contents · international relations department, 4th floor, mahan air tower, azadegan st., karaj...

Proprietor: Mahan Air Co.

Managing Director: Mehdi AliyariCentral Office: Communication and International Relations Department, 4th Floor, Mahan Air Tower, Azadegan St., Karaj High- way, Tehran,IranP.O.Box: 14515411Tel: 021-48381752Fax: 021- 48381799Email: [email protected]

Advertisement:Tel: (+9821) 8850 1566-7Cell phone: 09121898317Fax: (+9821) 8844 3005Email: [email protected]

مجله داخل پروازیهواپیمایی ماهان

شماره 67

Mahan Inflight MagazineNo. 67

C O N T E N T S

Tabriz............................................................4Alamut.........................................................10Poem.....................................................13Celebrities’ News...................................................14Recipe: Koofteh Tabrizi..........................................16Crossword.................................................17

-In the name of God-

Dear guest;Welcome on board. It is a great pleasure having you experience our services today. Mahan Air introduced to aviation industry in 1992. We are extremely so proud of steadily growing our presence and services over the past 21 years and look forward to exciting years ahead to continue invest in new aircrafts and new routes with specific focus on offering the highest standards of service and hospitality in the global airline industry competition.We consider Mahan Air contribution to the border community across Iran and other places in the world where we are well positioned to make a real difference with providing frequent flight of approximately 5.5 million passengers per year.Today, Mahan Air operates a fleet of 51 new Airbus and Boeing aircrafts from our Tehran hub to more than 60 routes inside Iran and 24 routes internationally across Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and CIS.We are proud to introduce Mahan Air Cargo Services used for the transport of commercial freight, products requiring special attention like perishables, live animal and high value commodities and cargo inside the Mahan Air passenger network while using the cargo space available in our passenger aircrafts fleet as well as dedicated network operated by wide-body aircraft with capability of large amount of cargo space. Mahan Air Cargo has dedicated staff and facilities to ensure all cargo transfers are processed in an efficient, seamless manner through a high standard of care with the best transit times available combined with frequent flight schedules, competitive rates and cost savings. In 2011, Mahan Air cargo transported 22,000 tonnes across its network and it’s expected to be increased with new aircraft purchases in near future.We are pleased to invite you to join our Frequent Flyer program by filling available application form at Mahan Air check-in counter or on-board and immediately start collecting miles with the temporary card on each Mahan Air flight you travel in and where you travel and take the exclusive privileges. Please visit (www.mahan.aero) to learn about the card benefits and services.We are continually striving to provide high quality service to every one of our value passengers. Hearing your ideas and feedback on what we do well and where we need to improve is fundamental to this. You can provide your feedback – good or bad – quickly and easily through the “Feedback Form” on board. The crew will be handing out these forms, during your flight.

We would like to thank you for your continued support of Mahan and our services. Please sit back and enjoy our renowned Persian hospitality. Our crew is friendly, professional & trained and shares a passion for ensuring your journey as comfortable as possible.

Thank you once again for choosing to fly Mahan Air.

Editorial

| No. 67 | December 2013

TABRIZ

D o m e s t i c T o u r i s m


TABRIZ

Tabriz is the capital of East Azarbaijan Province, and the largest city in north-western Iran. Tabriz is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand south of the Eynali Mountain.

According to some sources, the name Tabriz is said to derive from "tab-riz" meaning "causing heat to flow", because of the many thermal springs in the area.Earliest mentioning of Tabriz appears in Assyrian king Sargon II's epigraph in 714 BC. In 4th century BC, Tabriz became the capital of a satrapy Atropatene, named after Atropates, satrap of the Achaemenid province of Media. Later references date back as early as the Sassanian period.

After the Mongol invasion, Tabriz came to eclipse Maragheh as the later Ilkhanid capital of Azerbaijan until sacked by Tamerlane in 1392. In addition, from 1375 to 1468, Tabriz was the capital of QaraKoyunlu state in Azerbaijan, and from 1469 to 1501 the capital of AqQoyunlu state.In 1501, Shah Ismail I, founder of Safavid dynasty, entered Tabriz and proclaimed it his capital. But after Shah Ismail's defeat from Sultan Selim I (of Ottoman Empire) in the Battle of Chaldiran, Tabriz fell for few months to Ottomans; and although it was returned to Safavids later, very soon Shah Tahmasp I moved capital to safer city of Qazvin . Still, by the 17th century Tabriz had become a major commercial center, carrying out trade with Ottoman Empire, Russia, central Asia, and India.

