Niavaran Palace Complex
Situated in the northern part of Iran’s capital Tehran, the cultural and historical Niavaran Palace Complex is an enchanting place for tourists both on the domestic and global scales, manifesting the royal splendor of the Qajar and Pahlavi eras in several buildings and museums in the midst of an amazing 11-hectare garden, bringing out fascinating natural and historical scenery.
Built near the Gordevey or Gordebeh village, once in Tehran’s outskirts, now in today’s Niavaran in an area full of neyzar (reeds) on the order of Qajar ruler Fath-Ali Shah, the garden was called Neyavaran which later became known as Niavaran.
Chosen by Qajar rulers as the summer resort, Nassereddin Shah built Sahebqaranieh Palace, and then Ahmad Shah constructed the well-known Ahmad Shahi Pavilion in this garden. Later, the Niavaran Palace was built with a modern style during the reign of Pahlavi II.
The two-floor Sahebqaraniyeh palace includes Hoz-Khaneh (pool room), Sofreh-Khaneh (dining room), Korsi-Khaneh (winter sitting room), and tea-house in the first floor used for receiving the guests decorated with colorful glasses, crystal dishes and wooden sash windows (Orosi) as well as the second floor as the office of King Mohammad Reza Pahlavi along with meeting room, waiting room for the foreign missions, secretary’s room, dentist room, and resting place. Signing the constitutional order by the Qajar king Mozaffareddin Shah on the balcony of the palace is among the important historic events happened in the monument.
Built as a residential retreat for Qajari Ahmad Shah, the two-story Ahmad Shahi pavilion consists of a hall with a central pond made of marble stone, six rooms and two corridors. The nice buff-colored pavilion with brick facades exhibits decorative items of silver, bronze, ivory, and wood, souvenirs from different countries, paintings and medals as well as mineral stones including a stone from the moon.
The Niavaran palace as the residence of King Pahlavi II and his family is an alluring building with an aluminum sliding roof and a great hall in which various rooms are situated including a private cinema, dining room, guest room, waiting room, and lateral halls such as the Blue Hall as well as upper floor bedrooms for the king, queen and their children decorated with precious paintings, carpets and furniture.
Furthermore, in the eastern part of the palace, the private Pahlavi library was built based on the modern architecture with a combination of glass and stone as a valuable center that holds precious Persian and foreign works such as a rich collection of manuscripts, travelogues and encyclopedias. Here, the lighting of the library was provided by about 300 bright cylinders.
Another gorgeous feature of the complex is the Jahan Nama Museum which was allocated to the souvenirs received and items purchased by the Farah Diba. The works exhibited here are in two parts: pre-historic and contemporary art works of Iran and the world. The ceiling of the museum’s main hall is ornamented with exquisite paintings on wood featuring flower and bird pattern of Shiraz. Besides, the exclusive royal cars museum and inscriptions garden museum are the other interesting sections of the complex.
All in all, for those who value sightseeing in a complex replete with history and beauty, the Niavaran Complex is indeed a satisfying place with long-lasting happy memories.
