Iran – Peek into the Glorious Persian Empire of Past

Iran is a Central Asian country located on the north-eastern coast of the Persian Gulf. Also surrounded by the Caspian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, Iran shares its boundary with countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Iraq. The country can be visited to explore the remains of Persian Empire and many other wonderful tourist sites and entertainment venues.

History:
Ancient settlements are known to settle in Iran during the fourth century BC. Proto-Iranian tribes ruled the region during the 3rd and the 2nd centuries. In the 1st century BC, Iran was occupied by Medes, Persians, Bactrian, Scythian, Parthian and Cimmerians. Achaemenid Empire was formed by uniting the Medes and Persians during the first millennium. The Parthian Empire and Sassanid Empire were the next rulers to follow till the first millennium AD.  During all those years, the present day Iran was called by the name of Persia.

Persia was conquered by Islamic rulers that remained powerful till the 9th century AD. After this, a number of Iranian dynasties became powerful and ruled various parts of the country for many years. In the beginning of the 16th century, the Safavid Dynasty took over the whole of Persia and their rule was ended by Afghan rebels in the 18th century. Afsharid Dynasty and Zand Dynasty were next to rule the country. By the end of the 18th century, Persia lost its parts to Russia and Britain.

Finally, the Persian Constitutional Revolution took place and in 1906, Iran was able to have its first national parliament. In the 20th century, Shah Rule became powerful, but was put to an end with the Iranian Revolution in 1978. Events like zseizing of US embassy and Saddam Hussein’s attempt to expand Iranian rule has kept Iran in news even till date.

Popular Places:
Apart from the national capital Tehran, Iran has various other popular cities like Kerman, Mashad, Shiraz and Hamedan. Kish Island in Iran is popular for various tourist attractions and hotels. Qeshm Island is another popular place among tourists for featuring wonderful marine forests. Tomb of Cyrus can be visited in Pasargad and Susa can be visited for its ancient significance.

Iranian beaches like the Caspian Coast and Bushehr beach are other places of tourist attraction. A number of historical structures like Persepolis, Takht-e-Soleyman, Bisotun and many more like them can take you to the past. Lake Urmia, Vank Cathedral, Eram Garden and Quran Gateway are some other attractions to mention. However, there is no limit to how much time you can spend exploring the popular places of Iran.

Getting Around:
Domestic flights, national and local bus networks and passenger trains are the best means to travel around Iran. You can also prefer to have a taxi or a car on rent for the same purpose, a good guide to smooth travel is to keep some small notes and change handy to pay for your journey.

Places of Entertainment:
Beaches of Iran are the best entertainment places, as one can participate in variety of water sports or simply relax on sand. Ski resorts are other popular venues in Iran to have unlimited fun. A number of shopping places can be visited all around the country. One can also prefer to visit various museums located in all parts of country. Eating at various restaurants offering local and international cuisines is another good experience.

Accommodation Options:
Accommodations in Iran are available in the form of luxury hotels, budget hotels, bed & breakfast, Motels, youth hostels, guesthouses and villas with all types of facilities.

Currency:
Rial is the official currency of Iran. Coins are available in the denominations of 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 and notes as 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, and 50000 rials, for the latest exchange rates check the news and internet.

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