Exploring Tehran "Paris of Asia"
Trip Start
Feb 27, 2002
1
2
Trip End
Mar 12, 2002
Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Iran has many beautiful and historical cities like Isfahan,Shiraz and Mshad but Tehran,the capital city is a land of exotic beauty.Our national Poet Allama Iqbal,Known as "Poet of East" named Tehran as "Paris of Asia".Since the independence of Pakistan both countries have shared good bilateral relations in terms of trade,tourism,cultural collaborations and various university students exchange programmes.
In 2002,during my master programme at the University of Karachi,many Iranain students were also studying in different departments.As I had full command over Persian language most of them became my good friends.They were very interactive and lively students who inspired me to explore Iran,which is a combination of eastern and western societies.I developed special friendship with Miss Zahra Lotfifard,an Iranian student of Urdu language in University of Karachi who inspired me to visit Iran.She belonged to a businessman family of Tehran.
In May 2005,She had gone back to her country and invited me to visit Iran.Finally I took the flight of "Hava Pemaee Iran" a weekly three hour direct flight from Karachi to Tehran to reach Meharabad Airport-Tehran,an International Airport of Iran.As soon as aeroplane landed at the airport I became very excited to see the historical airport and my friend Zahra Lotfifard as well.The immigration and custom staff of Iran treated welcomed me and treated me with great respect.All of a sudden I found Zahra weaving her hand carrying a large bouquet of narcissus flowers with her family members.Iranian people mostly use narcissus flowers for happy occassions contrary to roses mostly used in Pakistan.
After my introduction with her family and taking some family phtographs at Meharabad Airport,we went to her house located in Aria Shahr,a luxurious nad expensive area of Tehran.In the evening Zahra,her niece Mehasa and me,alongwith other yougsters went out to see Bagh-e-Farah(Farah Park) built by Queen Farah Deeba,wife of famous emperor Reza Shah Pehlavi.There were young couples roaming around wearing wetern dresses.I saw many girls wearing "Rui Sari"(Scarf)and "Mantu"(a long coat)in Iran.Many Iranian girls had dyed thier hairs with different colours.In fact the people of Iran have a cheerful disposition and aesthetic style of life.After walking in Park we went to "Star Burger",a fast food reastaurant.These days the chains of western restaurants are also becoming very popular in Tehran.
I was very excited to visit Tehran University,the largest University of Iran.The next day we decided to go "Maidan-e-Inqalab" where University has it,s main campus.There is heavy traffic in Tehran,but I could hardly see any Japanese car.Iran has a large car industry and it also imports luxurious cars from France."Samand" is one of the best cars made in Iran.Similarly I also saw motor-cycle-taxi,another different mean of public transport.After sometime we reached Tehran Universitywhere we met students of different departments and also visited Urdu department.Zahra guided me there.We took some pictures with the statue of Firdousi,a famous Iranian poet.
At night Mrs.Mitra,elder sister of Zahra invited me for dinner with her family at "Aveen" restaurant.We had a very nice and heavy dinner whic consisted of Iranian dishes like "Juje Kebab"(Chicken Kebab),"Chulo Kebab"(Boiled Rice with Chicken),"Doogh"(Yougurt Milk)and "Aab Gusht"(Pieces of meat and bread dipped into tomato sauce).Generaly Iranian uses low spices in thier dishes.I paid my deep thanks to Mitra and her husband Aqae Mehdi for thier kind hospitality.
Fraiday is an official holiday in Iran,so we decided to visit the shrine of Hazrat Imam Khomeini(the leader of Islamic revolution in 1979),with Mrs.Mansoora Tehranchi.She is the vice president of the women hockey assocaition of Iran.We had already met her in Karachi at "Shandiz",an Iranian restaurant,belonged to her sister,s family.There were hundreds of pilgrims performing religious ritulas at Imam Khomeini,s Shrine.After our prayrers I felt very happy when an Iranian businessman told me that now it,s safe to visit Pakistan due to the eradication of sectarian killings by the pragmatic and liberal policies of the President Pervaiz Musharraf.
Afterwards we went to a famous graveyard "Bahist-e-Zahra" which means Paradise of Zahra.It was very clean and organised.All graves had numerical numbers,which helped us to find out anyone,s grave.
On the following day Zahra,my host and guide in Tehran took me to visit of Royal palaces of Saadabad,a clean chain of eighteen splendid royal palaces built during Pehlavi regime.It was a wonderous experience to see the royal palaces,which reflected the persian architect surrounded by greenery and colourful plantation.We saw many museums but Green Palace had it,s own prestige.It was a two-storey palace where all belongings of Emperor Reza Shah Pehlvi,including his shoes are also preserved there.I also bought "Gazz"(Iranian Sweet)and other souvenirs.Zahra and her family also presented me with nice gifts,particularly a traditional metallic pot.
Another Iranian class fellow Mrs,Mehrnoush Shakeeba,wife of Mr.Zairi,former Iranian Consul General in Karachi,also invited me for dinner at night.She cooked many Pakistani dishes and we shared many good memories.
Next morning I was leaving for Pakistan.I had taken many photographs except the "Azadi Square"(Freedom Square)a symbol of Tehran,s independence and sovereignty.So on the way to airport we stopped our car and took some exciting pictures with my friend Zahra Lutfifard.I paid my deepest thanks to her family for thier hospitality and left Iran with golden memories.
