Travel to Iran, Hamadan- attractions, hotels, tours

Dating from over 25 centuries ago, Hamadan is of considerable importance historically. It isbounded on the north by Tehran and Zanjan, on the east by Markazi, on the south by Lorestan and on the west by Kermanshah and Kordestan provinces.The climate is of great variety. It is cold in the highlands, but temperate in the southern areas. In general, there are heavy snowfalls in winter The highlands enjoy summers with a pleasant climate, attracting large numbers of visitors.Some part of the Zagross range stretches from south-west to the south of the province. The highlands of Alvand lie in the north-east and east. The peaks of Mt. Kalaghlan and D&em Barf (3850 meters), the access to which is across the valley of Morad Beyg and the Mishan plain, are of considerable attraction. Along the route to the peaks one can visit to a number of sights such as Shah Alvand shrine, Hawz-e Nabi spring, Takht-e Nader meadow and Saheb aI-Zaman glacier.

HAMADAN Located 336 kms west of Tehran, Hamadan is a city of great antiquity, the foundation of which is attributed to a king of the Medes, dating back to 700 BC. In Ecbatana, the ancient name for Hamadan, there was a majestic palace containing 7 castles encircling each other successively. The palace was called Hagmetaneh. The Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanian kings had palaces in the city. In the Seljuk period it was the National capital for 50 years. Being on the roads to the western areas of Iran, it has been of high commercial importance in the recent centuries.
ALAVIYAN DOME
Belonging to the Alaviyan family, this dome dates back to the Seljuk period and is very similarto the Red Dome of Maragheh (a city in Azarbayjan-e Sharqi). The dome, under which there are two tombs, its exterior is covered by superb turquoise tile-mosaic and its interior has plasterwork being of considerable beauty.

GANJNAMEH
n the slope of Mt. Aivand, 5 kms from Haniadan, there are two petrogrphs written in cuneiformcharacters, dating back to the Aehaemenid era and belonging to Darius the Great and Xerxes.
MAUSOLEUM OF IBN-E SINA
Being very similar to the Tomb Tower of Gonbad-e Kabus, it is the resting-place of Ibn Sina (Avicenna), the great Iranian philosopher. The museum and library of this complex is of great attraction.

MOSALLA HILL
o the east of Hamadan lies a hill on which there are the relics of a castle going back to the Sassanian age. On the slope of the hill stands a stone lion 2m long, 1 15 m wide and 1.20 m high, belonging to the Parthian period.
MAUSOLEUM OF ESTRU MARDKHAY
t is the Mausoleum of Esther, the Jewish queen of Susa (Xerxes wife) and her uncle, Mordecai.The monument has Islamic architecture. Each tomb is encircled by an antique wooden BOX.