Attractions to visit in Western Tehran

2017-08-27

Tehran is thrived by many domestic and international travelers annually who choose Tehran for the starting point of travel around Iran and had a great impact on its tourism.
The vast city on the feet of Alborz Range has many focal points for tourists who cannot fulfill visiting them in one or two days.

The capital of Iran, since the late 18th century, was a small town, surrounded by mud walls and four gates, which subjected to three phases of expansion. Each of which added notable features to the city and left neoclassical buildings and monuments across Tehran.

The everyday growth of the bustling capital led into the city expanding more and more from east to west and north to south.

Each chunk of the 32nd Iranian capital had developed culture and hobbies of its own to the point that you can see the difference between eastern and western Tehran.

We have decided to introduce you two main tourist attractions of Tehran’s west here. Azadi Tower, western entrance of the capital, and Chitgar Lake, a newly constructed lake at Chitgar Park.

Azadi Tower

In 1969, the implementation of a plan, in order to construct a modern tower for Tehran, was commenced, and in 1971, the tower became operational. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the tower and the surrounding square was named Azadi (freedom) to remind the Iranians’ cry for freedom from the monarchy.

Azadi Tower, with a height of 45 meters and a length of over 63 meters, was considered a symbol of modern Tehran and not only marked the west entrance for guests who were entering Tehran but it was also a gateway to enter the modern era and civilization of the 20th century. However, its architecture combines elements of the architecture of Sassanid and Achaemenid eras as well as Islamic architecture.

The plan of Azadi Tower is a free imitation of Iranian pre-Islamic architecture, Chartaqi (pendentive). The architecture of the head of the tower reminds us of wind catchers in desert regions of Iran because besides the apparent similarity between them, it acts as an air conditioner for the tower. When looking at the curvature in the eastern ceiling of the underpass of this modern Tehran’s symbol, we take a walk down Iran’s memory lane for a moment and imagine that we are marching in the arcade and arches of the Iran’s old markets. The skylights in the first and second floors are an emulation of Shamseh (Sun-like) design in traditional Iranian architecture. The blue color and ceramics, as well as designs between the two arches, invoke the memories of the relaxing atmosphere of the historical mosques in Iran.

The designer of the Azadi Tower, who was inspired by Taq Kasra in designing arches in the building, provided plans for the space around the tower and followed Persian gardens, especially fountains in Fin Garden, in this regard.

Azadi Tower has three floors, four lifts, and two stairways with 286 steps. It also contains Azadi cultural complex, including a museum, library, Knowledge Hall, Iranian Studies Hall, gallery, auditorium, and conference and concert hall.

Chitgar Lake (Lake of the Martyrs of the Persian Gulf)

Migratory birds that once did not find a likely place to temporarily perch on while flying over Tehran, since 2013 can land on the Lake of Martyrs of the Persian Gulf, and perk up the sky and the lake’s green surroundings.

The Lake of Martyrs of the Persian Gulf, accommodated a number of migratory and rare birds, is located near Chitgar Park, Latmal-e Kan Park, and Eram Park. The lake holds over 35 million cubic meters of water which are poured into it by Kan Creek and the district’s run-off. This pleasant landscape of northwestern Tehran, not only stores the water in the reservoir but also accumulates the city’s aquifers, which the sound of every drop alerts the fall in their water level. Additionally, with run-off pouring into the lake, the hazards of seasonal raging torrents have been minimized.

Since the largest Iranian artificial lake has come to operation, breathing in western Tehran became pleasurable because of the humidity which is produced by the lake, placing in the direction of Tehran’s prevailing winds blowing from northwest to southeast.

The lake, which generously has opened arms to Iranian and foreign tourists, migratory birds, aquifers, and prevailing winds, reduces the risk of subsidence and air pollution, too.

The complex, with a total extent of 250 hectares of which 130 hectares are allocated to the lake and 120 hectares are coastal zone, has three artificial islands; Island of Shohaday-e Tonb-e Bozorg with an area of 10,000 square meters is served by cultural and religious centers. The 4,000-square-meter Shohaday-e Tonb-e Kouchak is for cultural, social and artistic activities and 13,000 square-meter area of Shohaday-e Aboumousa and its docks are prepared for recreational activities.

The Lake of Martyrs of the Persian Gulf includes two amphitheaters, seven-kilometer walking lane around the lake, eight kilometers of the bike lane, Ab-o Khak Museum, playground, water park and water sports club, and accommodation facilities. From the North, the complex reaches to Hemmat Expressway and is limited to the residential zone of District 22 from the West, to Chitgar Forest Park from Southwest, to Tehran-Karaj Freeway from South, to Azadegan Expressway from East, and to Chahar Bagh road from Northeast.