The ICHHTO has recently been changed into a ministry, and Mounesan was picked as President Rouhani’s candidate to serve as the minister.

“In 2017, the number of foreign tourists visiting Iran stood at 4.7 million. In 2018, the number reached 7.7 million, and we witnessed a boom in the first four months of the current year compared to the same period in previous years,” he added.

“Around March 2018, we received a governmental notice warning about the behavior of the US administration and its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, so we started to plan accordingly so that the measures would not affect the number of tourists visiting our country,” Mounesan added.

He said one of these plans was to define new target markets.

“For instance, we implemented a one-way visa waiver with Oman. Recently, we did the same with China. From Oman alone, we received 4,700 tourists. The number has reached 12,400 tourists since the past three months,” he added.

“We have made plans and set our sight on regional markets. As of now, tourists visit Iran for receiving treatment, besides doing pilgrimages. This has brought in a lot of revenues for the country, even more so than revenues brought in by European tourists,” he said.

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He added that the majority of the cars were manufactured by Volkswagen, with others belonging to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Peykan. The cars were manufactured between 1950 and 1975, he said.

Darvishi maintained that the aim of the tour is to protect vintage cars in the capital.

The tour will begin at Niavaran Complex in northern Tehran, and continue through major highways to make a stop at the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization near Azadi Tower. The tour will wrap up on the premises of the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran.

Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran is an institution at the vice presidency and the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization. It is related to the tourism industry, and its tasks includes facilitating the travel of owners of vehicles abroad or foreign tourists who are traveling to Iran by their own vehicles. The institution also helps develop tourism through establishing tourism information offices at home and abroad, as well as developing infrastructures and tourism Services.

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Nasir-ol-molk Mosque is one the tourist attractions of Shiraz which was built during the Qajar dynasty at the end of the 19th century. It is one of the most unique and different mosques in Iran. The mosque is famous for its colored glasses and its tiles are unique in their kind.

This mosque is called by many different names. Mostly known as the “Pink Mosque” because its tiles are beautifully decorated with a pre-eminently pinkish rose color, it is also called the “Mosque of colors,” the “Rainbow Mosque” or the “Kaleidoscope Mosque”.

It is located in a region in the southern part of Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street. The mosque was built by order of Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir ol Molk, a Qajar ruler. Mohammad Hasan-e-Memar, an Iranian architect, and Mohammad Reza KashiSaz were two designers of this mosque. The construction of this elegant mosque was finished after 12 years.

It is 2890 square meters and considered as one of the most valuable mosques in Iran in terms of construction, especially tiling and muqarnas (a form of ornamented vaulting in Islamic architecture). It has two shabestan (an underground space that can be usually found in traditional architecture of mosques, houses, and schools in ancient Iran which were usually used during summers) in east and west.

The eastern Shabestan has seven columns that are located in the middle of the space and are in a row. The most amazing part of the mosque is the western Shabestan. There are twelve columns which are placed in two rows of six. Seven arches are located between the two pillars, and at the end, there is an attractive tiled altar. The floor of the altar is made of marble and its surface is lower than the floor of the Shabestan. The western Shabestan has seven wooden doors with colored glasses that open to the courtyard.

With dazzling stained glass, thousands of painted tiles on the ceiling and Persian rugs covering the floor, this place of worship is a gorgeous rainbow of color in every direction, like stepping into a kaleidoscope.

There is an open courtyard with a rectangular pool in the center of the mosque, surrounded by flowers. The building’s facade features dozens of Islamic arches, adding to the beauty of the light show from the stained glass.

Despite other mosques, Nasir-ol-molk Mosque has no dome, which indicates that this religious building was quite personal and not used by the public. The tiling of this mosque is unique and the use of pink color is one of the features of the mosque which is not usual in any other Iranian mosques.

In autumn and winter, when the sunlight shines through the colorful glasses, and reflexes it on blue mosaics, make a dazzling view inside this mosque which making this mosque outstandingly aesthetic among other mosques of Iran.

Recently, Nasir-ol-molk Mosque has been lighted at nights as well; the light passes through the colored glasses and spreads into the yard and all over the mosque.

Nasir-ol-molk Mosque is still used for worship. It was registered in Iran’s National Heritage on February 1955 under the registration number of 369.

The best time to visit Nasir-ol-molk Mosque is early in the morning before 9 a.m when the hall and its Persian carpets are illuminated with a kaleidoscope of patterned flecks of light.

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Iran is a country of immense beauty, charm, and ancient-world mystery. From the Caspian Sea in the north to the Persian Gulf in the south, Iran is filled with numerous tourist attractions–mostly untouched.

Among many attractions, astronomy tourism, a type of tour which can flow a big sum of money to the sector’s pockets, has garnered a lot of attention lately.