Tabriz was also the city where the Constitutional Revolution of Iran started in 1906 and where its leaders, Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan came from. Also Ahmad Kasravi, the famous Iranian historian and philosopher, was born in a nearby village called Hokmavar.The predominant language in the city is Azari; it is one of the branches of Turkish languages; still almost all inhabitants of the city can speak and understand Persian as well.

Tabriz is the number one center for production of the famous Turkish-Persian Rug. Nowadays Tabrizi carpets are the most wanted in world markets, having many customers in western countries from Europe to California. Tabrizi rugs and carpets usually have ivory backgrounds with blue, rose, and indigo motifs. Rugs and carpets often have very symmetrical and balanced designs. They usually have a single medallion that is surrounded with vines and palmettos and are of excellent quality. Tabrizi modern rugs are in many different designs and colors. In the second Irano-Russian War the city was occupied by the Czar troops. However, it was returned to Iran following the signing of Turkmanchai Treaty, a peace and trade settlement that ended the Irano-Russian War of 1826-1828. The Iranian Constitutional Revolution originated in Tabriz and culminated during the reign of Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar dynasty (1779-1925). Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan were the two most prominent leading figures behind the movement. Tabriz was occupied by Russians several times in the first half of 20th century, including most of both world wars. A railway line to the border at Jolfa, built by the expansionist Russians, was of little importance until recently, but it has increased in significance in the '90s as a result of Iran's friendlier relations with its northern neighbors.

With a very rich history, Tabriz used to house many historical monuments.

Unfortunately, many of them were destroyed in repeated invasions and attacks of foreign forces, negligence of the ruling governments, as well natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. What remains now mostly dates back to the Ilkhanids, the Safavids, and the Qajars. Some of the monuments are unrivaled masterpieces of architecture. There are many factories and great industrial and productive sites in Tabriz

which have changed it into one of the industrial centers in the country. The most important factories are as follows: Tractor, machinery and ball-bearing manufacturing factories, refinery and so many other centers such as carpet weaving sites.

Arg or Citadel of TabrizArg-e Tabriz in Persian (also called Masjid-e Alishah, Arg-e Alishah) is the impressive remainder of a

great and imposing building in the town. The Arg, a huge and crumbling brick citadel, is a notable landmark that was built in the early 14th century on the site of a massive mosque which collapsed over 500 years ago, and which must been one of the largest ever constructed.

Inside the Citadel there is nothing except two arches and an indication of the position of the mehrab; Ali Shah's court has been

Behn

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ouse

Am

ir N

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se

Page 6 | No. 67 | December 2013


covered with ignoble buildings, the sanctuary walls have been rebuilt and propped up, and it is hard to believe that any part of this place was ever a mosque.

Constitution HouseThe Constitution House is located next to the Grand Bazaar, on Motahari Ave. During the years which led to the Constitutional Revolution and afterwards, the house was used as the gathering place of the leaders, activists, and the sympathizers of the movement, among them Sattar Khan, Baqer Khan, Seqatoleslam and Haji Mirza Aqa Farshi. The two-story building was constructed in 1868 by Haj Vali Me'mar-e Tabrizi. It has numerous rooms and halls. The most beautiful part of the house is a skylight and a corridor decorated with colorful glasses and mirrors.

Blue (Kabud) MosqueConstructed in 1465, the Blue Mosque was among the most glorious buildings of its era. Once built, artists took a further 25 years to cover every surface with the blue majolica tiles and intricate calligraphy for which it’s nicknamed. It survived one of history’s worst-ever earthquakes (1727), but collapsed in a later quake (1773).

El GoliEl Goli (former Shah Goli) is a pleasant hillside garden and park around an artificial lake to the area of 54,675 square meters. It is a popular weekend resort for the locals. A hill in the eastern side of the park leads down to the pool with steps, and a fountain from

numerous caravansaries, mosques, and schools have added further beauty and glory to this complex. Exact information on the history and origin of the bazaar is not available; however, historical buildings such as the Jam's Mosque, Talebieh School, and Sadeqieh School indicate that the complex is one of the oldest structures of the city. The present structure of bazaar dates back to the closing years of the Zand dynasty (1750-1779 A.D.).

top of the hill flows down to the pool. In the center of the pool there is a grand hexagonal building. The pool itself is said to have been built during the reign of Aq Qoyunlu kings. However, it was extended by the Safavids.

