Kerman Tour | Kerman Travel Guide | Kerman Travel Tips
Written by Iran Travel Agency
Kerman is a city in Iran. It is the center
of Kerman province. Located in a large and flat plain,
this city is located 1,076 km (669 mi) south of Tehran, capital of Iran.
Kerman city had an estimated
population of 533,799 in 2005.
It is believed, that Kerman has
been founded as early as the 3rd century by Ardeshir I, founder of the
Sassanian dynasty. In Islamic time, Kerman was one of the important cultural
centres of Iran.
Kerman is a city in Iran. It is the center
of Kerman province. Located in a large and flat plain,
this city is located 1,076 km (669 mi) south of Tehran, capital of Iran.
Kerman city had an estimated
population of 533,799 in 2005.
It is believed, that Kerman has
been founded as early as the 3rd century by Ardeshir I, founder of the
Sassanian dynasty. In Islamic time, Kerman was one of the important cultural
centres of Iran.
Kerman was under the Seljuk Turks
in the 11th and 12th cent., but remained virtually independent, conquering Oman
and Fars.
When Marco Polo visited the city in
1271 it had become a major trade emporium linking the Persian Gulf with
Khorasan and Central Asia. Subsequently, however, the city was sacked many
times by various invaders.
Kerman was expanded rapidly
during the Safavid Dynasty. Carpets and rugs were exported to England and Germany during
this period.
In 1793 Lotf
Ali Khan defeated the Qajars and in 1794 captured Kerman. But soon, he was
besieged in Kerman for six months by Agha Mohammad Khan. When the city fell to
Agha Mohammad Khan, angered by the popular support that Lotf Ali Khan had received,
all the male inhabitants were killed or blinded, and a pile was made out of
20,000 detached eyeballs and poured in front of the victorious Agha Muhammad
Khan. The women and children were sold into slavery, and the city was destroyed
over ninety days.
The present city of Kerman was
rebuilt in the nineteenth century to the northwest of the old city, but it did
not recover until the twentieth century.
Attractions
Bazaar - Explore the
arcades of the bazaar, indulge in the smells of oriental spices.
Gonbad-e-Jabaliyeh - An amazing
dome in the east of Kerman.
Ganjalikhan bath - A historic
bath
Mouyedi Ice-House - There are
several small-gardens around this ice-house which were filled with the
water in winter, then after that the water iced, the ices lead to the
ice-house to use in summer.
San'ati museum - An
interesting museum in contemporary arts of Kerman.
Vakil traditional tea house - An attractive traditional tea house in the covered bazar.
Ganjali Khan Square - It is similar
to "Naghshe Jahan" and "Mirchakhmaq" squares. The
bazaars are located in three side of square and in the fourth side, the
Ganjali Khan School is established.
Ganjali Khan Mosque - It is located
in the north-west of square and near Ganjalikhan School. It was
constructed in 1007 A.H.
Zarabkhaneh museum - It is located
in the north side of square. This eight-angle place includes an arch, four
porticoes and four booths in four views. Now, it has changed to coin museum.
Jameh mosque - The Friday
mosque.
Moshtri-ye-Moshtak Ali Shah - A holy shrine.
Malek mosque (Imam mosque) - A gem of a mosque!
National Library, housed in a
former a textile factory.
Museum of the Holy Defense - Interesting installation in the courtyard, depicting
a battlefield in the Shatt-el-arab. Admission 3000 IRR.
Takht-e-Darya-Gholi-Beyg - A monument in the side of the hills in the east of
Kerman.
Ghal'e Dokhtar - A historical
castle in the hills in the east of Kerman; attributed to the Ashkanian
era.
Ghal'e Ardeshir - A historical
castle in the hills in the east of Kerman; attributed to the Ashkanian
era.
