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Iran's Cities > Kerman |
Kerman Province
Capital: Kerman
Area: 186,422 km2
Population: 2.2 million
The province of Kerman is the third largest in Iran. Its
north-east takes in much of the Dasht-e-Lut desert, and
most of the province is largely steppe or sandy desert,
though there are some oases where dates, citrus fruits,
pistachios and cereals are cultivated.
In view of its barren nature, the province is very
dependent on Ghanats. (underground water channels),
built many centuries ago but still used today. The
climate is surprise ingly varied in summer - hot and
sometimes humid in the south, while considerably milder
in the north.
For many centuries the livelihood of Kerman depended on
its place on the Asian trade routes, but from about the
beginning of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1722) it has
relied more on the production of carpets. The barren
nature of the surrounding terrain has never presented
much scope for agriculture, and today the main activity
of the town continues to be
 the manufacture of carpets
and other handicrafts. It has a Zoroastrian minority,
though much smaller than that in Yazd.
History
Kerman has a long and turbulent history, and it has only
for short spells enjoyed peace and prosperity at the
same time. Believed to have been founded in the early
3rd century AD by Ardashir I, founder of the Sassanian
dynasty, it was from the 7th century ruled in turn by
the Arabs, Buyids, Seljuqs, Turkmen and Mongols, and
then until the Ghajar dynasty (1779-1921) by a further
succession of invaders and regional despots. Kerman
obtained security under the central government in Tehran
during the last century, but its relative remoteness has
continued to deny it any great prosperity.
The well-preserved and restored Friday Mosque, in the
bazaar district, with its four lofty civans and
shimmering blue tiles, was built in 1349,though much of
the present sutures dates from the Safavid dynasty
(rater it's no problem for no Muslims to go inside, The
back entrance leads directly into the bazaar.
Ganjali Khan Bath Museum
This fascinating, though slightly tacky museum contains
a small collection of wax dummies I showing the viewer
what to do in a bath house. originally built in the 17th
century as a bathhouse by the governor of Kerman,
Ganjali Khan.
Around Kerman:
Mahan
The small town of Mahan attracts visitors for its fine
mausoleum, and beautiful palace and gardens.
Shah Nematollah Vali's Shrine
Dome
over the tomb of Shah Ne'matollah Vali, a well-known
Sufi dervish, dates from the early 15th century, but
many of the other structures in the small enclosed
complex of religious buildings around it were built in
the reign of Shah Abbas I or later the mausoleums
renowned for its the work, and the seven ancient wooden
doors throughout the building. The doors were originally
from India, but no-one knows how they got to Mahan.
Shahzadeh Garden
Also worth a visit are these charming gardens. with a
collection of pools leading to a large palace. (the
palace was once the summer residence of a prince though
nobody is really sure which prince.)
Bam Citadel
History The citadel and original city of Bam were
probably founded in the Sassanian period (224-637) and
some of the surviving structures must have been built
before the 12th century, but the greater part of what
remains dates from the Safavid period (1502-1722).
Between 9000 and 13,000 people once lived in this 6km2
ancient city until it was first abandoned following an
invasion by the Afghans in 1722. Just when the
inhabitants thought it was safe to return, the city was
abandoned again in about 1810 when some particularly
gruesome atrocities from invaders from around Shiraz
persuaded the populace to leave permanently. From then
until the 1930s, the remains of the ancient city was
used as an army barracks, and it is now completely
deserted. |
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