No.1915,Sunday,4 August,2019 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced that tourists from the country www.TOURISMpaper.com will no longer need visas to make trips to Iran. As China Radio International reported, Iran is implementing a visa-waiver program for Hong Kong’s tourists who wish to stay The World`s Only Print Tourism Newspaper up to 21 days in Iran. In late July, Iran extended the visa-free treatment for Chinese tourists from 15 days to 21 days, almost a month after Iranian Cabinet’s decision about putting no visa policy for Chinese tourists visiting Iran into practice. The decisions are made to attract more foreign tourists to the country; however, it is No More Need for a unilateral measure i.e. Iranian tourists visiting China or Hong Kong still need visas. Hongkongers to Receive Iran has taken some similar steps to increase its revenues from tourism under US sanctions. Visa for Trip to Iran 4

cooking

Almond Stew Almond Stew or Khoresht Badam is a North west Iranian food, most common in a province called “Kermanshah”. Almond is a good source of antioxidants. Almonds protect you against diabetes and cardiovascular and heart disease. Almonds can lower the bad cholesterol (LDL). Ingredients: ■ 8 oz (227g) Stew Beef ■ 6 oz (170g) Almonds ■ 1 Onion ■ 1/4 Tsp Saffron ■ 2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil TTaleqanaleqan, A SSummerummer RetreatRetreat nnearear IIranran CCapitalapital ■ 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste ■ 2 Dried Limes ■ 1 Cinnamon Sticks ■ 1 Cup Dried Barberries (Zereshk) aleqan is a county in the north- The area is famous for sunny summers luminaries such as famous author Jalal This area has very beautiful villages. ■ Salt, Turmeric, Crushed Red Pepper west of Alborz Province. It com- and cold winters. It is located in the re- Al-e Ahmad, Islamic thinker Ayatollah Lake has been advancing in the form of Preparations: T prises 84 villages which have sort area of the Alborz mountain range Seyyed Mahmoud Taleqani and calligra- a small gulf on the coast creating stun- 1- Soak the almonds in water for 4 hours special natural and historical attractions about 120km northwest of Tehran. pher Gholamhossein Amirkhani. Taleqan ning landscapes from water to land. The or overnight. and can draw tourists with different Taleqan has a mountain climate. It has area is the habitat of wildlife species water in the lake is green and has sever- 2- Peel and Slice the almonds. tastes. Due to its proximity to Tehran, a seasonal population with numbers in- such as rabbit, hyena, swine, jackal, al types of fish of which Anchovy is one. 2- Soak saffron in water for 20 min. Karaj and Qazvin, it is easily accessible. creasing in the summer. wolf, bear, as well as bird species such Because of the lake, the weather in the 3- Dice the onion. Taleqan County consists of three sec- Its population may vary between 5,000 as eagle, wagtail, hawk and jackdaw. area has a morning mist. tions: Upper, middle and lower Taleqan. and 12,000 according to the season. It also has orchards for walnut, apple, Mountaineers have shown keen interest Shahrood River is the vital vessel of the Taleqan has hospitable and hard-work- cherry, apricot, olive and hawthorn as in Taleqan since olden times. Taleqan region. It extends for 105km, crisscross- ing people who are mainly engaged in well as species such as wild barberry, Mountains, located in the south-central ing the region and eventually flowing animal husbandry, horticulture and bee cashew, and sycamores. Alborz range, accommodate one of into Sepidrood which in turn pours into keeping. Native people speak Tati lan- Herbal plants like rhubarb, wild leek, the best stratigraphic sequences of the the Caspian Sea. The area is separat- guage. chicory, thyme and milfoil also grow in range. The area bounded by the Taleqan ed from the famous Alamut County by Honey and dairy products are the best the area. fault to the north and the Mosha fault to Shahkooh Mountains — a section of the souvenirs from Taleqan.There are ovens The most spectacular scenery in the re- the south. These faults separate Paleo- Alborz Mountain range — which reaches for cooking bread in most of the houses gion is Taleqan Dam. The lake behind zoic-Mesozoic rocks from southern and an elevation of 4,200m. in Taleqan. Taleqan is the birthplace of the dam is very attractive and pleasant. northern Tertiary rocks.

