Story of a Trailing Spouse: The Stone Gardens of Jamshidieh...

the main entrance...

Salaam,

After a long weekend and spending most of the days staying indoor, we decided to resume one of our favorite outdoor activities...our evening stroll, now that the pleasant days and sunshine of Spring are here again.

Dubbed as one of the most picturesque and beautiful parks in Tehran, I reckon there is no better place than the Jamshidieh Park or Jamshidieh Stone Garden to enjoy an evening stroll and admiring the true beauty of nature. The hiking trails, almost like a trek, begin right from the main entrance all the way up the steep hill. A perfect place for trekkers, joggers, brisk walkers and strollers.

Located in the Niavaran district of North Tehran, just a few kilometres from our residence, the park is strategically and conveniently located at the base of the Kolakchal mountains in the Alborz range. It was established in memory of Jamshid Davallu Qajar, a Qajar Prince who dedicated the garden to Empress Farah Diba during the reign of the last Shah, and further developed and extended after the Iranian Revolution.

The park is so huge and offers numerous vantage points and panoramic views of the city of Tehran. Apart from hiking trails, there are also numerous restaurants and traditional teahouses (called houses of culture representing Iran's diverse ethnic and cultural heritage), situated from the lower area of the park all the way up to the top of the mountain. The water fountains, the open-air amphitheatre and several picnic areas make the park even more popular especially among the youth. Visitors to the park can have a lot of privacy with their families, friends or even lovers.

It was indeed a worthwhile outing and climbing but a challenging one for the knees though, especially after a long winter break and hibernation.

Wassalam.