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The
province, with a population of above 2 million and an area of 14,700 sq. km,
extends from the Caucasus in the northwest of Iran to the western edge of
Mazandaran, and is bordered on the west by Ardabil province and on the south by
Zanjan province. Gilan’s capital is Rasht, the most important city in the whole
region, and its main port is Bandar-e Anzali, a town at the mouth of
Mordab-eAnzali lagoon.
The most important river is the Sefid Rud which runs from the Sefid Rud Dam, on
the border with Zanjan province, to the Caspian Sea.
Called Daylam in the ancient times, Gilan is the wettest part of Iran, and
produces rice, silk cocoons and tea, which is nowadays the major agricultural
specialty of Gilan. A road crosses into the (former Soviet) Azarbayijan Republic
at Iranian town o Astara and the Caspian passenger ferry between Bandar-e Anzali
and Baku in operation now.
Iran’s northern province of Gilan is located between latitudes 36- 36’ and 38-
27’ N. and longitudes 48- 45’ and 50- 34’E.
This province is bounded on the north by the Caspian Sea, on the west by Ardebil
, on the east by Mazandaran and on the south by Tehran province and Zanjan
province . It has an area of 14,820 square kilometers.
According to the latest civil divisions in 1995, Gilan has 12 counties- Rasht,
Astara, Astaneh Ashrafiyeh, Bandar Anzali, Rudbar, Sume-eh Sara, Rudsar , Talesh,
Fuman, Shaft, Lahijan and Langrud, 35 towns, 30 rural districts and 95 villages.
Its center is the town of Rasht.
Caspian Sea rim is famous for its beautiful nature, where the Alborz mountain
range meets the plain border of the Caspian Sea. The weather is rather cool in
winter and mild and humid in summer. Mid-Spring is one of my favorite time to travel to North
of Iran. Heavy rain falls are expected in Autumn and Spring.
Masuleh
Although regions to the south of the Caspian Sea are mainly covered with
mountainous and traditionally virgin villages and settlements, but one can not
help mentioning Masuleh, 56 km. southwest of Rasht and 1050 meters above sea
level, which is actually the most breathtakingly beautiful village here. Approached
from Rasht via Fuman by a dramatic pass and completely surrounded by forest,
this perfectly preserved village appears to have grown out of its surrounding
like a limpet clinging to a rock.
It`s formed of several irregular levels of terraced, pale cream houses with gray
state roofs, interspersed with evergreen trees.
So steep is the slope that the familiar Iranian network of narrow alleys is
entirely absent, andinstead the flat roof of each levelof houses forms a pathway
for thelevel above.
The village has few facilities to offer the visitors, but its in spiring setting
makes it a perfect antidote to travel in the dry and dusty central plateau, and
well worth a day trip from Rasht.
It`s bitterly cold in winter, with snow sometimes three meters deep, but the
climate in summer is extremely pleasant and bracing.
Rasht
Rasht, center of Gilan province, is an important industrial and agricultural
city. Nearly 25% of Iran's industrial output and almost 90% of Iran's rice is
grown in this region.
Rasht is about 324 km (194 mi) from northwest Tehran, which is connected to
Tehran via highway and asphalt road.The road to Rasht passes through Qazvin (Ghazvin) and
Rudbar. 4-5 hours drive in Summar time will let you pass through the
Alborz mountain range, leave behind the Summar heat and have a pleasant vacation
on the public beaches of the Caspian Sea. The vegetation becomes much thicker
from Rudbar which leads to Sefid
delta and Rasht. Finding tourist class hotels and villa for rent is no problem
at all. Visiting Masuleh, Chaloos, Lahijan and Bandar Anzali in Gilan are
recommended. When in Gilan, don't forget to taste Koloocheh (a kind of sweet
cookie stuffed with walnuts or hazelnuts). It will be a good souvenir, too.
However, the most expensive and prestigious souvenir is Persian Khaviar that can
only be found in this region.
Rasht is an important industrial center for the processing of agricultural
products.Rasht has been occupied by Russian several times in its
history. The last time Rasht was occupied, it was at the end of World War II. Rasht is known for wood carvings.
Ramsar
Ramsar is known for its hot springs and it was the site of signing the preservation of lakes and waters international treaty that carries the name of this beautiful city.
About Mordab-e Anzali in Gilan province
Mordab (Dead Water) is the name
given to the various shallow lagoons on the Persian shores of the Caspian Sea.
The largest of these, Part River, part swamp, lies between Bandar Anzali and
Rasht, 25 miles inland. In places where the reeds and thick, channels are kept
clean through which boats can be rowed or punted.
Lahijan city in Gilan
province
The city of Lahijan is
situated on a green and lovely alope of the Alburz Mountains in a low valley
embedded with sediments from the Sepeed Rud river.The northern section of this
valley is a low flat strip of land bordering the Caspian Sea.The altitude rises
as we move away from the sea towards the interior. Its weather is pleasant and
has an abundance of rainfall.
The remains of a great mosque at Lahijan show that its history as a prosperous
city dates back at least a thousand years to the fourth century Hejira, the 10
century A.D.
A lovely environment, rich soil, great economic potential and resources, and
various agricultural products have made Lahijan a distinguished center of Gilan
province.Tea is one of the major products of Lahijan. It was first introduced to
Iran by Haj Muhammad Hussein Esfahani during the reign of Nassir Al-Din Shah.
but it was not until two decades later (1940 A.D.) when another wealthy man,
Kashef al-Saltaneh, eventually succeeded in popularizing the beverage.
Soon afterwards, tea farms around Lahijan mushroomed and have been spreading
ever since. Numerous tea industries in and around the city have contributed in
making Lahijan a significant agricultural and industrial center.
Among its historical sites are the Tomb of Shaykh Zahid Gilani, Akbariyeh
Mosque, the Great Mosque and Golshan Bath.
Fuman city in
Gilan province
Fuman is very green with an
area of 1582 sq. kilometers, southwest of Rasht. The city was highly important
in the past and was called Dar-al-Emareh -the capital- of the Gilan province.
On the gold coins minted in Fath Ali Shahs reign, Fuman-o-Mobaraka(the blessed
Fuman) was engraved on the coins to indicate the minting place.Fuman is divided
into two parts: Mahalleh Bala (upper neighborhood) and Mahalleh Payeen (lower
neighborhood).
Gilacs live on the neighboring fields and do not have seasonal migration, they
do not change from summer-quarters to winter-quarters and vice versa. The
mountain-dwellers are called (galesh and Talesh.
They spend the winter in the villages at the foot of the mountains and in summer
they move to their summer resorts. The parts where Gils or Gilacs reside in are
known as Gil Fuman. The inhabitants speak in one of the different Gilac
dialects.
Of course, Gilac is a dialect of Persian or Farsi. The people in Talesh speak
Tallishi which is a different language.The residents of Fumans outskirts are
engaged in agricultural activities, particularly growing rice, tea, tobacco,
beans and summer crops and producing silk.
Rice paddy in Gilan.
