Golestan Palace

Why we should visit Golestan palace?

Golestan Palace is one of Iran’s World Heritage Sites, registered on the UNESCO Heritage List. It is a unique example of architecture and decoration and tile working. In this palace, you can both enjoy a historical destination and a pleasant atmosphere. Also Golestan Palace Situated in the old texture of Tehran, takes you to the mood of old Tehran.

General features of Golestan palace:

Address: Tehran, Arg Sqr, Panzdah-e-Khordad St.

Hours: 9:30 AM-18:30 PM in spring and summer 9 AM-16:30 PM in winter and fall (Except for the holidays)

Cost: The entrance fee for Golestan Palace is 25000 IRR per visitor and 150000 IRR for foreigners.

Entrance fee for each hall is 20000 IRR per visitor and 80000 IRR for foreigners.

Halls and Buildings:

Shams-ol Emareh (Edifice of the Sun):

Shams-ol-Emaneh is the most stunning structures of the Golestan. The idea of building a tall structure came to Nasser-al-Din Shah (king) before his first European trip and from images of European buildings. The king wanted a structure from which he could have the view of city.
Construction of the Shams-ol-Emareh began in 1865 and was completed two years later.
The building has two identical towers. Between the two towers are two sets of rooms with a clock tower centered above them. The exterior views have multiple arches, intricate tile work and ornate windows. This building is a fusion of Persian and European architecture.

Marble Throne Building (Imarat-i Takht-i Marmar):

The oldest building in the Golestan palace is Marble Throne Building or Dar-ol-Hokumeh dates back to Zand era. In the Qajar era, here was a place for kings and holding official ceremonies. Combination of architecture, painting, stone carving, tile working, stucco, mirror work, enameling, woodworking, and lattice work will astonish you.

Marble Throne (Takht-i Marmar) was built in 1806 by the order of Fath Ali Shah. It was composed of sixty-five pieces of yellow marble from the province of Yazd. The body of the throne is carried on the shoulders of angels and demons carved in stone, and its steps are decorated with dragons and two lions.

Karim Khan Veranda (Khalvat-i Karim Khani):

In the northwest corner of Golestan palace, there is a building with tall columns and a pool in its center. This place is named after Karim Khan Zand, dates back to the Zand period.  It was part of the interior of Karim Khan’s residence.

One of the reasons for the importance of this building is the brutal treatment of  Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar with the rotten bones of Karim Khan Zand. He removed the remains of Karim Khan Zand’s body from the soil of Shiraz and buried it under the steps of Karim Khan Veranda. Passing by there, he was enjoying every day.

Reception Hall-Museum (Talar-i Salam):

On the northwest side of Golestan Garden and just beyond Karim khan Veranda we reach a building that was originally designed to create a museum, a museum resembling European museums, called the Museum Room. These buildings included Lobby, the Mirror Hall and Museum Room. The museum room was later renamed Reception Hall because it was the venue of official court receptions. By hosting coronation ceremony of Pahlavi kings, it also received the title of Coronation Hall.

Hall of Mirrors (Talar-i Ayeneh):

Among the most beautiful buildings of the Golestan palace is the Hall of Mirrors,  located west of the Reception Hall. At first, this hall was dedicated to exhibition of the Peacock Throne and the Kianid Crown. Today, what makes this hall well-known is the oil paintings created by   Kamalolmolk in 1891 which shows the shape of the hall immersed in glory.

Hall of Ivory (Talar-i Aaj):

Slightly beyond the Talar-I Ayeneh, we see the Hall of Ivory. It was built in Nasser-al-Din Shah (Qajar) period. The building has three windows (Orosi), and a porch with six elegant columns and a staircase to the west. During the reign of Nassereddin Shah, it was used for the safekeeping of presents that were received from foreign countries. In Pahlavi period it was the venue of official parties and celebrations

Hall of Brilliant Diamonds (Imarat-i Brelian or Talar-i Brelian):

To the east of Ivory Hall, there are several spectacularly halls and rooms, named Talar-I Brelian. Before the Brelian Hall was formed here, Crystal Palace was at this point considered one of the monuments of Fath-Ali Shah. During the reign of Nasserallddin Shah, this hall was destructed because of the decay, and the Brelian Hall was replaced. This hall was restored during the reign of Muzaffar-al-Din Shah and added to its splendor. During the reign of Nasser-al-Din Shah, this hall was a place where the presents of kings of foreign governments were kept, and during Pahlavi’s time it became the site of official banquets.

Wind Tower Building (Imarat-i Badgir):

It was built during the time of Fath Ali Shah, but major changes were made to it at Nasser-al-Din Shah’s time. It is located on the southern wing of Golestan garden. Its name was taken from the tall wind catchers of the mansion.

It consists of a big “shah Neshin” and two small rooms connected to it. The hall has 9 windows (Orosi) and two painted spiral columns which are truly breath-taking. The coloring and decorations of the walls, ceiling and the ground are all fantastic paintings and mirror works. Under the mansion, there is a big “Howz Khaneh” with four wind catchers on four sides which were used to ventilate ,circulate and cool air by passing it over pools of water in the summer.

White Palace (Kakh-i Ab’yaz ):

It was towards the end of Nasser-al-Din Shah’s reign that Sultan Abdul Hamid – the Ottoman king – sent some expensive and precious  furniture to the king of Iran. Among them were some sofas of Louis XVI era, velvet curtains, two pieces of mirror with frames and pedestals, beautiful bronze and gold sculptures, and some Turkish carpets. At that time, all the palaces were at a peak of beauty and none of them had room for new equipment. So Shah decided to have a new palace constructed on the south-western wing to serve as a depository for the gifts. When the palace was finished, Nasser-al-Din Shah, who was fascinated by European architecture, decorated  it with white colour and the stucco and the white marble stones.

It was a magnificent hall to accommodate the kings, prime ministers and cabinet meetings. This building became “Anthropology Museum” in 1968 and displays Clothing of different regions of Iran, clothing of Gajar men and women.

Diamond Hall (Talar-i Almas): In the southern wing of the Golestan garden and after the wind Tower building, there is one of the oldest parts of the royal citadel known as the Diamond Hall. The foundation dates back to the time of Fath Ali Shah’s reign, but Nasser-al-Din Shah has also modified its appearance and decorations. The eye-catching interior mirror works of the building have given it the name Diamond. The main hall and side rooms, corridors, second floor and three small iwans form the building. The oldest  works in this room are large wooden lattice windows with colored glass known as orosi located on the south porch of the hall.