Monday, November 07, 2011

Calling Iran from abroad

You can easily call Iran from the United States from your mobile phone or by using international phone cards. Here are the codes you need to use:
- 011 – use this code first for all international calls from the US
- 98 – dial the country code for Iran
- Area code – dial the 2-3 digit area code; for example, the area code for Tehran is 21, while for Shiraz is 711
- Phone number – now insert your phone number, made out of 7 or 8 digits.

For making international calls to cell phones in Iran, use the following sequence:
- 011 + 98 + 9XX XXX XXXX

© Iranvisitor.com

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Dolat Abad Garden Yazd

Dolat Abad Garden (Bagh-e Dolatabad) in Yazd was built in the early 18th century as a residence of a governor of Yazd.

The octagonal wind tower is 33 meters high.

Iranian Music CDs

Books on Iran

Guide to Tehran

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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Vakil Bazaar Shiraz Iran

Vakil Bazaar

Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz is the city's main market and located in the historic heart of the old city.

The market is thought to date from the 11th century and is a good place to buy Persian carpets, ethnic clothes (as pictured), copper ornaments, and local herbs and spices. nearby are a number of mosques, bathhouses, and caravanserais.

Photographs of Iran

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

London Iranian Film Festival

The second London Iranian Film Festival takes place in November from 18-26th with other events and screenings happening throughout the summer.

The Apollo Cinema on London's Regent Street and the French Institute's Cine Lumiere will screen some of the selected movies and there will be awards in four categories: feature film, documentary, short film and animation.

The Opera House in Holland Park showed the film The Song of Sparrows by Majid Majidi on August 22nd.

For further details see the website of ukiff.org.uk

Iranian Music

Books on Iran

Guide to Tehran

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Provinces of Iran

Iran has 31 provinces or ostan each governed by a provincial governor-general. Sistan and Baluchistan is the largest Iranian province by area, slightly bigger than Kerman. Tehran is the largest by population by some distance and has the highest population density.

The provinces are further divided into counties (shahrestan), and then subdivided into districts (bakhsh) and sub-districts (dehestan).

Iran's 31 Provinces

Alborz, Ardabil, Bushehr, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Isfahan, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Kurdistan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, and Zanjan.

Iranian Music CDs

Books on Iran

Guide to Tehran

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Iran's Post Office

Iran's Post Office

Iran’s post office is easily recognized with its yellow logo on a blue background. Iran's postal service is being privatized, though the post office will still be responsible for mail delivery.

Iranian addresses are supposed to have a 10-digit postcode. Ordinary letters up to 250g cost from 30,000 to 70,000 rial (2011 prices) to send overseas depending on the zone.

Iran Post

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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Cyrus Cylinder

The Cyrus Cylinder, a 2,500-year-old clay artefact, has been on display recently at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, on loan for a special exhibition from the British Museum in London.

The Cyrus Cylinder dates from King Cyrus' conquest of ancient Babylon in 539 BCE and his subsequent freeing of the subservient peoples of the city state, who had been enslaved there, including a sizeable Jewish population.

The ancient cuneiform script pronounces the rights of all religious groups to worship the god(s) of their choice.

Over 1 million people are believed to have viewed the Cyrus Cylinder while it was on display in the Iranian capital.

British Museum

Iranian Music CDs
Books on Iran
Guide to Tehran

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Ramsar

The Caspian Sea resort of Ramsar, northwest of Tehran, was the site of the 1971 Convention on Wetlands signed in the town. This year is the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention and a number of events are planned to mark the occasion.

The full list of wetland sites in Iran itself is available here and includes Bujagh National Park, Govater Bay, and Hur-e-Bahu, Lake Gori, Lake Kobi, Lake Urmia, Lake Parishan & Dasht-e-Arjan.

Ramsar Convention

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Friday, February 11, 2011

32nd Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution Day

February 11 is the 32nd Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and a national holiday in Iran.

Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in 1979 at this time.

In The Rose Garden of the Martyrs - Buy this book from Amazon

Other national holidays in Iran are:

Oil Nationalization Day - March 20
This day celebrates the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1951.

Noruz - around March 21-24
Iranian New Year "Noruz" (lit. new day) is celebrated on the Spring Equinox and many Iranian return to their home towns during this period.

Islamic Republic Day - April 1
The anniversary of the beginning of the Islamic Republic.

Sizdah Bedar - April 2
This is the 13th day of the Persian new year when many Iranians leave their homes and go on picnics to avoid bad luck.

Heart-Rending Departure of the Great Leader - June 4
The anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989.