Iran – a land covered with wide deserts in the eastern and central parts, where the melody of the wind is the only sound that reaches the visitor’s ears – offers some of the most pristine star-gazing conditions in the world.

To make the pest of such opportunities, travel agencies have been trying to organize tours on this ancient fascination to allow interested individuals to witness the beauty of the night sky it all its glory, far away from cities’ light pollution.

Worth to mention, the deserts of Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut provide clear skies for astronomy enthusiasts, making them some of the greatest places on the planet to witness the Heavens, and learn about the mythology of the stars, find constellations in the sky, listen to their stories in an interactive experience.

There are many other ancient sites in the country used to be the centers for mathematical astronomy. It should come as a little surprise that such places have now become top travel destinations for the aficionados.

Mathematical astronomy was used to build multistory ziggurat towers, such as Chogha Zanbil in Susa (in present-day Khuzestan province), dating back to the Elamite Era. Ziggurats functioned as observatories; at seven-floors high, ziggurats were used by astronomers to observe and record the movement of celestial bodies. Tables with astronomical computations of the distances between stars have been preserved and contain information on the basic fixed stars and constellations, their relative positions, and periods of the solar rising and settings, among others.

Ka’ba-ye Zartosht in Naqsh-e Rostam (located in present-day Shiraz), which was built during the Achaemenid Era, bears surprisingly detailed inscriptions of the cycle of days.

In the following centuries, more advanced structures called Chahar Taghi (meaning ‘four arches’ in Farsi) were used by astronomers to create calendars and almanacs. The most famous of such structures are the Niasar Chahar Taghi, Isfahan Province and the Radakan Chahar Taghi, Khorasan Razavi Province.

Sadly, not everyone has the time to take an astronomy tour; life has a habit of getting in the way of living; so, the stars have been brought to the city.

Gonbad-e Mina Planetarium

The Gonbad-e Mina Planetarium, located in the Abbasabad Hills area of Tehran, is designed to show the night sky in all its glory – even during the day.

The planetarium makes sure everyone gets a chance to gaze upon the starts without the nuisance of light pollution.

Featuring a full-dome 3D planetarium, Gonbad-e-Mina is said to be the largest in the Middle East. It provides astounding views of the sky reflected upon the ceiling.

There is a projector at the center of the planetarium and separate projectors for the Sun, the Moon and other planets and stars. It has been primarily built for presenting educational and entertaining shows on astronomy.

One of the most intriguing star shows at the planetarium is the projections of the night sky at various latitudes and longitudes at any moment in the past. Visitors are also treated to the position of unique constellations as seen from the northern and southern hemispheres.

The projection system, paired with the digital surround sound channels provide a surreal experience as you are taken on a journey through space.

The planetarium also houses a museum, showcasing ancient artifacts used thousands of years ago to observe and study the sky. One such artifact is the 2000-year-old Parthian Battery – discovered in the ancient city of Ctesiphon in 1936 – which is said to have been used as an electrical storage device. Another item of note is an astrolabe; a very ancient astronomical computer for solving problems relating to time and the position of the Sun and stars in the sky.

Other projects

There are a few other projects underway across the country to boost astronomical tourism capacities.

A major one is the Iran National Observatory in Kashan, Isfahan province.

The observatory is currently under construction and is slated to become operational by Autumn 2020.

Its design includes three stations with one large and two smaller telescopes, making it possible for the aficionados to enjoy looking deep into the skies.

The government is paying special attention to the tourism sector in line with the policies to diversify its revenue sources and reduce reliance on selling crude oil.

According to World Travel and Tourism Council’s annual research, the travel and tourism sector grew at 1.9% to contribute 1,158 trillion rials ($8.83 billion) or 6.5% of overall GDP and 1,334 jobs (5.4% of total employment) to the economy in 2018.

The WTTC report also shows international visitors spent 168,954 billion rials ($1.28 billion) in Iran in 2018. The council expects the number of international arrivals to stand at 6.5 million in 2019.

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The 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee started at Baku’s Heydar Aliyev Center on June 30 and will continue through July 10.

As many as 2,500 delegates from more than 180 countries representing foreign states and international organizations are attending the event.

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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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Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Russia, Armenia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar were the main export destinations for the products during the period.

The exports mainly included traditional glassware, hand-woven products, mosaic and wood carving.

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Over 700 meteorite pieces, which have hit the Lut Desert (a large salt desert located in the provinces of Kerman and Sistan and Balouchestan) and other parts of the country over time will be showcased during the exhibition.

The event will be attended by a large number of prominent geoscientists, associated academia and dignitaries, including the renowned meteorite expert Hojjat Kamali, who is a record holder spotter, collector and museum owner of such outer space rocks.

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