Iran is a mountainous, arid, and ethnically diverse country of southwestern Asia. Much of Iran consists of a central desert plateau, which is ringed on all sides by lofty mountain ranges that afford access to the interior through high passes.
Tehran, the capital city , is a sprawling, jumbled metropolis at the southern foot of the Elburz Mountains. Famed for its beautiful architecture and verdant gardens, the city fell somewhat into disrepair in the decades following the Iranian Revolution of 1978–79, though efforts were later mounted to preserve historic buildings and expand the city’s network of parks. As with Tehran, cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz combine modern buildings with important landmarks from the past and serve as major centers of education, culture, and commerce.
MASHHAD al-MUQADDAS, TUS, KHORASAN
Mashhad, Iran's holiest city, is located 850 kilometers Northeast of Tehran. Back in the 9th century, Imam Reza (a.s.) was imprisoned and martyred in the city. He was the eighth Imam (head spiritual leader) of Shi ate Islam (Some consider him Imam of all Muslims. His holy position made his tomb a sacred place for pilgrims to worship. Millions of people pay pilgrimage to the holy shrine, undoubtedly the largest and most magnificent of its kind, every year. There are plenty of priceless objects and unique manuscripts in the shrine's library. Mashhad is a tourist city with many hotels of various categories as well as a great number of guest houses for the pilgrims who come to this city from other parts of the country every day on tens of flights, trains and buses.
Before Imam Reza (a.s.) died, the city was known as Sana bad, a small village in the north of Persia. After his death, pilgrims came and ended up staying in Mashhad.
The village grew into a small city because of his shrine. Sunni Muslim forces sacked the city, followed by the Mongols in the 13th century. The shrine was badly damaged and, after time, rebuilt.
In the 16th century, three Safavid dynasty rulers established Shi'ite Islam for the whole territory. The shrine was restored, enlarged, and a Goharshad mosque was built. These rulers made pilgrimages to the site and since then it has become the most holy Shiite pilgrimage in Iran.
The city's climatic condition is varied with very cold winters, pleasant springs, usually mild summers and beautiful autumns. The magnificent holy shrine of Imam Reza (a.s) and the historical and artistic complex attached to it including the courtyards, porticos and porches, the Goharshad Mosque (of Timur id period) as well as its rich museum and Library are the most significant sights to be seen by any visitor and pilgrim. There is a magnificent golden dome over the shrine's building; surrounded by several porches. The Grand Goharshad Mosque is located to the south of the shrine, the museum and the tomb of Sheikh Bahaee to the southeast and Parizad and Salasar Schools to the west.
Other than a number of large, beautiful parks, the other sights are the tomb of Nader Shah and Kooh Sangi pool. There are also some sights outside the city. Tomb of Khajeh Morad kilometers from Mashad along the road to Tehran, the tomb of Khajeh Rabi located 6 kilometers north of the city where there are some inscriptions by the renowned Safavid calligrapher Reza Abbasi, and the tomb of Khajeh Abasalt in a distance of 20 kilometers from Mashad along the road to Neyshabur. (the three personalities were the disciples of Imam Reza). Among the other sights are the tomb of the great poet Ferdowsi in Tus, 24 kilometers away from Mashad; and the summer resorts at Torghabeh, Torogh, Akhlomod, Zoshk and Shandiz.
PILGRIMAGE SITES
- Mausoleum of 8th Imam Ali Ben Musa al-Reza (a.s.)
- Tomb of Khwaja Aba Salat Harvi
- Tomb of lmamzada Sultan Ahmed (a.s.)
- Tomb of Sayyid Ahmed Kabir
- Tomb of Shaykh Bahauddin Ameli
- Tomb of Mohamed ibn Hasani Alhuri Ameli
- Tomb of Abu Ali Hazal ibn Hasan AI-Tibrasi
- Tomb of Khwaja Murad
- Tomb of Khwaja Rabi'i
HISTORIC SITES
- Masjid Gowharshad
- Museum/Library in the Haram of Imam al-Rida, peace be upon him
- Tomb of Nader Shah
- Statue of Nader Shah
- Tombs of Attar and Kamalul Mulk
- Tomb of Omar Khayyam
- Semnan Jam eh mosque
- Mahruq shrine
- Aryamehr Park
- Tomb of Ferdowsi
- Statue of Ferdowsi
- Tomb of Shahrokh Mirza Afshar
QOM
PILGRIMAGE SITES
- Mausoleum of Fatima bint Musa (a.s.), daughter of 7th Imam (a.s.). Well-known as Masooma Qom Fatima bint Musa (a.s.)
- Masjid Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), near the mausoleum of Masooma Qum
- Tomb of Aqa Burujardi (the marja before Ayatullah Mohsin al-Hakim), inside the Haram of Masooma Qom
- Masjid Jamkaran, built in 393 AH under the order of the 12th Imam (a.s.). It is located outside of Qom
TEHRAN
PILGRIMAGE SITES
- Mausoleum of Shah Abdul Azim (a.s.)
- Tomb of Abdul Qasim son of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.) (7th Imam)
- Tomb of lmamzada Musa (a.s.)
- Tomb of lmamzada Shah Tahir (a.s.)
- Koh-e-Bibi Shahrbanu (a.s.)
- Tomb of Al-Shaykh al-Saduq, near the mausoleum of Shah Abdul Azim (a.s.). Shaykh Saduq was one of the greatest Shi'a Alims to have ever lived. He is said to have been born with the prayers of the 12th Imam Al-Mahdi, peace be upon him.