The Golestan Palace (Persian: کاخ گلستان - Kāx e Golestān‎‎), literally the Roseland Palace, is the former royal Qajar complex in Iran's capital city, Tehran.

The oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran, and of world heritage status,[1] the Golestan Palace belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s Historic Arg (citadel).

History

Tehran’s Historic Arg was built during the reign of Tahmasp I (r. 1524-1576) of the Safavid dynasty (1502–1736), and was later renovated by Karim Khan of Zand (r. 1750-1779). Agha Mohammad Khan of Qajar (1742–1797) chose Tehran as his capital. The Arg became the site of the Qajar (1794–1925). The Court and the Golestan Palace became the official residence of the royal Qajar family. The palace was rebuilt to its current form in 1865 by Haji Ab ol Hasan Mimar Navai.

During the Pahlavi era (1925–1979), Golestan Palace was used for formal royal receptions, and the Pahlavi dynasty built their own palace at Niavaran (Niavaran Palace Complex). The most important ceremonies, held in the palace during the Pahlavi era, were the coronation of Reza Shah (r. 1925-1941) on the Marble Throne and the coronation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (r. 1941-deposed 1979) in the Museum Hall.

In between 1925 and 1945, a large portion of the buildings of the palace were destroyed on the orders of Reza Shah. He believed that the centuries-old Qajar palace should not hinder the growth of a modern city. In the place of the old buildings, commercial buildings with the modern style of 1950s and 1960s were erected.

Palaces

The Marble Throne (Takht e Marmar)

Karim Khani Nook (Khalvat e Karim Khani)

Pond House (Howz Khaneh)

Brilliant Hall (Talar e Brelian)

Museum of Gifts

Containers Hall (Talar e Zoroof)

Ivory Hall (Talar e Adj)

Mirror Hall (Talar e Aineh)

Salam Hall (Talar e Salam)

The Building of Windcatchers (Emarat e Badgir)

Diamond Hall (Talar e Almas)

Abyaz Palace