The land of Desert and Kalouts
Kerman located on a large flat plain most important city in the southeast of Iran. It is also one of the largest cities of Iran in terms of area. Kerman is famous for its long history and strong cultural heritage. Kerman is a delightful town, dating from the third century AD surrounded by dramatic desert and mountain scenery. Capital of a sparsely populated province far from the rich farmlands and industrial centers, the city is remarkably cosmopolitan and dotted with monuments attesting its place in Iranian history. The city is home to many historic mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples. Kerman is also on the recent list of the world's 1000 cleanest cities. The economy of Kerman is mostly based on farming, notably nut farming and also mining. Sarchashmeh Copper mine is the second biggest copper mine in the world after the one located in Chile. Pistachios are an important part of the economy in Kerman, with Kerman Province being the largest producer of pistachios in Iran and the world. Carpet weaving is one of the main industries of the city, and the carpets produced there are renowned internationally.
Bam is a city in the middle of the desert on the southern edge of Iranian high plateau in Kerman Province. The modern Iranian city of Bam surrounds the Bam citadel. There are various opinions about the date and reasons for the foundation of the citadel. Some people believe that Bam city was founded during the Parthian Empire. Economically and commercially, Bam occupied a very important place in the region and was famed for its textiles and clothes.
The largest adobe building in the world named Arg-e Bam listed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site "Bam and its Cultural Landscape". The ancient citadel of Arg-e Bam has a history dating back around 2,000 years ago, to the Parthian Empire. The heyday of the citadel was from the 7th to 11th centuries, being at the crossroads of important trade routes and known for the production of silk and cotton garments. The entire building was a large fortress in whose heart the citadel itself was located, but because of the impressive look of the citadel, which forms the highest point, the entire fortress is named the Bam Citadel. The citadel features two of the "stay-awake towers" for which Bam is famed - there are as many as 67 such towers scattered across the ancient city of Bam. The 2003 Earthquake in Bam destroyed more than 80 percent of the citadel. As a World Heritage Site, several countries are cooperating in the reconstruction. Read more
Rayen castle an adobe castle in Kerman. The medieval mud brick city of Rayen is similar to the Arg-e Bam city which was destroyed in an earthquake in December 2003. Rayen displays all the architectural elements of a deserted citadel. It is extremely well preserved, despite numerous natural disasters that have destroyed similar structures nearby, and it is one of the most interesting sites in Iran. Rayen Castle was inhabited until 150 years ago and, although believed to be at least 1,000 years old, may have foundations from the pre-Islamic Sassanid era. Read more
Mahan is a city in Kerman Province well-known for the tomb of the great Sufi leader Shah Ne'emat Ollah-e-Vali, as well as Shazdeh Garden.
Shazdeh Garden is a historical Persian garden located near (6km away from) Mahan in Kerman province and was the 19th-century summer residence of the Qajar princes. The garden is 5.5 hectares with a rectangular shape and a wall around it. It consists of an entrance structure and gate at the lower end and a two-floor residential structure at the upper end. The distance between these two is ornamented with water fountains that are engined by the natural incline of the land. The garden is a fine example of Persian gardens that take advantage of suitable natural climate. Read more
Shahdad a city in Kerman Province which includes smaller cities and villages such as Sirch, Anduhjerd, Chehar Farsakh, Go-diz, Keshit, Ibrahim Abad, Joshan and Dehseif. The driving distance from Kerman city to Shahdad is 95 km. Shahdad is located at the edge of the Lut desert. The local climate is hot and dry. The main agricultural produce is date fruits. There are many castles and caravanserais at Shahdad and around. Examples are the Shafee Abaad castle and the Godeez castle. It is said that the oldest metal flag in human history was found in this city.
Shahdad Kaluts inKerman Province are the most important factors in attracting tourists to this city after the ancient Bam Citadel. Shahdad Kalut (yardang) is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world which attracts a lot of tourists every year. Yardangs are formed by wind erosion, typically of an originally flat surface formed from areas of harder and softer material.The most beautiful Kaluts are located in Shahdad, that are also called the fictional town of Kaluts. This mermaid phenomenon is unique to Iran and was ranked as the fourth scenic area on earth by National Geographic magazine. The kalut desert is also known to be one of the hottest deserts in the world. By taking a stroll through this desert you will be impressed because of the amazing huge naturally formed yardangs. Shahdad Kaluts which cover part of the western fringe of the Lut desert with an average length of 145 km are often called one of Iran’s wonders.
Sirch a village located 25km of Shahdad has a beautiful landscape, covered with masses of trees. Among the old cypress and sycamore trees, there is a cypress tree which is the oldest in this village.
