KERMAN ATTRACTION

Being a province of great antiquity kerman contains numerous monuments dating back both to pre-Islamic and post-Islamic periods.
It is located in the south-eastern Iran and covers an area of 180,000 sq. kms. Kerman is bounded on the north by yazd and Khorasan, on the east by Sistan va Baluchestan, on the south by Hormozgan, and on the west by Fars.
The central and western areas, being mountainous, are cold in winter and mild in summer. The western and eastern parts containing vast areas of desert have long hot summers and short mild winters. The Lut Desert, lying north of the province, plays a significant role in the climate.
The two ranges of mountains stretching from northwest to southeast from the central mountains of Iran. The mountain-ranges of Kuhbanan, jebal-e Barez and shahsavaran, and the mountains of Chehel Tan, bid Khan, Davaran and jupar are of more importance.
Mt. Jupar (4100 meters) lying to the southeast of the provincial, attracts many people. Interested in mountain and rock climbing, wildlife rich in variety and being in the vicinity of Mahan (a town with many attractions) have great appeal for visitors.
The lowest elevation in Iran is Shahdad district, located in the northeast of Kerman province.
Most of the rivers of the province are seasonal. The largest permanent river is the Helil Rud, originating in the Baft mountains and flowing southeastward to Jazmurian Marsh. Qanant, an irrigation water source is tapped and the water channelled down through a series of tunnels to the earth's surface, has been widely used for supplying some areas with water from the distant past.
sirjan region, located in the eastern Kerman, takes in a seasonal salt lake bing of considerable attraction. The Kavir-e Lut, an immense desert located in the northeast of the province, has its own appeal.
The mineral springs of Abareq and Dah Sheykh, near the cities of Bam and Baft respectively, with suitable facilities for bathing, can be used all the year round.
The province mainly consists of steppes and semiarid plateaus covered by brown or chestnut-colored soil that supports gtassy vegetation. Thorny shrubs from the ground cover of the steppes. Tagh trees (belonging to the goosfoot family) and tamarisks also grow on these areas. Wild fruit trees such as Persian turpentine trees and almond are found in mountainous regions enjoying mild climate.
Wildlife is rich in variety. Cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, wild boars, wolves, jackals, foxes, rabbits, gazelles, mouflon, ibex, and the Iranian wild ass which is threatened by extinction, are among mamals living in the province. Wildlife sanctuaries have been established in Kerman, notable among them are the protected areas of Mahru'iyeh and Khabr va Ruchun.
The vast majority of the people living in Kerman are Muslims. Persian is the dominant language, spoken in a stylish Kermani dialect. Tribal life is also found in Kerman; notable among them are the protected areas of Mahru'iyeh and Khabat va Ruchun.
The vast majority of the people living in Kerman are Muslims. Persian is the dominant language, spoken in a stylish Kerman; the following tribes are of more importance: Ayineh, Shams ad-Dini and Afshar.

Bam
Bam is a city of great antiquity,200 kms south-east of Kemran.Dates,citrus fruits and henna are the most important crope cultivated in Bam.Dating fom 2000 years ago,it was city of Bam.called Arg-e-Bam,are of great attraction

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Handicrafts & Souvenris

The Kerman carpets ,renowed for their elaborate border patterns, mute colours and high quality , are regarded as the best souvenirs of Kerman.Gelims (carpets made of goasts's hair), Jajims (fine carpets made of wool or cotton) and Shawls are also among notable handicrafts. Furthermore, careway seed, dates and citrus fruit cultivated in Kerman are of the highest quality.

Shahr babak

The ancient city of Shahr BAbak, the foundation of wich is attributed to Ardeshir I,a king of the Sassanian dynasty, is 250 kms west of Kerman.It has a semi-deseric climate.Of the local sights th fallowing are of more signifixcance: Namak (salt) Lake ,to beauty in the seasons it is filled with water ;the edfice of Vali; Azar Bagh fire-temple; and the village of Meymand whose stone building enjoy impressive architecture representing the peacful coexistance of man and Nature

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Kerman in brief

    Kerman in brief

 

Kerman city is located on a high margin of kavir-e-lut desert in the central south of Iran, at the height of 1755m above sea level. Kerman city is the center of Kerman province and is located at a distance of 1076 km from Tehran. Kerman is regarded as one of the oldest cities and its name is derived from the Germaniol race listed by Herodotus and its construction is attributed to Ardashir I in the 3^rd century AD. Kerman city has an estimated population of 600,000. The city^,s many districts are surrounded by mountains which bring variety to Kerman^,s year round weather pattern.Kerman has numerous historical attractions for tourists. Masjed-e Jame (Jame Mosque), Baghe Shahzadeh(In Mahan), Ganjalikhan Complex,…are only a few of too many.

