KERMAN

Kerman is the capital city and the most developed city in Kerman province. It is also one of the largest cities in Iran which has a long history and strong cultural heritage. There are many great historical attractions in Kerman such as historic mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples. In fact, Kerman is one of the 5 historic cities in Iran. Moreover, locating 1760 meters above the sea level makes Kerman the 4th highest capital city in Iran.

Kerman has a cold desert climate which makes it hot during summers and cold during winters. However, Kerman also has a moderate climate throughout the year. The diversity of the climate depends on the elevation of the city and how mountainous it is. The average annual rainfall is 142 mm. Generally, you will face with cool weather in Kerman.

Kerman History

The artefacts found in this area indicates that the city of Kerman almost dates back to the Sassanid era. There are some attractions in this city that belong to the Parthian Empire which shows that during that time Kerman was a developed city that had special fortresses. Kerman was always under the invasion of Arabs. However, they couldn’t occupy the city until the empire of Saffarian. Since then, Kerman was always dominated by the powerful governments of the time. It was during the Seljuq dynasty when Kerman became more developed and people had more comfort. Seljuqs ruled Kerman for almost 150 years. However, the city was sacked many times by various invaders. It was during the Safavid dynasty when Kerman expanded rapidly. Carpets and rugs were exported to England and Germany during this time which affected the economy of this city.

It was in 1793 when Lotf Ali Khan, the founder of Zaniyeh Dynasty, captured the city. He had many supporters in Kerman, especially the Zoroastrians of Kerman. However, he could only rule the city for six months. After that, the city fell into Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, the founder of the Qajar dynasty. He was a cruel ruler, and since the people in the city were still supporting Lotf Ali Khan, he ordered to kill or blind many of the inhabitants. Agha Mohammad Khan’s reign in Kerman was full of wrath and cruelty. That’s why soon the city of Kerman turned into ruins.

The present city of Kerman was rebuilt in the 19th century. However, the old city has still remained to show the historic structure of the city.

Tourist Attractions in Kerman

There are many great tourist attractions in Kerman, here are the most popular ones:

Ganjali Khan Complex

There is a rectangular shape square in Kerman which is surrounded by different buildings and shops. This place is called Ganjali Khan Complex which consists of the great bazaar of Ganjali Khan, the square, a traditional bath, a museum, a mosque, a caravanserai, and a cistern. This complex is located in the old city of Kerman.

Bam Citadel

Bam Citadel is the most popular tourist attraction in Kerman. Arg-e-Bam, which is the Persian name for Bam Citadel, is the largest adobe building in the world. It is listed by UNESCO. The origin of this citadel traces back to the Achaemenid Empire. Unfortunately, a devastating earthquake almost completely destroyed this citadel in 2003. However, it underwent reconstruction soon after this incident.

Shazdeh Mahan Garden

Shazdeh Mahan Garden is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Kerman which dates back to the Qajar era. This garden is among 9 Iranian Gardens registered in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.