Meymand is a very ancient village which is located in the south-eastern Iranian province of Kerman. This UNESCO world heritage site is believed to be a primary human residence in the Iranian Plateau, dating back to 12,000 years ago, that is since the middle stone ages, making it a mesolithic village and it has been continuously inhabited for 2,000 to 3,000 years making it one of Iran's four oldest surviving villages. Living conditions in Meymand are harsh due to the aridity of the land and to high temperatures in summers and very cold winters. Read more
Bazaar of Kerman which has been built through different periods lasting one thousand years is the liveliest location in the city. It lies between the Arq and Moshtaqiyeh squares of Kerman city and its architecture features astonish the eyes of every visitor. The bazaar comprises of various rows or alleys such as Arg, Ganj Ali Khan, Ekhtiyari, Sardari, Vakil, Attari, Qadam Gah and Mozaffari Alleys. The unique complex of Kerman Bazaar as a masterpiece proves the man's creativity for several reasons such as being the axis of the city structure, comprising of four complexes and centrality in different periods.
The Ganjali Khan Complex: Ganjali Khan was one of the rulers during reign of Shah Abbas of Safavid in the 17th century. As the ruler of Kerman province he constructed many monuments and building. The Ganjali Khan Complex is located in the old center of city of Kerman. The complex covers an area of 11000 square meters and is centered on a large public square ninety-nine meters by fifty-four meter which is aligned with Vakil Bazaar running east-west to its south. The square is enveloped by bazaar arcades to the north, south and west and is flanked by the Ganjali Caravanserai to the east. The entrance to the Ganjali bathhouse is located along a section of Vakil Bazaar south of the square, known as Ganjali Khan Bazaar. The complex was built in Isfahani style of architecture. In ancient Iran, the squares of the cities were established near the governorships and were places for gatherings and ceremonies. The Ganjali square is ninety-nine meters by fifty-four meter, and Similar to Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan .
Built in 1631, the Ganjali bathhouse is located on the southern side of Ganjali Square, off a section of Vakil Bazaar known as Ganjali Bazaar. The entrance of the building is painted with ornaments of the Safavid era. An interesting feature of its architectural finish is that the sculptured stones of the ceiling coincide with that of the flooring. It is composed of a disrobing room, cold room and hot room, all covered with domes carried on squinches. The Ganjali Bath now is an ethnographic museum with unique works of architecture decorated with exquisite tile works, paintings, stuccos, and arches. Read more
Ganjali bazaar is located in southern part of Ganjali Square. Inside, the bazaar is decorated with exquisite plasterwork and wall paintings and although they are 400 years old, they are still well-preserved. The bazaar is 93 meters long and is connected to Ganjali square through 16 iwans and vaults. The junction of the two bazaars is called Chaharsogh. Ganj-Ali Khan Chahar Sough (a dome made of four acute angle domes) with twenty meters of height is one of the tallest among Iranian Bazaars and enjoys peculiar ornaments and it used to be the most crowded and busiest place throughout the city.
Ganjali School was a reputed school in the past. Later, it was converted into a caravansary.The caravanserai is located on the east side of the Ganjali Square. Its portal bears a foundation inscription from 1598 composed by calligrapher Alireza Abbasi. The plan of the caravanserai is based on the four-iwan typology, with double-story halls centered on tall iwans enveloping four sides of an open courtyard. There is an octagonal fountain at the center of the courtyard which is chamfered at the corners. The caravanserai measures thirty-one and a half by twenty-three meters.
Ganjali mosque which is a small domed mosque sites in the north-west of square and near Ganjalikhan School.
Alimoradkhan Water Reservoir was named after Ganjalikhan’s son.
Kerman Fire temple was built during the Pahlavi era.The monument is inscribed with the number 4190 on the list of national works of Iran.
Rafsanjan is a city in Kerman Province which is Iran's center of pistachio cultivation. Rafsanjan is also a major center of carpet production even though the rugs are sold as Kermani rugs rather than Rafsanjani ones. Another large employer is the nearby Sarcheshmeh copper mines.
Jabalieh or Rock Dome, also known as the Gabri Dome, is located in Kerman, Iran. The dome, a place of historical importance in Iran, has been constructed of stone and brick, though the building is of stone and gypsum, and its architectural affects have been inspired from the Sassanid period. It is of octagonal design and comprises three floors crowned by a rather flat dome, totally empty inside. It appears to predate the 2nd millennium AD and may have been a Zoroastrian building, and is remarkable because of being constructed of stone rather than the more usual brick. Read more
Moayedi Ice house another monument of Kerman an amazing cone shaped 17th century ice-house which was built during the Safavid era is a circular structure made of sun baked bricks and clay. Moayedi is the name of a parish in Kerman. This structure which is surrounded by lush greenery is about eighteen metres high. 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. This ice house is inscribed with the number 2437 on the list of national works of Iran.
Gandom Beryan: The hottest part of Dasht-e Lut is Gandom Beryan, a large plateau covered in dark lava. According to a local legend, the name (in translation from Persian — "Toasted wheat") originates from an accident where a load of wheat was left in the desert which was then scorched by the heat in a few days.
The Shoor River: the only permanent river that flows in the heart of the Lute Desert, is full of water all year round, and originates from the northwestern mountains of Birjand.