Across the border: Asian Study Group planning trip to Iran

LAHORE:

The Asian Study Group (ASG) is planning its third trip to historical sites in Iran. The tour will last ten days. The group intends to visit Tehran, Qom, Esfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad and Kashan.

The ASG is a voluntary organisation which aims to promote Pakistani history and culture internationally. ASG President Shirin Masood said on Thursday that the group had organised trips to Iran regularly for the past three years. She said the upcoming trip would prove to be a memorable experience as Iran was rich in heritage and culture.

Masood said the group would visit the Golestan Palace Complex during their stay in Tehran. The group would visit the Treasury of National Jewels in the city where one of world’s most extensive jewel collections is publicly displayed. The tourists also intend to visit the Saadabad Palace complex which was the erstwhile residence of Reza and Farah Pahlavi.

The visitors would tour religious and recreational spots in Qom and Kashan on their way to Isfahan. The group would devote their first day in Isfahan to visiting areas of interest such as Naqshe Jahan Square, Alighapou Palace and Chehel Sotoun. The tourists would visit the Vank Meuseum and Cathedral and the Fire temple of Isfahan among other places on their second day.

Masood said the party would move to Shiraz after touring Isfahan and visit the tombs of celebrated Persian poets, Hafez and Saadi. The group would dine at the Citadel of Karim Khan and sample Shirazi faloodeh in the Zand Bazaar. She said the tourists would also visit the ruins of Persepolis, the Quran Gate and the shrine of Shah Cheragh before proceeding to Mashhad.

“The visitors would perform a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Imam Reza on their first day and spend the evening in the city bazaar. The group would visit the tomb of Ferdowsi and the Nader Shah Meuseum on their second day before boarding a train back to Tehran,” she said. Masood said the party would spend their final day touring the shrine of Bibi Sheherbano and other places of interest in Rey.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, ASG Joint Secretary Amna Imtiaz said, “ASG members are extremely excited about the upcoming trip.” Imtiaz said ASG’s previous trips to Iran were successful as the members had visited exquisite areas of interest. She said she was certain that the upcoming trip would be successful.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2014.