Directions: 1- Fry the onions with vegetable oil until golden. Choqakhor Wetland, Gandoman 2- Garnish with turmeric. 3- Stir in beef, continue frying for 10 min- utes. 4- Add enough water to cover the beef. in Iran’s Lordegan 5- cover the pot and cook for an hour over medium-low heat. hoqakhor wetland is one of the most beauti- level. The wetland is surrounded by a vast expansion of 6- Stir in tomato paste, add salt and ful and largest wetlands in Iran’s southwestern meadows which cover an area of about 700 hectares. crushed red pepper. C province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari prov- This region experiences humid weather with moderate 7- Add dried limes and sliced almonds ince.The wetland covers an area of about 2,300 hec- summers and cold winters. The said area is one of the and cinnamon stick. tares. At present, due to favorable conditions of rainfalls, noted summer resort for the province. The Choqakhor 8- Stir thoroughly, cover the pot and boil the depth of this wetland has reached 1.5 m. The Kelar wetland forms a natural habitat for species of birds such for 15 minutes (medium-low heat). Mountain Ranges are to the southwest of the wetland, as ducks, geese, white ostriches and flamingos. Ancho- 9- Add saffron and dried barberries the highest peak of which being 3,830 m. above sea vy is a fish variety which survived in these waters. (Zereshk). 10- Remove the cinnamon stick. 11- Simmer for another 10 minutes. Kordasht Bathhouse; a Tourist Destination Tabriz Historic Bazaar Famed for Intricate Complex: A Melting Interior Design Pot of Tradition, Trade, hotos depict exterior and interior Culture views of the historical Kordasht P Bathhouse, a tourist destination abriz historic bazaar complex, a laby- famed for intricate geometrical arrange- T rinth of interconnected covered pas- ments and spectacular wall paintings, sages that adds up to about 5 kms, July 27, 2019. has been a melting pot of cultural exchange Located in Jolfa, northwestern East since antiquity and once a hot spot on the an- Azarbaijan province, the bathhouse cient Silk Road. dates from over four centuries ego, the The bazaar, which has been inscribed on time of Safavids. Its required water is the UNESCO World Heritage list, embraces obtained from the Aras River and after countless shops, over 20 caravanserais being warmed finds its way to different and inns, some 20 vast domed halls, bath- pools there. Entrance to the bath is pos- houses, and mosques, as well as other brick sible through a staircase leading to the structures and enclosed spaces for different first vestibule, bringing visitors to an oc- functions. Tabriz is the capital of northwestern tagonal shaped changing room that has a province of East Azarbaijan. domed roof supported by eight decorated The history of the Tabriz bazaar dates back columns. A hallway connects the chang- to over a millennium ago, however majority ing room to another octagonal room that Iran’s Anahita Temple; of fine brick vaults that capture most visitor’s contains the main pool. This room has a eyes date from the 15th century. waterway that directs hot water into the pool and the room receives natural light Ancient Columns near the 1800’s Mosque via ducts in the ceiling. The monument is considered as one of the largest and nahitaTemple of Kangavar is located west of Iran in tions) are remaining in Hamedan, Shush, Kazerun, Azerbaijan, most beautiful baths surviving in Iran. A Kermanshah province, Kangavar town, The monument Kermanshah, and Kangavar. The Temple of Anahita in Kan- According to Encyclopedia Britannica, belongs to Parthian era and early days of Sassanid dy- gavar is the most famous temple assigned to Anahita in Iran. Iranian architects of the early 17th cen- nasty. This site is located on a hill in the center of this town, The ratio of the height of its columns to their diagonals is three tury sought to achieve a monumentality in Anahita, Goddess of Water and Beauty. to one and this has made it unique and inimitable among all exterior spatial composition (an interest- The famous structure known as the Temple of Anahita is lo- the temples in the world. The Temple of Anahita is the second ing parallel to the interior spaciousness cated in the center of Kangavar City, Kermanshah province stone building in Iran after Persepolis. The architectural style created at the same time by the Otto- on the way from Hamedan to Kermanshah, This monument is of this monument is of Arsacid style. mans); a logical precision in vaulting and built on a natural hill with a maximum height of 32 meters from Shapes and carvings of the columns in the temple are similar a coloristic brilliance that has made their the surrounding lands. to those found in Persepolis and Palace of Darius in Shush, domes and portals of justly famous. The architecture of this temple coincides with palaces and This temple is built in honor of “Ardevisur Anahita,” the female temples built during the Achaemenian period, 550 BC to 330 guardian angel of waters. It is known as “Temple of Anahita” BC, in western Iran. Large pieces of stone are cut and shaped This monument was recorded among the national monuments into blocks of rock. They are placed on top of each other; their in 1310 (1931) with the number 31. shape usually causes them to interlock to form a wall or plat- The Arab geographer Yaqut wrote of Kangavar in 1220; he Most mazes and passages offer certain com- form by a mountainside. Some historians consider this struc- says the place was the haunt of bandits, locally called either modities such as carpets, metalwork, toys, ture a temple for goddess Anahita. Anahita meaning clean and Qasr-e Shirin, ‘castle of Shirin’ after Khosro’s favorite wife, or clothing, jewelry, and kitchen appliances, tra- free from contamination has been the goddess of water, the more often Qasr al-Lasus, the ‘Robber Castle’. He wrote: “The ditional spices, herbal remedies and natural guardian of the springs and rain and a symbol of fertility, love, Robber Castle is a very remarkable monument, and there is a perfumes. One can also bump into colorful and friendship in ancient Iranian belief. platform some twenty cubits above the ground and on it, there grocery stores, bookbinders, blacksmiths, This belief existed since the period before Zoroaster in Iran are vast portals, palaces, and pavilions, remarkable for their tinsmiths, coppersmiths, tobacconists, tailors, and has been the center of attention in the next periods. Nu- solidity and their beauty.” flag sellers, broadcloth sellers, carpenters, merous temples and statues have been built in Iran before According to classic historians, the temple of Anahita at Ec- shoemakers, and knife-makers. Islam in respect for this Iranian goddess. In addition, Pol-e batana was a vast palace, four-fifths of a mile in circumfer- There are several divided carpet sections Dokhtar and Qal’eh Dokhtars that have been built throughout ence, built of cedar or cypress. In all of it, not a single plank or across the bazaar that enable visitors to Iran have taken the name “Dokhtar ” in the memorandum of column stood but was covered by plates of silver or gold. Every watch or buy hand-woven Persian carpets this goddess. tile of the floors was made of silver, and the whole building was and rugs with different knot density and other Different monuments of Anahita (including temples and inscrip- apparently faced with bricks of silver and gold. features. The bazaar was also well-known and prosperous during the 13th century when Tabriz became the capital of the Safavid Dy- nasty (1501–1736).