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Caspian Sea Coast Land 

This area consisting of three provinces, Gilan (capital RASHT), Mazandaran (capital SARI), and Golestan (capital Gorgan) occupies the coastal belt between the Alborz range and the southern shores of the Caspian-Sea (Darya-ye Khazar). It is for Iranians the most famous tourist region, particularly because of its vicinity to Tehran, and magnificent views of lush forests, most beautiful lagoon, unbelievable mountainous roads, vast rivers, innumerable historic sites, local attractive handicrafts, and hospitable people. The area is generally referred to as Shomal (the North), and no one can claim to have seen Iran if they have traveled through this geographically and culturally unique northern enclave, inhabited by very kind people.

Gilan Province:

The province, with a population of above 2 million and an are of 14,700 sq Km, extends from the Chalous in the northwest of Iran to the western edge of Mazandaran, and is bordered on the west by Ardabil Province and on the south by Zanjan Province. Guilan is the wettest part of Iran, and produces rice, silk cocoons, and tea, which is nowadays the major agricultural specialty of Guilan. A road crosses into the (former Soviet) Azarbaijan Republic at Iranian town Astara and the Caspian passenger ferry between Bandar-e Anzali and Baku is in operation now.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

 RASHT The chance is that when you start your tour of northern Iran, first of all you land in Rasht, capital of Gilan province. Seven meters below sea level and 40 km inland from the Anzali Lagoon, to which it is connected by the Syah-Roud. Rasht is the largest settlement of the southern Caspian and the industrial center of the region. Only 324 km north of Tehran along a good motorway, Rasht is a very popular weekend or holiday destination for Tehranis. The town itself has nothing of major architectural value, but it is presenting a begining tour to the Masuleh, the village protected by UNESCO as the second value historical site (the first one is Venice in Italy), located 56 Km from Rasht to west bound, Anzali and Lagoon , Lahijan, Siahkal lush forest, and Astara. There are many other points of interest, however, besides natural beauty. Visit a silk factory at Rasht; look at the rice paddies at the sea level and the tea plantation on the stony, volcanic soil of the foothills. The main historical sites and tourist features of Rasht are: Safi, Kasseh-Forushan, and Samad-Khan Mosques, the mausoleum of Dana-Ali, and Hasan-Rahmat-Sami’is’, Haj-Khalaj-Qasab’s, and Mrs,Qadiri’s historical houses.

Click for Hotels in Rasht

 MASULEH: Although regions to the south of the Caspian Sea are mainly covered with mountainous and traditionally virgin villages and settlements, but we cannot help mentioning Masuleh, 56 km southwest of Rasht and 1050 meters above sea level, which is actually the most breathtakingly beautiful village here by a dramatic mountain pass and completely surrounded by forest. Approached from Rasht via Fuman village by car by a dramatic mountain pass and completely surrounded by forest, this perfectly preserved village appears to have grown out of its surroundings like a limpet clinging to a rock. It’s formed of several irregular levels of terraced, pale cream houses with gray slate roofs, interspersed with evergreen trees. So steep is the slope that the familiar Iranian network of narrow alleys is entirely absent, and instead the flat roof each level of houses forms a pathway for the level above. The village has few facilities to offer the visitor, but its inspiring setting makes it a perfect antidote to travel in the dry and dusty central plateau, and well worth a day trip from Rasht. It’s bitterly cold in winter, with snow sometimes 3 meters deep, but the climate in summer is extremely pleasant and bracing.

 ANZALI: Out of Rasht, the air becomes purer with the tang of the Caspian, but the lagoon to be crossed is called Mordab-e Anzali, (Anzali Lagoon) in an altitude of 20 m above sea level and 360 km to the northwest of Tehran, an ornitholists’ paradise for the variety of fowl to be seen here. The beach of Bandar Anzali and its naval dockyard Ghazian Are 35 Km Northwest of Rasht. The Anzali, came into prominence in the early 19th century as a result of the Increasing Russian influence over the trade in the Caspian Sea. On the left bank of the channel, one can see the fishery buildings wherein the preparation of the world’s best Caviar precious black eggs- is being carried out as a state monopoly. Two by the outlet of the Anzali Lagoon divides the port; a bridge connects the town to a small-undeveloped island (Beheshti Island), just inside the mouth of the lagoon. The docks and the customs house are on the east side of the outlet, but the main commercial center is on the opposite bank, reached by a single bridge called the Pol-e Ghazian. There is a wide and often wind-swept promenaded along the west bank, facing the harbor. Inhabitants and seamen of Bandar-e Anzali, in its pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, stroll during the evening hours as well as during the whole Friday in the public garden which follows the coast road on the right bank of the channel linking Anzali Lake to the sea. If you become tired of walking, you can sit down on a wooden stool, drink a cup of burning hot tea (Chai) while watching the boatmen in their colorful crafts. The historical sites in Anzali are:, Seyed Hassan Imam Jomeh’s and Motamed’s houses, and the second world war soldiers cemetery.  Click for Hotels in Anzali

 ASTARA: A city at boarder of Iran and the republic of Azarbaijan. This town came into a free zone port in the Is Islamic republic rule as a result of the increasing Azarbayejani influence over the trade in the Caspian Sea and area. When traders from the Western Europe had been the most active in the region, the river port of Langarud, 96 km to the east, was their main outlet to northern Persia. Around 1800 the Russians established their trading post at Bandar-e Anzali, taking advantage of its unrivaled natural harbor. The Russian influence over Anzali run to Astara, and the city bears a remarkable physical likeness to the Azerbaijani port of Baku. There is a provincial Russian air about the town, from its shop displays to its crumbling architecture and lonely promenade, and fair-skinned visitors were usually assumed to be Russian. The historical sites in Astara are: Asadi & Attaei’s houses.

