traditional and local foods. Sour Kebab (Kabab Torsh in Persian) and Mirza Ghasemi (a vegetarian eggplant, tomatoes and egg dish) are two of the well-known foods in Rasht.  Baghali ghatogh is also quite popular which is a stew made of vegetables, garlic, beans and eggs.

Souvenir

The most common souvenirs from Rasht areolives, olive oil, fish, pomegranate molasses, Lavashak (sour fruit rolls) and handicrafts.

Rasht city of the first

–          The first branch of Bank Sepah of Iran was established in Rasht in 1925

–          The First Girl’s School in Iran was established in Rasht

–          The first day & night pharmacy in Iran was established in Rasht

–          The first sanatorium for the elderly and disabled in Iran was established in Rasht

–          The first National Hospital of Iran was established in Rasht

–          The first National Library of Iran was established in Rasht in 1920

–          The first Iranian Theatre hall was established in Rasht

–          The first city in which the sewage system was established

–          Iran’s first railway was in Rasht

–          The first bus arrived in Rasht

–          The first city in which the Russian, British, French, and Ottoman governments opened their consulates and had political representatives.

Rasht Tourist Attractions

Rasht has a lot of monuments due to its long history. Unlike many smaller Iranian cities, Rasht has great nightlife and you’ll see tons of people hanging out in the big squares by night time.

Rasht is known for its famous building of municipality located in a square called the ‘Square of Municipality’ which was constructed about 1900. It is Rasht’s most identifiable landmark, its colonial style tempered by a token mini-dome topping a distinctive whitewashed tower. It looks great when floodlit at night. This historical square dates back to Pahlavi dynasty and is one of the modern places of Iran from the past up to now. Today, some historical parts like Telegraph Museum, Old hotel, Clock Tower and other buildings can be seen here. Existence of markets and stores in this square has made here one of the destinations of people for walking and disporting.

‘Rasht Bazaar’ is one of the attractions in Rasht. It is hypaethral place and the variety of products, their quality and their freshness is one of the most important reasons for the popularity of this bazaar among people and tourists. It is the largest open roof bazaar in the country.

‘Tomb of Mirza Kuchak Khan’, reputedly known as Sardar-e-Jangal is located in the south of Rasht. This simple and at the same time beautiful monument enjoys high respect of all who visit the vicinity.

‘Gilan Rural Heritage Museum’ is located 18 km south of Rasht; an open air museum which is devoted to the rural and ancestral life, is the first one in Iran and remains so far the unique museum of this type in Iran and beyond in the Middle-East and the Central Asia.

‘Saqalaksar Dam Lake and Village’ is located 15 kilometers south of Rasht behind an embankment dam in Saqalaksar Village. Saqalaksar Village is a picturesque area where tourists can see villagers work hard in rice paddies.

‘Qadiri House’ in Rasht is one of the historical buildings of the province that is related to late Qajar period and early Pahlavid period.

‘National Library’ the first public library of Iran is another places in Rasht which attracts visitors.

‘Saravan Natural park’ is one of the oldest forest fields of Gilan which for its various plant species is rare across the country and even across the world. There is a small pond at the entrance of Saravan forest park which is incredibly beautiful. This pond has a wooden platform and two swan shaped boats for wandering on the water.

Eynak lagoon (glasses lagoon) is located in the west of Rasht, it is considered as the second largest pond of Gilan province. This pond is called Eynak (glasses) as it is seen as one in aerial photos.

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Rudkhan Castle was a military medieval fortress built during the Sasanian Empire (224 – 651 AD) to defend the northern part of the country from southern Arab invaders. This large castle has been renovated and strengthened several times throughout the centuries.

For most of the duration of its life, the castle has been mostly used for uprisings and riots against the central power in the country, and even though it has gone through a huge amount of violence and brutality, it still stands strong, hidden in the middle of Northern Gilan’s jungles. In fact, Rudkhan Castle is one of the best well preserved remains of fortifications in ancient Iran.

This one thousand year old castle is built with an area of 2.6 hectares and sits smartly at the two peaks of a mountain with 670 and 715 m tall and occupies 50.000 sq. m. of area. It is also reinforced by strong fortifications and battlements at a length of 1,550 meters. While constructing the fort, the architects benefited from the natural mountainous features of the territory. The castle’s 42 towers still stand intact.

The castle consists of several parts, most notable of which are the water reservoir, twelve gates, the prison, 42 watchtowers, housings, and the king’s quarters. The king’s quarters are located on the highest point of the castle and feature breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Castle has two sections, namely one royal residence for the king and royal family, and another residence for soldiers and military activities. The east side of the Fort is a bit smaller and has more military characteristics.

