On the day of arrival in Tehran, a wave of heat hit the face, a unique greeting from the Iranian plateau. The hotel plate was filled with a wide variety of delicacies, many of which I had never seen before. Following last night's planned route, we easily got a taxi and headed for our destination, the Golestan Palace, a shining jewel in the heart of Tehran.
The charm of Golestan Palace is irresistible. It is a must-see attraction in Iran for travelers, not only because of its background in ancient Persian castles built during the Safavid period, but also because it has witnessed the glory of Qajar's rule.
However, it is famous and divided into 9 different sections, and each attraction requires a separate ticket. Tickets for the main hall are 150,000 riyals, and the other corridors and museums are 6-80,000 riyals. We followed the advice of the staff and bought tickets for six attractions for a total of 1.2 million riyals.
After getting our tickets, we toured the courtyard clockwise in the direction indicated. Passing through the long pool in front of you, the first thing that catches your eye is Takht-e Marmar, a palace made of mirrors and marble. The palace was built in the early 19th century, and it is said that it was here that Reza Shah's Napoleonic self-coronation was done in 1925.
Standing in front of the throne, I seem to feel the calmness of Karim Khan smoking hookah with his feet crossed, thinking about the next industry. But the Palace of Mirrors didn't let us stay long, and after a few quick shots, we rushed to the Iranian gallery next door.
For me, two art fans, Ermeow and I, these Kega artworks were the only reason we canceled our visit to the Treasure House. The portraits of Shah in the gallery give the illusion of being in 17th-century Europe, and although many of the contents are incomprehensible, the "jewels" are enough to describe it all.
The next two palaces are relatively mundane, with the combination of red and mirrored walls reminiscent of the experience of visiting the Forbidden City. Mosaic tiles and mirrored walls fill the main hall of the palace, and while the interior is slightly pompous, it's worth a quick glance. Later, I would rather go outside in the sun than look at my reflection in the mirror.
In the corner of the royal palace, under the wind tower, lives a group of small kittens. Their usual job is to take photos with tourists at designated places, and cheat on some food and drink by the way. These palace cats are quite similar to those of the Forbidden City, adding a bit of life to this historic land.
It takes about 3 hours to complete the tour of Grestan Palace (provided you do enough homework in advance). We walked out the gate around noon and decided to head to the nearby Grand Bazaar in search of food. Although the architecture here is not comparable to that of the Forbidden City, it is a great place to learn about the local history and culture. If I am lucky enough to be here again, I am sure that I will visit the jewel of Tehran again, the Golestan Palace.
In a place rich in history and culture, every exploration is like opening a door to the past. From the extravagance of the Palace of Mirrors to the unique charm of the art galleries, to the mundane but unique palaces and adorable palace cats, every corner of the Gollerstein Palace is full of stories and surprises.
If you have a strong interest in history and culture, you can come here to experience this unique charm. Trust me, this pearl of Tehran will make you linger and be more beautiful than you ever imagined.
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