Not what you expect...North Iran

[aryobarzan]

City of Mashhad:
One of Iran's 5 major cities (over a million population) Is the site of Iran's most important religious shrine (Imam Reza)..The city is also where Iran's most famous Poet/writer "Ferdosi" the author of "shahnameh or the book of kings) is buried. So it is a city for Pilgrims of religious and cultural types . The City is located in North East Iran and close to Afghanistan border.

Here are some photos:

Shrine of Imam Reza:

inside the shrine:

The city core:

Tomb of Ferdosi

 

[SalarHaqq]

City of Mashhad:

Fyi:

One of Iran's 5 major cities (over a million population)

A population of over 3 million even, and Iran's second largest city after the capital Tehran.

Population-wise, Mashhad is the second largest city (within municipality boundaries) but it has the third largest metropolitan area (including all suburbs), with approximately 3,6 million inhabitants.

The second most populous metropolitan area is Esfahan with some 4 million people. However the city of Esfahan proper has a population of 1.95 million. Therefore, of all major Iranian cities, Esfahan is the one with the largest suburban population relative to the city itself (and in fact, the only urban area in Iran where more people live outside the municipal boundaries than inside - a very specific case for Iranian standards).

Is the site of Iran's most important religious shrine (Imam Reza).

A direct descendant of the Prophet of Islam (sws). Not just Imam Reza (as) himself, but also his brothers (at the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz) and sister (Fatemeh Ma'sumeh (as) shrine at the holy city of Qom) have their mausoleums in Iran.

The Imam and his close relatives chose to spread across different corners of Iran to communicate their message to the good people of that land, who welcomed them accordingly.

The city is also where Iran's most famous Poet/writer "Ferdosi" the author of "shahnameh or the book of kings) is buried.

To be precise, Ferdosi's mausoleum is located outside the city of Mashhad, in the suburban town of Tus.

So it is a city for Pilgrims of religious and cultural types . The City is located in North East Iran and close to Afghanistan border.

And also close to the border to Turkmenistan (and to Turkmenistan's capital, Asghabat).

Mashhad is also famous for the high quality saffron and turquoise stones found there, due to both items being procured from nearby areas in Khorasan. Like every area of Iran, it also has its own carpet design style.

Mashhad itself is the capital of Khorasane Razavi province. Formerly, Iran only had one province by the name of Khorasan, which used to be the country's largest in surface, but in 2004, it was divided into three distinct ones: North Khorasan (capital: Bojnourd), Khorasane Razavi, South Khorasan (capital: Birjand).

 

[aryobarzan]

Isfahan city

City of Isfahan is truly an ancient city..The city is said to have been one of the world's biggest cities in the ancient time..Capital of Persian in 15 and 17th century It is a modern city with numerous historical architects ..a Mecca for foreign tourists that visit Iran..so many UNESCO world Heritage sites are in this city..

Iran's largest steel mill and also many military industrial plants are situated in the city making Isfahan an industrial hub for Iran. A 17th century Caravan stop site which is converted to a 5 star hotel is also very famous in the city (Abbasi Hotel).
World largest square (or may be second largest after Tiananmen square in China) is also in Isfahn ..many churches and famous " Char Bagh" boulevard are just few more places to visit. Two universities with many foreign student are also in Isfahan.

Some photos.

City core

A modern underground Metro and shopping malls

Isfahan universities

Isfahan Churches and Vanak Cathedral.

I promised to a PDF member to cover the ancient Underground aqueducts (Qanuts) that you will see in Iranian dry regions
such as Isfahan..these are built in ancient times but still operational in today..They are run for hundreds of kilometers in the desert to bring water to old cities.

 

[HAIDER]

An excellent mixture of centuries old construction art and design and modern day civil engineering.

 

[aryobarzan]

TABRIZ City
Tabriz is the third biggest city in Iran after Tehran and Mashhad and it is an old city with a modern look and two major universities. The antiquity of the city goes back to 4500 years ago. Tabriz was the first capital of Iran during Safavid dynasty and it was the place of settlement of the prince during the Qajar dynasty.

Tabriz is known as the city of the firsts, the city of undergrounds and overpasses, the safest city in Iran, the healthiest city in Iran, the center of investment in Iran. Tabriz is also the second city of tourist attractions in Iran, the second industrial city in Iran, the second city in attracting health tourists in Iran, automobile manufacturing center of Iran, center of diesel engine production in the Middle East.

Panoramic Tabriz.

Historical Tabriz

Arg of Tabriz and Bazar

City core:

Tabriz Metro (underground and above )

Tabriz at nite:

Tabriz Azad university

 

[Aramagedon]

 

[Mandalorian_CA]

Iran is a very beautiful country and the people are very polite. I met Iranians here in Canada , highly educated and very soft spoken.

 

[PakFactor]

Such beautiful architecture

 

[aryobarzan]

Iran is a very beautiful country and the people are very polite. I met Iranians here in Canada , highly educated and very soft spoken.

I have had the same experience with Pakistani people whom I have met in Canada..I once had an engineer from Pakistan in my group .He was a young man and a capable engineer very cheerful and positive person..I recall he went back to Pakistan and came back a month later with a very beautiful girl as his wife that his mother had suggested for him..I told him that we Iranians also have traditions like that but not as lucky as he was..and I should have a serious talk with my mother..lol

 

[Aramagedon]

Thank you brothers.

Feast your eyes:

 

[prashantazazel]

Lovely places.

 

[Aramagedon]

Amazing nature of Gilan:

Rasht:

Bandar Anzali:

Ramsar:

 

[Aramagedon]

Nice:

 

[aryobarzan]

Shiraz city:

The last major city of Iran is Shiraz. Shiraz is the cultural center of Iran. known as the city of poets, literature, and flowers. It is also considered by many Iranians to be the city of gardens, due to the many gardens, and fruit trees that can be seen in the city, such as Eram Garden (By the way the grapes for the famous "shiraz" wine made in Australia was brought in from this city )

When you enter shiraz you pass through ancient "Quran Gate".

Shiraz is also where the Tomb of CYRUS the Persian king is..not far is the Persepolis the Capital of Persian empire.

Shiraz university is one of top universities in Iran

Some views of the city and shopping plazas

Eram gardens

Fortress of shiraz

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

Pardon my off topic question,

I have noticed (from pics here and other places) many Iranian womens are nominally wearing head scarf with skinny leggings or tight fit clothings. Which looks odd to me!

Is it true wearing head scarf is mandatory for women? Do Iranian religious leaders recognize these type of clothings as parda?