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex was officially protected in 1975 and has been covered by special stewardship measures until

2010, when it was added to the World Heritage List in 2010. The complex covers 27 hectares with over 5.5 kilometres of covered bazaars. Strolling in the center of Tabriz, one is reminded very forcibly that it is a commercial city: one cannot miss its very large and 15th-century covered bazaar. It is already much diminished in its variety of goods, but still a great place for getting hopelessly lost amid its dusty architectural splendors. Its architectural style,

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(Bac

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. Th

e gr

and

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ar

ChurchesFrom the earliest days of Christianity there has been a sizable Armenian community in Tabriz, and the city boasts a number of churches, the most important of which are:

St Mary’s Tabriz has had a Christian community almost as long as there’ve been Christians. St Mary’s is a 12th-century church mentioned by Marco Polo and once the seat of the regional archbishop.

Sarkis Church The relatively central Sarkis Church serves the Armenian community. It’s hidden in a basketball court behind high white gates.

Anglican Church Behind high gates, the curious Anglican Church has a tower of four diminishing cylinders.

Azarbayjan Museum Entrance is through a great brick portal with big wooden doors guarded by two stone rams. Ground-floor exhibits include finds from Hasanlu, a superb 3000-year-old copper helmet and curious stone ‘handbags’ from the 3rd millennium BC. Found near Kerman these

were supposedly symbols of wealth once carried by provincial treasurers.

Poets’ Mausoleum Shahriyar is now commemorated much more ostentatiously with the strikingly modernist Poets’ Mausoleum (MaQbarat-o Shoara). Its angular interlocking concrete arches are best viewed across the reflecting pool from the south. The complex also commemorates over 400 other scholars whose tombs have been lost in the city’s various earthquakes.

Measurement Museum Measurement Museum is hidden amid very ordinary apartment blocks. The brilliantly restored 160-year-old Qajar mansion is very interesting.

Municipal Hall The German-designed Municipal Hall is a century-old Tabriz icon. It’s only open to the public during occasional exhibitions.

Quran Museum Its most intriguing exhibit is the scripture-covered under-shirt worn by Qajar monarchs during coronations.

Poets’ Mausoleum

Municipal Hall (Sa'at Tower)

St Mary’s church

Sister cities and twin townsTabriz is twinned with the following cities:Country CityAustria ViennaAzerbaijan BakuChina WuhanCroatia ZagrebPalestine GazaRussia KazanTajikistan KhujandTurkey IstanbulTurkey KonyaVietnam Ho Chi Minh City


| No. 66 | November 2013

• Aji Chay Bridge• Amir Nezam House (Qajar museum)• Baghmasha gate• Behnam House (school of architecture)• Boulourchian house• Daneshsara (faculty of education)• Document Museum• East-Azerbaijan State Palace• Ghadaki house• Ghari bridge• Haidarzadeh house• Hariree house• House of Seghatol Islam• Imam zadeh Hamzah, Tabriz• Imam zadeh Ibrahim• Iron Age museum• Jamee mosque of Tabriz• Madrasah Akbarieh• Mansoor bridge• Muharram museum• Bohtouni museum• Nature museum• Nobar bath• Ordobadi house

• Pahlavi street (Imam St.)• Pol Sanghi (Stone bridge)• Pottery museum• Post museum• Roshdieh school• Rug museum• Ruins of Rabe Rashidi University• Sahebol Amr mosque• Salmasi house Measure museum.• Seyed Hamzeh shrine• Shahnaz street• Shahryar literature museum (house of Shahryar)• Sharbatoglu house• Shohada Mosque• Sorkheh-i house• Tabriz Art University (former Charmsazi Khosravi)• Tabriz Fire Fighting Tower• Tabriz Railway Station• Tarbiyat street• Two Kamals tomb

There are more and more monuments remaining which include:

