With nearly 9 millions inhabitants (one sixth of the country’s total population) in less than 20000 sq km, Tehran is the country’s most densely populated province. The province's geographical setting includes mountains, plains and valleys with temperate climate in the highlands, and semi-desert climate in the plains. The cities of Tehran, Rey, Damavand, Varamin, Karaj and Shemiranat are in the province of Tehran.

Tehran is an industrial province that hosts a major part of the country’s industries and plays a significant part in its economy.

Agriculture is also a prevailing activity in the suburban plains, and highlands of the province. Most of the people of this province, a majority of whom are city dwellers, are Muslims and speak Farsi.

Shemiranat

Shemiranat is located north of Tehran on the slopes of Alborz and includes various areas like the central part, Roudbar & Ghassran, Lavassanat and Galanduak. Located among the central Alborz ranges that have a beautiful natural setting with a highland cold weather that makes them an ideal summer resort for the people of Tehran. There are several remains of Qajar monuments in these areas.

Damavand

The city of Damavand is located 75 kilometers northeast of Tehran on the slopes of the magnificent Mount Damavand with natural scenery, several orchards and a pleasant climate that makes it a desirable summer resort. Many springs of cold and hot mineral water around Damavand have therapeutic qualities. Damavand is a historical city; it's  grand Jamil mosque which dates back to the 15th century, and a number of shrines in the city are all evidences of its historical background.

Firouzkouh, one of the districts of Damavand city is a cold mountainous area with vast pastures ideal for animal husbandry.

Karaj

The city of Karaj is located 48 kilometers west of Tehran with a population of nearly one million and two hundred thousand people and an increasing rate of development and population growth. Karaj region consists of Taleghan, Savojbolagh, Shahryar, Robat Karim and Eshtehard districts; all considered to be summer resorts for the people of Tehran and Karaj. This city has a high capacity for agricultural and industrial activities. The Karaj river and valley are among the country’s most beautiful sceneries. Meanwhile, the city is highly important as far as the communication is concerned; because it is the crossroad of all the westerly and northerly routes of the country. The Karaj dam supplies a major part of Tehran’s power and water requirements, and its beautiful lake with several sports facilities is a major tourist attraction.

Varamin

Located 40 kilometers southeast of Tehran, Varamin has been in fact one of the largest and oldest villages of Iran.

Shahr-e-Rey

Rey, the southern gate of Tehran has been one of the largest and most significant centers of the Iranian civilization with a background dating back to the times of the Achaemeinds. It became a holy center Following the martyrdom and burial of Hazrat Abdol- Azim.

The shrine, one of the most magnificent of its kind, attracts tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims everyday. The shrine consists of a golden dome, minarets with tile work as well as several courtyards, porticos and mosques; the oldest part of the building has been made in the year725 A.H (Hejira).

Tehran in History

From the beginning of the reign of the Safavid dynasty Tehran was brought to the attention of the central government and at the same time began to develop northwards and gained a reputation as an independent city. Meanwhile the city became important as a commercial and a strategic center. At the time of Zand dynasty, it was a small city that was only significant from a military point of view until finally the first of the Qajar kings, Agha Mohammad Khan named Tehran as the country’s capital. Nevertheless the capitals development started at the time of another Qajar monarch, Fath-Ali shah.

After World War II and particularly following the 1950s Tehran experienced a hasty trend of growth marked by massive immigration and greater demand for housing that led to the vertical growth of the city. Meanwhile satellite township developed around Tehran and as a result of the expansion, Tehran's suburbs and nearby villages became practically part of the city. Today's Tehran has advanced modern hospitals and other medical centers, hundreds of pharmacies, hotels of different categories, restaurants, movie theaters, mosques, churches and synagogues for religious minorities, several banks with hundreds of offices all across the city, 26 museums, 10cultural centers, 20 public libraries, more than 30 universities and other higher education institutes, an extensive bus service network, bus terminals at the city’s South, East and West, an international airport (Mehrabad), a number of military airports, mini bus,  Public and private taxi services,several insurance companies,large creation centers for children, several large gymnasiums,ski slope alarge number of parks across the city ,and all essential types of urban and recreational services.

The citadel that Agha Mohammad Khan had built was developed to include the new royal buildings. At the same time the city’s population was redoubled. With the increasing importance of the city; gates, squares and mosques were built and finally at the time of Nassereddin Shah the city’s master plan was prepared and modern streets were formed. Later large central squares like Toopkhaneh (now Imam Khomeini) square and several military buildings were constructed. With the decline of the Qajar dynasty Tehran soon took the shape of a modern city. The construction of large government buildings, new streets, recreation centers, urban service establishment as academic and scientific centers were started; while most of the old gates and buildings were destroyed and  the city’s old architectural fabric was soon replaced by a modern one.

The Sights of Tehran

The oldest historical monuments of Tehran date back to the Qajar period. Some of them are; the Golestan palace and Museum, the Shamsolemereh building, the Imam Khomeini Mosque, parts of the bazaar, the shirines of Immamzadeh Ghassem, Immamzadeh Sayed Esmaeil, Immamzadeh Yahya, and Sayed Nassreddin as well as the Bagh-I-Ferdows building, Sorkheh Hessar palace (Hospital) Firouzeh palace, Shahid Motahari (Sepahsalar) Mosque and school, the building of ex-national assembly, the Pamenar Minaret, and Marvi school and bazaar.