Grand Bazaar of Tehran
History
The Grand Bazaar of Tehran is located in the southern parts of the city. It is divided into different parts and sections and it’s corridors cover over 10 km in length. Locally this bazaar is known as Bazaar-e Bozorg. The oldest remaining buildings, walls and passages in the bazaar today are more than 400 years old. Though, this bazaar started to change in the 20th century but old parts of the bazaar still maintain the original look.
In order to beautify the bazaar through the use of plaster moulding and decorative brickwork were undertaken late in the 20th century. The bazaar closes for couple of hours in the afternoon and then it reopens in the Evening. In the night, sections of the bazaar are locked and guards are placed to mind the area.
The structure of the bazaar represents a glimpse into the Persian architectural style. Some of the trade has moved to the northern parts of Tehran but this bazaar still holds an edge due to its history and prestige. This is a popular hotspot for the locals to do their shopping on daily basis. A guy selling packed Irish Cream, I looked at the package and it was made in Dublin (my hometown).
The Khomeini Mosque sits in the Grand Bazaar. The mosque was closed at the time of my visit (probably, it only opens during the prayer time). After many centuries, the grand bazaar is still an important place of commerce for Tehranis, Iranians and travelling merchants.