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Ghari bridge

Alamut is a region in Iran including western and eastern parts in the western edge of the Alborz massif, between the dry and barren plain of Qazvin in the south and the densely forested slopes of Mazandaran province in the north approximately 100 km (60 mi) from present-day Tehran. Since it lies on a mountain, it was named Alamut, which means “Eagle’s Nest." Starting from Qazvin toward Alamut, passing through the first range of hills, curvatures, forms, scars, wrinkles are significant themes in nature's composition of this area. Two big citadels of Ismailists, Lambsar and Alamut castles are in this area. Hassan-iSabbah and his followers controlled the area for many years. Alamut castle was originally built in 860, and captured in 1090 by the Assassins, who occupied it until 1256.In 1090 A.D, Hassan Sabbah, the leader of Ismailites in Iran, chose the Alamut region, as his headquarter to campaign, preach and convert new followers. This proved to be a turning point for destiny of Alamut Valley. The result of over two centuries Ismailite stronghold, the region witnessed innumerous castles throughout, of which at least 20 castles dating back to this era have been identified. The most magnificent castle in the Alamut Valley is the Alamut Castle, which is built on top of a high rock reaching 2163 m above sea level near the Gazor Khan Village. The rock is 200 m high and covers an area of 20 hectares (49 acres); with its steep slope and deep and dangerous ravine, the rock is practically inaccessible and forms a part of the gort’s structure. Currently only ruins of the fort and some towers are apparent and it is only through archaeological excavation the main portions can be discovered. Under the leadership of Hasan-iSabbah, Alamut became the site of intense activity for the Shi'a NizariIsmai'li, along with a smaller subgroup known as the Assassins, between 1090 and 1256 AD. During the medieval period, the castle functioned as the major stronghold of the Nizari Ismaili state. In 1256, Ismaili’s control of the fortress was lost to the invading Mongols;it was destroyed in 1256, by Hulaku Khan as part of the Mongol offensive on Southwest Asia. The fortress was impregnable, but Ruknuddin Khurshah surrendered it without a real fight, in the vain hope that Hulaku would be merciful.Its famous library holdings were destroyed when the castle’s library was condemned to be burned. Sources on the history and thought of the Ismailis in this period are therefore lacking and the majority extant are written by their detractors.

Where Every Stone Tells a Story

Alamut Castle,


Alamut Fortification in Iran


After the Mongol destruction, the castle was of only regional significance, passing through the hands of various local powers. In 2004, an earthquake further damaged the already crumbling walls of the fort. Today, it lies in ruins, but because of its historical significance, it is being developed by the Iranian government as a tourist destination.Hassan Sabbah took upon himself the title of Sheik el Jebel, or Lord of the Mountains. Alamut Castle was his headquarters impenetrable fortresses but the Assassins had many fearful fortresses along the Alborz Mountains such as Alamut, Lamsar, Samiran, Roodkhan castles and villages on route all setting in the area of outstanding natural beauty.

Annual Alamoot Temperature average:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

3.4 2.0 5.6 13.1 18.6 24.7 27.2 27.8 20.9 17.2 8.8 4.0

The site is a dramatic crag rising abruptly above the pleasant, unpretentious little cherry-growing village of Gazor Khan. The access path starts about 700m beyond the village square and requires a steep, sweaty 25-minute climb via an obvious stairway.

Access

The only access is from Qazvin, which connects to the region via two roads. One road starts from north of the city to West Alamut, and the other starts on the eastern part of the city and leads north to East Alamut.

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| No. 66 | November 2013

A smile is a sign of loveA smile is a sign of careA smile tells how much to othersyou are important and also dearA smile is a sign of cheerA smile is a sign of trustA smile shows how you canbe happy even in hard crustA smile is a sign of joyA smile is a sign of hopeA smile teaches you how you canremove the clouds of mopefor nothing but only a smiletakes away your pain and trialand picks your trouble’s pileand let you smile, smile and smile.

A smile

P o e m


Brad Pitt's daughter Vivienne, 5, gets her big-screen debut in Angelina Jolie's MaleficentBRAD PITT and Angelina Jolie's daughter Vivienne has made her acting debut this year, after starring alongside her mother in upcoming Disney film Maleficent.Making her first appearance in the recently released trailer, young Vivienne is featured as the "Toddler Princess Aurora" and can be seen running through a field, as her elder self, reminisces about her childhood.And her mother Angelina revealed that her carefree daughter won the role because she was the only child who wasn't intimidated by her extreme makeup. It sounds as though little Vivienne really is following in her parents footsteps - even when it comes to her wages.The adorable toddler is said to have been paid a salary of $3,000 a week for her small role.According to the publication, the couple’s older children Pax and Zahara will also star in the movie – which is set for release in 2014.

Zac Efron Breaks Jaw after Slipping In A Puddle Of Water, Mouth Wired Shut

Over the weekend, the 26-year-old actor slipped on a puddle of water at the entrance of his Los Angeles home on November 10 and broke his jaw, and now his mouth is wired shut for the recovery period. With his latest accident, plans to promote his upcoming comedy, "That Awkward Moment" (due out in January), have been put on hold.


Buying a parrot

A man goes into a pet shop to

buy a parrot. The shop owner

points to three identical looking

parrots on a perch and says:

"The parrot to the left costs 500

dollars"."Why does the parrot cost so

much?" the customer asks.

The owner says, "Well, it knows

how to use a computer."

The customer asks about the

next parrot and is told "That one

costs 1,000 dollars because

it can do everything the other

parrot can do plus it knows

how to use the UNIX operating

system."Naturally, the

increasingly

startled man

asks about the

third parrot and

is told "That

one costs 2,000

dollars."Needless to say this

begs the question "What

can IT do?"