This area has traditionally been a centre for the production of fine Persian rugs and is also known for growing best pistachio nuts. The archeological ancient city of Jiroft is located south of Kerman. Kerman also has a small but culturally significant Zoroastrian minority.

PATTEH

 

KERMAN HANDICRAFT

 The handicrafts of the province of Kerman are as follows:

    Traditional embroidery known as patteh, carpets, rugs, jajeems, Kilims (a coarse carpet), satchels, and other hand woven articles. Caraway seeds and pistachio of Rafsanjan and Kerman are best of the main items of this province. 

 

Local and Regional Foods, Kerman 

 Dishes prepared in this region are of a colorful array such as types of Aash (or a traditional kind of broth), various kinds of side dishes, and curries accompanied with rice

Kerman Souvenirs

Cumin:
It is one of Kerman products and its origin is also in Kerman. More than 80% of Kerman high quality product is grown in Joupar mountain. Three kinds of cumin are grown in this region:
1- Seventieth cumin(growth: in mountain slopes  and in hotter areas; harvest: 70 days after the start of new year)
2- Ninetieth cumin: (growth: in higher altitudes; harvest: 90 days after the start of new year-bigger and more aromatic)
3- Kabkou: (growth: near icebergs and over 300 meters altitudes. Non aromatic and bigger than the first kind- usually food of partridge)

The best kind is black and grows naturally in mountains.

 

Pistachio:
It is the special nut and souvenir of Kerman. Nowadays, Kerman is the biggest producer of pistachio in the world. Rafsanjan, Robat, Kerman, Bardsir, Shahr Babak, Zarand, some parts of Tahroud and Abaragh villages and Bam are the best areas in which pistachio is cultivated.

 

Distillate (herb water)and perfumes:
On account of the special tendency of people in Kerman to herbal drugs, it has very good distillates. In Laleh Zar Region located near Baft Town, there are very excellent distillates especially rose-blossom distillates(water).

 

Date:
The growth of date in Iran dates back to 4-5 thousand years B.C and it was the most important food resource in the places it grew. Its variety (40 kinds) in Kerman shows the oldness of date in this region. The harvest is done in traditional methods. The fast growing ones (fresh date or Rotab) are harvested sooner and the late growing ones are harvested in middle of Shahrivar. Bam, Jiroft, Kahnouj, Shahdad and Baft are the best date –growing regions.

 

Citrus fruits:
The origin of citrus fruits is at  temperate and tropical areas. About 150 years ago they were brought to Kerman. They include orange, lemon, tangerine, grape fruit and sour orange. They are planted in Bam, Jiroft, Kahnouj, Kerman (Shahdad) and southeast of Baft. The citrus fruits of Bam and Shahdad are better and have higher quality.

 

Other Kerman souvenirs:
Henna, Sefidab (white semi-solid washing-powder), carpet, Pateh and Ghavoot .

 

Kerman Sweets:
Kolompeh(a delicious round pastry mixed with date and walnut), Komache Sen(sponge cake), Halva(sweet paste), Khorma Beriz, Haj Badam(type of light sweet meat) and Haj Pesteh, Bereshtouk(a very delicious soft sweat meat mixed with pistachio and wheat), Sohan-e-Zarand and Masghati-e-Sirjan( a type jelly like sweet meat mixed with pistachio

Carmania (satrapy)

CARMANIA(KARMANIA,KARMAŇA)

Carmania was a satrapy (province) of the Achaemenid Empire as well as, later on, the Sassanid Empire. The region is equivalent to modern day Kermān Province in Iran. Nothing specific is known about the boundaries of Carmania, which may have fluctuated. It is never mentioned as a separate province in royal Achaemenid inscriptions (it may have been part of Persis) although it is mentioned by Arrian. In the time of Alexander it was a satrapy on the Persian Gulf coast west of Hormoz; it was bounded on the east by Gedrosia. Some authors, such as Ptolemy called the northern deserts, which stretched as far as Parthia and Aria, “desert Carmania”, apparently to be distinguished from Carmania proper, which was a cultivated and fertile region

کرمان kerman

 Kermān Province

Kermān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the south-east of Iran. Its' center is Kerman. The province of Kerman is the second largest province in Iran, 180,726 km²[2]. The population of the province is about 2.65 million. The main townships of Kerman province are: Baft, Bardsir, Bam, Jiroft, Rafsanjan, Zarand, Sirjan, Shahr-e-Babak, Kerman, Mahan ,Rayen , Kahnuj, Ghale-Ganj,Manujan, Roodbar-e-Jonob,Anbar Abad,and Ravar.

