SAEDNEWS: Spanning more than 1,000 hectares in Tehran’s Shemiranat area, Shian Forest Park features a bird garden, hotel, picnic facilities, and scenic forest trails, making it an ideal destination for a relaxing day off.
According to Saednews, If you live in Tehran and are looking for a peaceful way to spend a day surrounded by nature, Sheian Forest Park is a destination worth considering. With its extensive green spaces, recreational facilities, and scenic attractions, the park offers an enjoyable escape from the busy city. Here is a closer look at its main attractions and amenities.
Tehran’s Lavizan Forest Park was artificially developed in the early 1960s and has since become a popular recreational destination for weekends and holidays.
Sheian is one of Tehran’s major forest parks, located in the Shemiranat area, and covers more than 1,000 hectares. The park is bordered by Shahid Babaei Expressway to the north, Shamsabad to the south, Omid Township and the Bird Garden to the east, and Lavizan village to the west. It is approximately 13 kilometers from central Tehran.
The park offers several recreational and sightseeing options.
One of the most attractive parts of Sheian Forest Park is the Bird Garden. Its first phase opened in the early 2010s and is located in the eastern section of the park.
This section was designed for birds that could not fly or needed to be kept in protected environments. Thousands of birds from different Asian and African species can be found here, including parrots, pigeons, owls, eagles, vultures, falcons, peacocks, flamingos, ducks, ostriches, and various waterfowl.
One of the most interesting structures in the garden is a traditional pigeon tower in the northwestern part of the park. Built in the Safavid architectural style, it adds a historic atmosphere to the natural setting.
The second phase of the Bird Garden, opened in 2017, allows visitors to observe birds flying freely within a large net-covered area. The structure is supported by 12 steel columns and reaches approximately 30 meters in height, creating an impressive environment for visitors.
The garden’s pathways are paved with stone, while ponds, waterfalls, wooden bridges, shelters made from natural materials, wooden guide signs featuring Nastaliq calligraphy, gazebos, and wooden benches add to its visual appeal.
Other facilities include parking, free internet, a nature-painting workshop, parrot photography, a plant and flower cottage, a prayer room, cafés, and restaurants. Shuttle vans are also available to transport visitors around different parts of the garden.
Professional camera photography may require an additional fee, while photography with a mobile phone is generally free.
Bird Garden address: Shahid Babaei Expressway eastbound, after the Hoonam exit, Omid Township service road, Kouhestan Street.
Sheian Forest Park provides many of the facilities needed for a full-day picnic. Visitors can find cafés, restaurants, a mosque, benches, gazebos, barbecue grills, waste bins, public restrooms, and other amenities.
The park also has recreational areas for both children and adults. Sports grounds, table-tennis tables, cycling paths, and other activities provide plenty of opportunities for spending an active day outdoors.
Over the years, thousands of trees and plants have been cultivated throughout the park. As you travel along its winding roads, you can see tall pine, cypress, plane, oak, acacia, maple, and other varieties of trees.
Visitors are encouraged to help preserve the park’s vegetation by avoiding damage to trees, breaking branches, or carving messages into their trunks.
Sheian Hotel opened in 1996 and has 34 rooms, including VIP and first-, second-, and third-class accommodations. The rooms are designed as equipped suites with facilities such as bathrooms, Iranian- and Western-style toilets, free internet, televisions, and refrigerators.
Located in the northern part of the park, the hotel sits within a forested environment surrounded by diverse trees and vegetation. Its setting gives guests the opportunity to enjoy views of the surrounding landscape and experience a quieter atmosphere away from the city.
The hotel also has an Iranian and traditional restaurant serving a variety of Persian dishes. Next to the hotel is a three-story traditional restaurant with a capacity of around 150 people. The first floor is enclosed, while the upper two floors are open-air.
