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Posts Tagged ‘Iran’

Population: 70.7 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Tehran
Area: 1.65 million sq km (636,313 sq miles)
Major language: Persian
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 72 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 10 Iranian rials = 1 toman
Iran is a massive slab of Middle Eastern territory sandwiched between dangerous frontier of Afghanistan and Pakistan to the East, and Iraq to the East. Iran is a nation that suffers a serious image problem brought about by the tumult of its adjacent countries and bad international press, that is, sadly, at times true. The stigma of its official name Islamic Republic of Iran may effect on an amateur traveller some shuddering. But rest of the world perhaps remains mystified. Ever heard of Persian colours? This is a famous runner for Iran tourism promotions, and by being here in this vibrant nation of gold, red, and blue hues would enlighten the traveller as to why. Surely, anybody has heard of the Persian Gulf, where many battles were waged, or the blockbuster 300, which made waves in Iran more for the politics of the movie than the breakthrough in cinematography that it is. Just don’t cross to Iran via these aforementioned borders, or a mighty danger you’re getting yourself there.
GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE 

Iran is one of those countries one needs to take for what it is, that is the “Land of attractions.” Iran is nothing like a sand dune with uninteresting land features, where political distress and violence are exclusive past times. The vast landscape of the 18th largest country in the world by territory with all sorts of natural scenery, offers warm arid deserts, cool humid forests, even cooler snow-capped rugged mountains, and flower-filled plains, all 1,648,000 km2 of Iranian territory. The Mt. Damavand is the highest point of the country at an altitude of 5671 metres, an ordeal and an excitement to trek. To be found in the Middle East, 35 40 N, 51 25 E, the climate is so diverse in terms of region: the heat and cold extremes of north summer and winters, respectively, and the subtropical climate along the Caspian coast. The high time to enjoy the beauty-laden nation is springtime (or fall) during which weather won’t be a concern, just the visa, which most nationalities can acquire at the airport for a validity of no more than a week.

PEOPLE & CULTURE  Read more...

Iran is a semi-arid country and could be extremely hot at certain geographical points in Summer time. While traveling in Iran, specially if it is in the hot season, you should be aware of how you’re taking the trip. Otherwise, you may jeopardize your health and this Is not what you want.

To make sure you can be happily traveling in Iran and enjoy every moment of it in good health, keep the following Iran travel tips in mind:

1) Drink Plenty of Water

In a dry country like Iran, your body can lose lots of water, which needs to be replaces. The best drink you may have is water. Make certain you have sufficient reservoir of bottled water while traveling in Iran. Sometimes, distances are quite long and you have to wait for a long time before you get to the next source of water or shop to buy it.

This is particularly true when your kids are with you on such a trip in Iran. They are different from adults and should be taken care of with more forethought.

2) Put Sun Cream on Your Skin

The sunshine could have different effects on your skin depending on the country you are coming from and your skin color. Either you are exposed to the Sun at home or you are not from a sunny country, it is always better to protect your skin by applying Sun cream to it several times a day.

3) Protect Your Skin by Long-Sleeve Clothes

Many people tend to feel inclined toward wearing short-sleeve shirts or even shorts to feel cooler in a hot country. The fact is you can learn the best way of surviving in a country from its local people.

Looking at the local costume of people in Iran, you will see that they are entirely dressed no matter they are living in high mountains of the North or low plains of the South. In all cases, when you put on long-sleeve shirts and cover your legs, you better protect your skin from sunburn.

4) Wear Proper Footwear

Heat, dust, mud, bugs, etc are not any easy things to put up with. Summer time in a dry part of the world would mean hot climate and lots of dust. A bit of water on such dirt and dust could make mud. In particular places like farms, bugs, flies and mosquitoes could add to the problem.  Read more...

Iran travel tips

Name of Iran

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling Shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces subsequently crushed Americanizing, yet also liberal/left-wing, influences. Iranian student protesters seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. From 1980 to 1988, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq over disputed territory. Key current issues affecting the country include the pace of accepting outside modernizing influences and reconciliation between clerical control of the regime and popular government participation and widespread demands for reform. Unemployment among the youth is also an issue.

People of Iran

Humans have inhabited the area that makes up modern Iran since the stone age. The ancient Persians arrived about 1500 BC, one branch of the great movement of people that also brought northern India and most of Europe their modern populations. The name Iran is from the same root as “Aryan” which, until Hitler perverted it, was just an ancient name for those invading peoples. Persian (or Farsi) is an Indo-European language; ancient Persian was related to Sanskrit, ancient Greek, and all the others in that family. Modern Farsi is closely related to Dari, one of the two main languages of Afghanistan, and to Tajik, a major language of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Persians are ethnically and linguistically unrelated to their neighbors on the West, the Arabs and Turks.

However, Iran has many people other than ethnic Persians. The Northwestern region, Azerbaijan, is largely populated by Azeris, who are ethnically and linguistically close to Turks. Other regions are mostly Kurds or Baluchis, two other Indo-European groups. There are also Armenians, Turkomans, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Arabs, and a small community of sephardic Jews. Afghans have come to Iran for work and education for centuries, and recently many have come as refugees,

There are also two substantial communities of people of Iranian descent in India and Pakistan — Parsis who have been there for over 1000 years, and Iranis who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries — both Zoroastrians who fled religious persecution in Muslim Iran.

History or iran  Read more...

The next time you take your yearly vacations, take a peek at what Iran offers you before deciding on your travel itinerary. You will be surprised by the gamut of vacationing options available here. The vista unfolding before you is one of a beautiful country with its rich traditions and exciting landscape. The friendly people beckon you to visit and have a taste of the variety on offer.

But before you sort out your travel plans, make sure that you heed Iran travel tips which are essential when you go around the country. These tips will be handy when you travel Iran. There are also plenty of Iran travel packages which you’d better take advantage of if you want to spend your time in a worthwhile way.

Handy Tips for the Visitors

Since Iran is a vast country with many potential sight-seeing places, you need to map out your travel itinerary well in advance keeping in view the fact that it is a relatively unknown country. You must keep in mind the emotions of the local people and the etiquette that is to be expected from you while visiting the country.