Allied Cemetery (Tehran War Cemetery)

The Allied Cemetery, in the south of Gholhak Garden in Tehran's Gholhak neighbourhood, is regarded as the only international cemetery in Iran established by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Also known as the "Tehran War Cemetery" or the "Dowlat Cemetery", it contains 538 graves and memorials, and is the resting place of people who died in Iran between the First and Second World Wars. Some of the graves are purely commemorative, with no body buried in them. Those buried here were of various nationalities, including Polish, Russian, Indian and British, and many of the remains were brought back to Iran from their home countries after 1339 (1960).

The cemetery was officially founded in 1339 (1960), when Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, during her visit to Iran, ordered the creation of an international cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in a corner of Gholhak Garden. Before then, the area had been part of the garden of the British Embassy, and Iran had no official Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery. The Commission had begun its work in 1917 with six main members: Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The cemetery is enclosed by plain brick walls, and a turquoise-coloured domed memorial with Iranian architectural elements at its base has been built there, giving this historic, international site a distinctive character.

To get there, head to Shariati Street or Dowlat Street in Tehran and enter the cemetery through the entrance on the Gholhak side. The best time to visit, for those interested in history and memorial sites, is 6 June; a memorial ceremony is held on this day every year, attended by representatives of various countries. While observing silence and showing respect for the graves, visitors can enjoy a walk in the garden-like setting, architectural photography and the annual memorial ceremony.