India, March 7 -- Tehran, the modern heart of Iran, is a large metropolis with more than 10 million residents; however, less than two centuries ago it was a small village. For well over two millennia Tehran, which means the bottom of the mountain in Persian lies surrounded by the Alborz mountains on two sides and a fertile plain fed by streams and rivers Karaj and Jajrud on the other. For much of history it was overshadowed by its neighbour, the Shahr-e-Ray (City of Ray) or Raghes which was the capital of the kingdom of Media during the first millennium BCE. Besides Ray the present Tehran region encompasses other ancient sites such as the picturesque Cheshm-e-Ali, a spring which has been a favourite of locals to wash and dry their gorgeou...