
Milad Tower – What you must know
Milad Tower, also called Tehran Tower, is a famous landmark in Iran’s capital, Tehran. Standing tall with its impressive design, the tower represents the city’s growth and Iran’s progress in technology, blending tradition with modern advancements. More than just a building, Milad Tower is a symbol of human creativity and a center for connection, where Iran’s rich history meets its future goals. It serves as a proud icon of innovation and culture, making it a cherished part of Tehran’s skyline and the lives of its people.
The History of Milad Tower
Milad Tower’s story began in 1991 when the idea of building a tower for Tehran was first proposed. After considering 17 possible sites, a team of experts started detailed studies in 1994, covering areas like urban planning, telecommunications, engineering, economics, architecture, weather patterns, traffic, and soil conditions. Construction officially started in 1996, led by the Yadamansaze Company, with the renowned architect Dr. Mohammad Reza Hafezi playing a key role in the tower’s design.
The construction of Milad Tower took around 11 years and was completed in two phases. The first phase took 8 years to finish 40% of the project, while the remaining 60% was completed in just 30 months. The tower was officially opened on October 8, 2008, with a ceremony attended by important guests and media. Milad Tower’s development from an idea to a major landmark highlights Tehran’s commitment to blending innovation with its cultural heritage.
Architecture of Milad Tower
Milad Tower’s architecture blends smart design with visual beauty. The tower features an octagonal shape, with inner walls and four unique saw-toothed wings that come together at the center. The tower is made up of several key parts: the base or lobby, the shaft, the crown structure, and the antenna mast at the top.
The crown structure of Milad Tower stands out with a diameter of 60 meters, positioned 280 meters above the ground, giving the tower its distinctive shape. The entire tower weighs roughly 150,000 tons, with about 17,000 square meters of glass adding to its bright, glowing appearance. The steel framework alone weighs around 2,000 tons and is carefully integrated with the tower’s concrete body through radial beams and metal plates, creating a strong yet elegant architectural design.
Milad Tower stands 435 meters tall, making it the sixth tallest telecommunications tower in the world. This remarkable structure showcases modern architectural excellence. Just ahead of it is the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower in China, which is 32 meters taller. The top four tallest telecommunications towers are in Japan, China, Canada, and Russia, with the tallest reaching 634 meters. Additionally, Milad Tower ranks as the nineteenth tallest freestanding structure globally. Its height and unique design make it visible from many parts of Tehran.
The top floor of Milad Tower is 312 meters high, with the tip of the tower reaching 315 meters. The additional height comes from the telecommunications mast, which is 120 meters tall. The tower has a total of 18 floors, spread across its base and upper sections. Even in photos, Milad Tower’s impressive size is evident. Its towering presence enhances Tehran’s skyline, serving as both a key communication hub and a symbol of Iran’s technological advancement.
What are the Functions of Milad Tower?
Milad Tower is a versatile landmark in Tehran that serves many purposes. It is mainly a key telecommunications center, equipped with radio and TV broadcast equipment. The tower also provides an observation deck with stunning views of the city. Its design includes spaces for cultural and artistic events, such as exhibitions. Additionally, Milad Tower features a five-star hotel, a trade center, and a convention venue, making it a hub for business, leisure, and cultural activities.
What Makes Milad Tower Unique?
Milad Tower is unique because it combines stylish architecture with advanced technology. At about 435 meters tall, it stands out on Tehran’s skyline and provides stunning city views. Besides being a key communication center, the tower also serves as an observation spot, cultural venue, and a symbol of Iran’s progress. Its design features traditional Persian elements and includes diverse facilities like exhibition spaces, a five-star hotel, and a trade center, making it a one-of-a-kind and vibrant landmark.
Things to Do at Milad Tower
Milad Tower offers many activities for both locals and tourists. Its main highlight is the observation decks, which provide stunning views of Tehran and the surrounding mountains. From these high vantage points, visitors can enjoy the city’s beauty, see famous landmarks, and watch the city change throughout the day.