 LAHIJAN: The center of most famous Iranian tea and rice area. Here, if you go into a Chay- Khaneh (tea house) welknown “ Ghahve Khaneh” , and call for a Chai(tea), you will have the opportunity to watch the faces of those drinking tea with the abstracted air of a philosopher occupied with higher problems. The country of Lahijan is located in Gilan province, 51 Km East of Rasht, at 19 meters above the sea level. Lahijan has two districts: Markazi and Siah-Kal. The economy of Lahijan is based on agriculture, animal husbandry, and industrial activities. The top agricultural products of Lahijan include Tea and Rice. Lahijan’s most famous handicrafts are mat, wooden decorations, bamboo, and pottery and felt carpet, which are mostly exported. The industrial factories of Lahijan produce cookies, fitted carpet, dried tea, and stone. Most tea factories can be visited on request: between spring and autumn you can see the processing of the tealeaves. The gorgeous historical sites of Lahijan are: the mausoleums of Chahar-Padeshah (4 Kings), and Mir.Shams-edin date back to the 17th century AD.

MAZANDARAN PROVINCE:

Stretching from the eastern border of Guilan to the frontiers of Golestan province, as well as the (former Soviet) Republic of Turkmanistan in the northwest and bordered by the provinces of Zanjan, Tehran, and Semnan to the south. At its narrowest and most attractive point, roughly between Ramsar and Sisangan, the thickly forested slopes of Alborz roll almost to the sea; but farthest east the coastal strip is up to 60 Km wide. Rice and corn are the main crops but orange groves, visible along much of the coast, are gaining ever-greater importance. Tobacco is grown than Guilan, and shipping activities are developing, particullarly in Nowshahr.

 RAMSAR: Is welknown for its beautiful sea and lush forest viewing and also phosphoric mineral water located in Mazandaran province. It can be reached by road and air from Tehran easily. Click for Hotels in Ramsar

 CHALOUS & Nowshahr: Chalous is a small resort town only 200 km to the North of Tehran in an altitude of 20 m above sea level. Tehranis consider Chalous the nearest seaside resort providing them with forest and greenery as well. It can be reached via Karaj on a good twisting asphalt road and beautiful mountain road with deep gorges. There are two towns with airport facility in the region: Ramsar, 80 km to the east, and the nearby Nowshahr. A cable car services in NAMAK AB-ROOD near closed to Chalous is apportunity making to visitors to see the Caspian Sea from the top of the Alborz Mountain. Click for Hotels in Chalous

GOLESTAN PROVINCE:

 GORGAN: The township of Gorgan is situated in the southwest of the province and its neighbors are: Semnan province from south, Kord Kooy and Bandar Turkaman from west, Ali Abad and Gonbad Kavoos from east, and from north it is limited to Gonbad Kavoos. The center of province of Golestan. The distance between Gorgan and Tehran is 397 km. and has a temperate climate. Gorgan (or Jorjan) was important city in the 4th century AH. specially at the time of Shamsolmaali Qabous Ebne Voshmgir. But from the 4th century lost its importance and was destroyed in the Mongol attack. Gorgan (Jorjan) before Islam, was one of the important provinces of Iran that almost had independence but in certain periods was a part of greater Khorassan. Due to the Mongol and Teimoorian attacks, Jorjan was destroyed. This town was known as Astar Abad till the end of the Qajar dynasty. Astar Abad was named Darolmomenin in the Safavid era. At the time of Nader Shah due to the Turkamans attack, a rampart was made around it. After that in the Qajarieh dynasty, it changed to a new and modern town. In recent times it has rapidly expanded.
TURKMEN-SAHRA: This vast area including: Azadshahr, Minoo dasht, and Gonbad-e-Kavoos protected by UNESCO, which is occupying with one of the Iranian most famous tribes TURKMEN. Handicrafts in this area have great variety and mostly made as small and home industries. The major handicrafts are weaving mats, clim (Coarse Carpet) and coarse blanket (Jajeem), making earth ware and ceramics , weaving bamboo and felt. The Turkmen also are well known with horse husbandry.

GONBAD_E KAVOOS:The same is a majestic structure made of brick, with special technicalities and affects of art, related to the 4th century AH. This structure which is located on a hillock amidst the grand park of Gonbad Kavoos city, is the tomb of Shams-ol-Mali Qaboos Ebne Voshmgir Ziyari (the ruler of the times in Gorgan and a famed scholar as well).
The tower is a fortified building, constructed by strong elements, and consists of beautiful ornamental works in proportionate lines adorned with harmony. The said structure consists of three parts - foundation, the main building and the dome which is conical, rising to an elevation of 55m. The actual structure rests on a round base, 2 m of which is above the ground, and the rest lies as an underground base.
The tower is artistically designed with ten triangular patterns at regular intervals. Two simple epigraphs in the cuneiform embossment script can be observed on the construction dating to 397 AH. The tower has been constructed of red brick, but this color has changed to a golden yellow, under effect of sun rays. The conical dome reaches a height of 18 m. with a plain, polished and a steep gradient surface. Vaulted arches can be noted at the entrance of the tower and this adornment dates to the works of art in the early Islamic period. The Gonbad Kavoos Tower was built in the year 397 AH. and is on historical record in Iran.

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