The Old Tehran Gate in the city of Qazvin — which in the past had eight gates named Darb Kushk Gate, Baghshah Gate, Tabriz Gate, Imamzadeh Hossein Gate, Khandaqbar Gate, Sheikh Abad Gate, and Tehran Gate — now only two gates remain: the Tehran Gate and Darb Kushk Gate.
The Old Tehran Gate, also known as the Old Gate of Tehran, is a historic gateway located at the southeastern entrance of the city of Qazvin, where the Tehran–Qazvin road used to enter the city. This gate protected Qazvin from attacks, theft, and pillaging by other cities. Originally built outside the city limits, it now lies within Qazvin due to the city's population growth.
The gate, which dates back to the Qajar era, is adorned with beautiful architecture and tilework from the reign of Naser al-Din Shah. The architect of the Old Tehran Gate was Master Taghi Mohammadpour, a renowned architect from the early Pahlavi era, known for his expertise in architecture and tile design. He also worked on the tilework and design of parts of the National Garden gateway in Tehran's Hasan Abad Street.
Historically, the city of Qazvin had nine gates, including:
Rasht Gate (west side of the city)
Darb Kushk Gate (northeast)
Tehran Gate (southeast, start of Old Tehran Street)
Sheikh Abad Gate (northeast, Saadi Street)
Maghlavak or Hamedan Gate (southwest, Maghlavak neighborhood)
Kandavar Gate (southwest, Prince Hossein)
Savalan Gate (southeast, Prince Hossein)
Ray Road Gate (southeast, Sanjideh Mosque)
Panbeh Risseh Gate (east, Taleghani Street)
These gates once reflected the cultural and artistic identity of Qazvin. Today, only two remain: Darb Kushk Gate and the Old Tehran Gate, which is located on Old Tehran Street (Hashemi Square) and was restored and re-tiled in 1968 (1347 SH).
The Old Tehran Gate is situated at the end of Old Tehran Street, in Hashemi Square, southeast of Qazvin. In the past, this was the starting point of the Tehran–Qazvin road. To reach the gate, you can either take a city taxi for a quicker journey or use local buses, which are the most economical option.
A bus stop is located near Old Tehran Square, and the Qazvin intercity terminal is also nearby, making it easy to travel to your accommodation or other tourist attractions in the city.
One of Qazvin's nine historic gates, the Tehran Gate is decorated with tilework from the Naser al-Din Shah period. Built of brick, it features a central main entrance with traditional decorative vaulting and two symmetrical arches on either side. When you visit, make sure to walk under the Qajar-style arch and admire the eight elegant minarets surrounding the structure. This gate, along with the others, once protected Qazvin from invaders. Today, only Darb Kushk and the Tehran Gate remain, with the latter restored in 1968 and registered as a national monument of Iran in August 1975.