In the year 1996, 52.9% of Kerman's population lived in urban areas, and 46% in the rural vicinities, the remaining 1.1% accounted as non residents. The city of Kerman (population: 400,000) embraces about 80% of the urban population, being the most developed and largest city of the province.

 Geography

The altitudes and heights of the province are the continuation of the central mountain ranges of Iran. They extend from the volcanic folds beginning in Azarbaijan, and by branching out in the central plateau of Iran, terminate in Baluchestan. These mountain ranges have brought about vast plains in the province of Kerman. The Bashagard and Kuh-e Banan Mountains are the highest in this region, and include peaks such as Toghrol, Aljerd, Palvar, Sirach, Abareq and Tahrood. Other ranges that stretch out from Yazd to Kerman and Challeh-ye-Jazmoorian include peaks like Medvar, Shahr-e-Babak, Kuh-e Panj, Chehel Tan, Lalezar, Hezarbahr, Aseman and others.

Most of the province is largely steppe or sandy desert, although there are some oases where dates, oranges (said to be the best in Iran), and pistachios are cultivated. In antiquity "Carmanian" wine was famed for its quality [Strabo XV.2.14 (cap. 726)]. The province is dependent on qanats (underground water channels) for its irrigation. In the central parts, Mount Hezar is the highest peak, 4465 meters above sea level.

The climate in the province varies in different regions. The north, northwest, and central areas experience a dry and moderate climate, whereas in the south and southeast, the weather is warm and relatively humid. The city of Kerman and the surrounding regions have a semi-moderate and dry climate, with a maximum and minimum temperature of 39.6°C, and -7°C respectively. The average temperature during the months of March - June has been recorded as 20° - 25°C. These months are the most suitable period for traveling and tourism.

History and culture

Kerman province is considered a paradise for palaeontologists because of an abundance of vertebrate fossils from different geological eras. Fossils include Placodermi, jawed and jawless armoured fish dating back to Devonian era or first geological era (395 to 365 million years ago), dinosaurs dating back to the Jurassic era (195 to 65 million years ago) and mammals from the Third Geological Era (ranging from two to seventy million years ago).

The history of human settlements in the territory of Kerman dates back to the 4th millennium BC. This area is considered as one of the ancient regions of Iran and valuable historical vestiges have been discovered here. Jiroft is an example, where a previously unknown settlement dating back to around 2500BC has just been established by archeologists. Kerman has an abundance of historical sites and landmarks, 283 in total, according to Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization. Ancient abandoned citadels such as Arg-é Bam and Rayen castle have been preserved in the desert for two thousand years.

Historical documents refer to Kerman as "Karmania", "Kermania", "Germania" and "Žermanya", which means bravery and combat. Geographers have recorded Kerman's ancient name as "Go'asheer" (Bardesheer).

Kerman today

Kerman is prone to natural disasters. A recent flood for example, unearthed the archeological ancient city of Jiroft, located in the south of Kerman province. Arg-é Bam on the other hand, the world's largest adobe structure, was destroyed in an earthquake in December 2003. And on February 22, 2005, a major earthquake killed hundreds of residents in the town of Zarand and several nearby villages in north Kerman (see 2005 Zarand earthquake).

Natural attractions include thermal and mineral springs, recreational areas, verdant spaces, altitudes and peaks, lakes, pools, protected areas and the special desert features for adventure seekers.

Kerman is where a large portion of Iran's auto industry is based. Sirjan, a specially designated economic zone, is considered a passage-way for transfer of imported commercial goods from the south (through the Persian Gulf). Arg e Jadid, is another specially designated economic zone of Iran, located in Kerman province.

Colleges and universities

Kerman province contains the following universities:

1. Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2. Rafsanjan University of Vali Asr
3. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman
4. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
5. Islamic Azad University of Baft
6. Islamic Azad University of Zarand
7. Islamic Azad University of Kerman
8. Islamic Azad University of Jiroft
9. Islamic Azad University of Bam
10. Islamic Azad University of Bardseer
11. Islamic Azad University of Kahnuj
12. Kerman Khaje-Nasir Higher Education Center