It is not only a hub for Iranians seeking opportunities for work and residence but also a key destination for tourists, who spend a few days exploring its landmarks before embarking on "Tours in Iran". However, after visiting Tehran's attractions, it is worth delving into its outskirts, where many historical and cultural gems await.
Rey: Tehran's Historic Outskirts
Tehran was once a small settlement on the outskirts of Rey, an ancient city first mentioned in the Avesta, the sacred text of Zoroastrianism, as early as the first millennium BCE. Until the 13th century, Rey was a strategic centre, witnessing cycles of destruction and even serving as a capital. Its decline began following the Mongol invasion of Iran. The Mongols, notorious for their brutality, were described by a medieval historian as a "black cloud descending upon the lands of Muslims." The great cities of that era were razed for the slightest resistance, their populations slaughtered or enslaved. Rey, once home to around 100,000 people, was left in ruins, never regaining its former prominence.
Zoroastrian Heritage in Tehran Province
The oldest monuments in Rey date back to Iran's pre-Islamic era, when Zoroastrianism was the dominant faith. Often mistakenly referred to as fire-worshippers, Zoroastrians venerated the four elements, air, water, earth, and fire, and held strict beliefs about their purity. These principles influenced many of their rituals, including burial practices. Since earth was sacred, it could not be defiled by traditional burials, leading to the construction of special funerary towers, later dubbed "Towers of Silence" by Muslim travellers. One such tower, dating back 3,000 years, still stands in Rey.
The city is also home to the ruins of Rashkan Fortress, a stronghold built over 2,000 years ago, adding to Rey's rich historical landscape.
The Legend of Shahrbanu and the Arrival of Islam
Islam replaced Zoroastrianism in Iran, with Shia Islam becoming dominant in the 16th century. A symbolic link between these two eras is the tomb of Shahrbanu, who, according to legend, was the daughter of Yazdegerd III, the last Zoroastrian ruler of Iran, and later the wife of Imam Husayn, one of the most revered figures in Shia Islam.
Shia tradition recounts that before his martyrdom, Imam Husayn sent Shahrbanu eastward on his own steed to protect her from his enemies. However, she was soon cornered by her pursuers. With no escape, she rode towards a sheer rock face, where a miracle occurred: a passage suddenly opened within the stone, and she vanished into its depths, never to be seen again.
The Mausoleum of Toghrul
One of the most remarkable Tourist Attractions in Iran is the Toghrul Tower, built in the 12th century. This 20-metre-tall structure is the mausoleum of Toghrul Beg, the founder of the Seljuk dynasty, and a reminder of Rey's former splendour as the capital of the expanding Seljuk Empire.
However, the lifespan of great empires was often short. Much of the tower's original grandeur has been lost; once adorned with ornamentation and intricate calligraphy, it was crowned with a dome, which collapsed following a devastating earthquake.
Tehran’s Shia Shrine: Shah Abdul-Azim
Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine is the most significant Shia religious site in the region, drawing pilgrims from Tehran and beyond. The complex, built around the tombs of the descendants of Shia Imams, also serves as the resting place of royalty, statesmen, poets, and scholars.
The site's importance was so immense that in 1882, during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Iran’s first railway was constructed with the help of a French engineer to facilitate travel for the ruling elite. While the railway no longer operates, a monument to the old train still stands near the shrine. Today, visitors can easily reach Shah Abdol-Azim by metro.
Cheshmeh-Ali: An Ancient Spring in Tehran Province
One of Tehran's most unusual attractions is the Cheshmeh-Ali Monument, a natural mineral spring that has long been a popular retreat. It was once believed that its waters possessed miraculous properties. Local carpet makers would soak their fabrics here, believing that the colours would become more vibrant.
The site's history stretches back over 5,000 years, as evidenced by archaeological excavations in the 1930s, which unearthed artefacts, ancient city walls, and small mausoleums. Unaware of the site's deep historical significance, Iranian rulers used Cheshmeh-Ali for their own purposes. Near the spring, carved into the rockface, is a royal bas-relief, commissioned by Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, serving as a lasting testament to the site's enduring legacy.
As one of the country's foremost cultural centres, it continues to attract researchers, historians, and travellers from around the world, offering them an invaluable journey into the past, while Hotels in Iran staying at the finest hotels.
Hossein Vaez - Hossein Vaez