Milad Tower has more to offer than just its observation decks. It includes cultural and artistic areas where you can see exhibitions, galleries, and events showcasing Iran’s heritage and modern art. The tower also serves as a center for business and leisure. It features a five-star hotel for a luxurious stay and an international trade center for business opportunities. The tower’s beautiful lighting displays during special events add to the experience, making Milad Tower a top destination in Tehran for culture, entertainment, and amazing views.
Dining at Milad Tower
Milad Tower features several excellent dining options, providing a unique food experience. A standout is the “Tehran 360 Restaurant,” located on the sixth floor of the tower’s crown. This rotating restaurant, which seats 400 people, gives guests a complete panoramic view of Tehran as it turns slowly every hour. It offers a self-service buffet with a wide variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including traditional Iranian food, seafood, international dishes, and specialty bird-shaped platters.
Dolphin Park at Milad Tower
Dolphin Park is located within the world’s tallest simulated oceanic dolphinarium, which can hold about 1,200 people and covers nearly 3,200 square meters. It was designed to offer interactive experiences with dolphins and highlight marine conservation. However, due to concerns from environmental activists and animal rights groups, the dolphin activities have stopped, and the dolphins have been moved to Kish Island.
Strength and Safety
Milad Tower is designed to be both safe and strong, able to handle different environmental challenges. Advanced tools are used to analyze how forces affect the tower’s foundation and structure, helping with maintenance and research. A microgeodesy network, called “micro-geodesy,” is set up around the tower to monitor any movement of the tower and its surroundings. This system uses precise surveying cameras to gather important data when needed.
Standing 435 meters tall, Milad Tower is built to handle winds up to 140 kilometers per hour and sudden gusts reaching 220 kilometers per hour. It is designed to stay stable during earthquakes and can also manage the effects of lightning strikes. To protect against lightning, copper wires are installed throughout the tower and extend to its foundation.
Milad Tower has some interesting features that people might not notice. For special events and celebrations, the tower uses laser technology to create colorful light shows. This technique is used on tall buildings around the world and is applied to a few famous structures in Iran.
Milad Tower is not only the sixth tallest telecommunications tower in the world, but its crown structure is also one of the largest of its kind globally, making it a standout architectural marvel.
Milad Tower is notable for standing on its own, reaching about 435 meters high without needing any external supports or guy wires.
The glass-walled elevators on three sides of the tower travel at least seven meters per second, allowing visitors to reach the top quickly.
Maintaining the tower costs between 900 million and 1.3 billion Iranian Rials each month, which is about 20,000 USD.
Milad Tower weighs around 150,000 tons and includes 17,000 square meters of glass, adding to its striking appearance.
Milad Tower Ticket Cost
You don’t need a ticket to visit the lower levels and the area around Milad Tower. However, a ticket is required to go to the upper levels. There are two ticket options available. The first one lets you access the top four levels, including the open observation deck, the SkyDome, the Manuscripts Museum, and the Hall of Fame Museum. This package costs 6,000,000 Iranian Rials (about 10 USD).
The second package gives you entry to the seventh floor and the open observation deck for 4,000,000 Iranian Rials. If you want to visit the Triaye Café at the top of Milad Tower, you’ll need to pay an extra fee unless you already have a ticket. Please remember that tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged at different times. You can buy Milad Tower tickets either online or at the ticket booth on the ground floor. You can buy as many tickets as you want online with no restrictions.
Visitor Information for Milad Tower in Tehran
- Opening Hours: From January to June, the tower is open from 10:00 AM to 9:15 PM. From July to December, it’s open from 9:00 AM to 8:15 PM.
- Contact Number: +98218585
- Email: info.miladtower@tehran.ir
- Website: www.miladtower.tehran.ir
In Summary
Milad Tower reflects Iran’s commitment to technology, architectural creativity, and cultural pride. It is a key part of Tehran’s identity, symbolizing the blend of tradition and modern goals. As a telecommunications center, entertainment spot, and observation deck, Milad Tower impresses both locals and visitors with its impressive height and diverse features.
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