To which the owner replies

"To be honest I have

never seen it do a thing

but the other two call him

boss!"

Sherlock Holmes

Let the Other do the Hard WorkTwo men went bear hunting. While one stayed in the cabin, the other went out looking for a bear. He soon found a huge bear, shot at it but only wounded it. The enraged bear charged toward him, he dropped his rifle and started running for the cabin as fast as he could. He ran pretty fast but the bear was just a little faster and gained on him with every step. Just as he reached the open cabin door, he tripped and fell flat. Too close behind to stop, the

bear tripped over him and went rolling into the cabin. The man jumped up, closed

the cabin door and yelled to his friend inside,

"You skin this one while I go and get

another one!"

The CentipedeA man goes into a pet shop and asks the owner if he could buy a pet that can do everything.The shop owner says that he's got a centipede that can do everything. The man says, "A centipede? I can't imagine a centipede doing everything, but OK... I'll try a centipede." He goes home and says to the centipede, "Clean the kitchen." Half an hour later, he walks into the kitchen and it's spotless! All the dishes have been washed, dried, and put away, the counter-tops are cleaned and the floor is waxed. The man is absolutely amazed. He says to the centipede, "Clean the living room." Half an hour later, the living room is perfect. The carpet has been vacuumed, plants watered and the furniture has been cleaned and dusted. The man thinks to himself, "This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen. This is a pet that can do everything!" So he says to the centipede, "Get your shoes on and run down to the corner shop and get me a newspaper." The centipede walks out the door. Ten minutes later, no centipede. Twenty minutes later, no centipede. Thirty minutes later... no centipede. By this point the man is wondering what's going on. The centipede should have been back in a couple of minutes. An hour later - still no centipede! The man is trying to think what could have happened. Did the centipede run away? Did it get run over by a car? Bit worried, he goes to the front door, opens it ... and there's the centipede sitting right outside.

The man says, "Hey - I sent you to the corner shop an hour ago to get me a newspaper. What's the matter!?" The centipede says, "I'm goin'! I'm goin'! I'm just puttin' on my shoes!"


CATYou are neat, clean and tidy. You don't like to be pushed around and you won't do something just because you're expected to. You don't live by the rules--you prefer to make up your own instead. If you are interested in an issue, you will find out more about it because you want to, not because you have been told to.

FISHYou are surely an observer. You notice the tiniest details that other people usually overlook. You are a thinker, a reasoned speaker, and a good listener as well. People enjoy your company.

Cat Fish Bird Mouse Turtle Reptile

BIRDYou love nature and freedom. You find rules and regulations to be an utter waste of time. When you feel that you are being controlled, you will try to escape. On weekends, you prefer to travel rather than stay at home.

MOUSEYou tend to be gentle and modest. You pay attention to details and don't like making even minor mistakes in your work. People who wear a ring on their little finger are also often workaholics.

TURTLEYou revel in isolation. You follow a simple lifestyle, and are gentle and hard working. You don't care much about what others have to say. Sometimes their comments hurt your feelings but you just ignore them and get on with your life.

REPTILEYou are polite, helpful and love your friends. You will do anything you can to help your friends but you don't like to be taken advantage of. You are very confident and content with your life as it is.

What is your most favorite pet?

Pick one:

F u nPage 20 | No. 67 | December 2013

Cat Fish Bird Mouse Turtle Reptile

Summer vacation was over andlittle Johnny returned back toschool.Only two days later his teacherphoned his mother to tell her thathe was misbehaving."Wait a minute," she said. "I hadJohnny with me for three monthsand I never called you once whenhe misbehaved!"The teacher came up with a goodproblem. "Suppose," she askedthe second-graders, "there werea dozen sheep and six of themjumped over a fence. How manywould be left?""None," answered little Norman."None? Norman, you don't knowyour arithmetic.""Teacher, you don't know yoursheep. When one goes, they allgo!"

Mother: What did you learn inschool today?Son: How to write.Mother: What did you write?Son: I don't know, they haven'ttaught us how to read yet!

Teacher: What's the longest wordin the English language?Pupil: Smiles - because there isa mile between the first and lastletters!

Teacher: Are you good at math?Pupil: Yes and no.Teacher: What do you mean?Pupil: Yes, I'm no good at math!

Teacher: Can you tell me whereelephants are found?Pupil: We don't have to findelephants, they're so big, theydon't get lost!

Teacher: I told you to stand at theend of the line?Pupil: I tried, but there wassomeone already there!

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