Anniversary of the Arrest of Ayatollah Khomeini - June 5
The anniversary of the arrest of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1963, when he urged Muslims to revolt against the superpowers.

Anniversary of the Death of Dr. Seyed Behesthi - June 28
The anniversary of the death of Dr. Seyed Behesthi, a key Khomeini ally in 1981. Behesthi was killed by a bomb blast, along with 72 other people, at a meeting of the Islamic Republic party.

Day of the Martyrs of the Revolution - September 8
The anniversary of the deaths of several hundred people killed when Iranian troops fired on a Tehran demonstration against the Shah in 1978.

Religious Holidays

Iran also has many religious holidays which are celebrated on dates according to the Muslim lunar calendar.

In The Rose Garden of the Martyrs - Buy this book from Amazon
USA
UK
Japan

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Mehrabad International Airport Arrivals & Departures

Mehrabad International Airport

Mehrabad International Airport is no longer Tehran's major international airport. This is now Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA). Mehrabad Airport in downtown Tehran, remains as the main domestic flight hub.

Iran Air, Iran Air Tours, Mehan Airlines, Kish Air and Iran Aseman are some of the major Iranian airlines flying into and out of Mehrabad Airport (THR).

Iran Air has flights to Ahvaz, Ardabil, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Bushehr, Gheshm, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Kish Island, Lar, Mashhad, Rasht, Shahre-Kord, Sary, Shiraz, Tabriz, Urmia, Yazd and Zahedan.

Departures

Arrivals

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Ice Pack Tehran

Ice Pack is an extremely popular chain store selling ice-cream products, donuts, snacks and hot and cold drinks. Ice Pack was founded by Babak Bakhtiari and began life in Niavaran in Tehran and now has over 200 stores across Iran with franchises in Iraq, the Emirates, Malaysia, Kuwait, Syria, Thailand, UK, Venezuela and Turkey.

Ice Pack
No. 249, next to Saderat Bank, opposite Ettehad St., after Tehranpars intersection, Damavand Ave., Tehran, Iran.
Tel: +98 (21) 77341842

Iranian Music CDs Guide to Tehran

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Images of Masjid-e-Jamkaran Qom

Enjoy these photographs of Masjid-e-Jamkaran in the holy city of Qom, Iran.

The Masjid draws pilgrims from all parts of Iran as well as other countries.

The Masjid was built in the year 393 AH (1003 by the Gregorian calendar) by Hassan Bin Maslah by the order of Imam Madi (A.S), the Twelfth Imam of the Shia Isna Ashari (translated as followers of the Twelve Imams) Muslims.

The mosque is an architectural masterpiece that celebrates Persian art in every corner.

The mosque is a fifteen-minute drive from Qom and the best way to reach the mosque is to take a taxi from outside the Roza-e-Masooma-e-Qum complex.

Images by Mariam Noronha.

Guide to Tehran

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Monday, November 01, 2010

Iran Weather Forecasts

A useful source of detailed weather information in English for Iran is the Iran Meteorological Organization's website

The site has forecasts for Iran's cities, satellite images, weather for road journeys, and climate statistics.

Isfahan Weather

Tehran Weather

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Jameh Mosques

Jameh Mosques مسجد جامع

The most important mosque in a town or city in Iran is called the Jameh or Friday mosque (masjed-e jameh).

People gather for prayers here at noon on Fridays and to listen to the Friday sermon.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Caspian Hostel

Brand new hostel (villa) in a peaceful location 15 km from Mahmud Abad in Caspian Sea. (Less than 4 hours drive from Tehran).

Rustic design, fully furnished, balcony, barbeque, private garden, wooden fireplace.

500 meters from the beach and near 3 national parks (Noor, Sisangan and Chamestan).

Available recreational facilities: ATV, Bicycle Round trip transportation from Tehran is also available.

Contact Dave: caspianhostel[at]gmail[dot]com

© Iranvisitor.com

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Weather in Esfahan

At this time of year Esfahan is slightly cooler than the capital Tehran. There is very little rainfall as a rule in August.

ISFAHAN WEATHER

Most rain occurs in the winter months of December and January.

Tehran Weather

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Popularity of Persian Calligraphy

Persian calligraphy is increasingly popular in tattoos and designs for clothing, jewelry and other fashion accessories.

In ancient Persian tradition calligraphy of poetic phrases was often combined with graphic motifs.

A number of tattoo parlors in the west specialize in both Persian and Arabic script and there are also Facebook groups for fans of the art. Persian calligraphy now rivals Chinese and Japanese characters in popularity with people wanting a graphic and meaningful tattoo.