There is such a river called Rudkhan Castle River, which flows near the castle, stretching from south to north. After passing through the dense forests, the big entrance gate of the castle catches your eye at the first. It is situated on the northern side of the castle and has a gate and two towers on its two wings.

To reach the castle, you need to hike in the jungle. Depending on how prepared you are, this hike can take from 1 to 2 hours. The path towards the castle is clearly marked and there are numerous small vendors on your path. The steep path to Rudkhan Castle makes it seem unreachable for some travelers, but all who have reached the castle would agree that the beauty of the jungle and the path itself are what make this hike worthwhile.

The best season to visit Rudkhan Castle is in spring and summer and visiting this area is a bit hard due to it is located in mountains in fall and winter.

If you are visiting Gilan province, don’t miss the chance to see Rudkhan’s outstanding castle. It is highly recommended to start your hike early in the morning (especially in summer, when it can get very hot and humid during the day), so you can enjoy your visit in a less crowded environment.

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The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue its path of independence and development which was started 40 years ago, he noted.

Rouhani praised the resistance of Iranian nation in the face of US sanctions, saying, “enemies wanted to name this year as the year of their victory and our defeat, but the great Iranian nation has resisted all pressures exerted by the enemies.”

At the first stage of their plot, enemies were after provoking the Iranian nation to breach the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), however, they didn’t gain any victory in this field, said Rouhani.

The president then added that the United States saw its isolation in the world and decided to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal unilaterally.

Washington thought that it could break the Iranian nation’s resistance with the imposition of sanctions but the nation resisted and enemies’ next plot was also foiled in the UN Security Council session in which all member countries voiced support for Iran against the will of US President Donald Trump, Rouhani noted.

“The United States’ withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a violation of rules and regulations, standing against the United Nations and the world,” the official website of Iran’s Presidency quoted him as saying.

Enemies wanted to unite the world against Iran in Warsaw conference but they failed, he added.

Iran seeks constructive interaction with all countries, he said, adding, “some countries themselves have created problems, distancing themselves from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and it is their fault.”

Stating that the enemies make the problems, but they will definitely not achieve their goals, president said, “during the economic war, the country needs a single commander; I suggested to the Leader to be the commander, but he said it is the president who has to be the commander of this war.”

Elsewhere, he went on to say, “we promised that we would work towards self-sufficiency in energy consumption and today, we are fully self-sufficient in this sector.”

Referring to the government’s promise to people to connect four major provinces to the nationwide railway system, he said, “Hamedan, Kermanshah, Urmia, and today, Rasht, are connected to the system.”

“Bandar-e Anzali and Caspian Sea must be connected to the Persian Gulf through railways as soon as possible,” continued Rouhani.

He also stressed the importance of the environment and protecting the wetlands of Gilan Province.

Rouhani further said that the construction process of Rasht-Astara, which is very important for international purposes, would begin today.

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According to Shahram Ramin, the head of the archaeological excavation team at the ancient site of Shahran near Rostamabad, several graves were discovered in the site with grave goods.

This group of graves, which according to archaeologists is related to the Iron Age, is about 3000 years old. The area where the graves were found is located along the Rasht highway, close to a newly constructed petrol station, and was at risk of destruction due to the implementation of this project.

Given the immediate danger, a team of archaeologists led by Shahram Ramin urgently started salvage excavations at the site.

During excavations, several graves have been discovered, the most complete of which contains remains of human skeleton buried with a sword and pottery vessels full of animal bones indicating food offering to the deceased man.

According to Sara Khalifeh Soltani, a bioarchaeologist from Boston University, the skeleton belongs to a male about forty years old, with a height between 160 and 167 centimeters.

According to Ramin, given the importance of these findings, detailed recording of the grave and its findings using laser scan is planned.

In addition to the Iron Age graves, a number of stone tools have been discovered in a deeper depth, which, according to preliminary examination by archaeologists at the National Museum of Iran, probably date back to Epipaleolithic period, about 12 thousand years old.

Gilan is well-known for its rich Iron Age cemeteries that were excavated during last century such as Marlik. This rich Iron Age culture probably belonged to a group of people who migrated into Iran from Central Asia in early to mid-2nd millennium BCE. The abundance of arms, horse-trappings (as well as horse burials), and spouted vessels among the grave goods are characteristics of this ancient culture.

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