Kerman is the largest province in Iran and home to one of Iran's natural sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a province with many historical and natural attractions ranked the first among Iran provinces in terms registered sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It has enormous potential for tourism.
History
The presence of humans in Kerman province dates back thousands of years. Excavations and explorations carried out in the Jiroft region and some other parts of the province testify to this.
Kerman has been known by different names throughout history, such as Carmania and Gavahir. Various dynasties have ruled this land throughout history, but perhaps the most famous historical event in Kerman province is Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar’s attack the region.
Geography
Although Kerman is considered a desert province, it is home to high mountains and is one of the high-altitude provinces of Iran. Mount Hazar, with an altitude of over 4400 meters, stands among the highest peaks in Iran. However, Kerman is also home to the Lut Desert, which is one of the lowest deserts in Iran.
Kerman is also an earthquake-prone area with major earthquakes reported in recent years. The Bam earthquake in 2003 was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country.
The province is bordered by Hormozgan to the south, Fars and Yazd provinces to the west, and South Khorasan to the north. The vast province of Sistan and Baluchestan is also located to the east of Kerman.
Climate
Due to the high average altitude of KErman, most cities in this province have a cooler climate than other desert cities such as Yazd, Zahedan, or Birjand. The weather in Kerman is freezing cold in winter.
Counties in Kerman Province
Kerman province includes 23 counties, some of which are introduced below:
Kerman
Kerman is the most populous city in the province since it is the capital city. Kerman has also been the capital of Iran for a while. This desert city ranks third in terms of altitude among the provincial centers of Iran, with an average altitude of 1755 meters above sea level.
The Ganjali Khan Complex in the historical texture of Kerman is one of the most important tourist attractions of this city. The bazaar, bathhouse, and mint are parts of this historical complex. The Ganjali Khan Mint has now been converted into a coin museum. The Vakil Bathhouse is another historical monument of Kerman that has been well-renovated and is now served as a traditional teahouse and restaurant. The National Library of Kerman with its beautiful architecture is also one of the tourist attractions of the city.
The city of Mahan, near Kerman, is home to one of the most spectacular Iranian gardens. The Prince's Garden or Shazadeh is located near the city of Mahan and is one of the nine Persian gardens that are registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Joupar Qanat in Kerman is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fathabad Garden is one more unique garden located in Ekhtiarabad village, 20 kilometers away from Kerman.
Shahdad
Shahdad is a small city located about 100 kilometers away from Kerman. Shahdad has a special reputation for Kaluts among tourists. A few kilometers driving on Shahdad to Nehbandan road, you will see the Kaluts along the road. These heights have been formed by sedimentation and erosion. Shahdad Kaluts are part of the Lut Desert World Heritage Site.
The Lut Desert is one of the natural sites registered from Iran on the UNESCO World Heritage List and also one of the natural treasures in the country.
Rafsanjan
Rafsanjan owes a great part of its fame to pistachios. However, there are other picturesque tourist sites in this city. Rageh canyon or valley is one of the unique natural tourist attractions in Kerman province, located near Rafsanjan. Among the historical tourist monuments in this city, we can mention Haj Agha Ali historical house. The historical house is located in Qasemabad village dating back to the Qajar period. The Moeen windcatcher, Baqeri mansion, old city wall, Khalil Abad tower, and Kabutar Khan caravanserai and Qotb Abad are other attractions of Rafsanjan city.
The Rafsanjan Presidential Museum is another attraction of this city, which was built during the presidency of the late Hashemi Rafsanjani. Gifts from people, organizations, and different countries are kept in this museum.
Shahr-e Babak
Shahr-e Babak is one of the small cities in Kerman province, which is home to one of the Iranian sites registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Meymand cave village, located near Shahr-e Babak in Kerman province, is one of the few cave villages in the world where life still goes on. The history of this village dates back several thousand years. Meeting the kind and warm-hearted people in this village in their cave houses is a must for any trip to Meymand.
Bam
The city of Bam is home to the magnificent Arg-e Bam, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, large parts of the historic Arg-e Bam were destroyed in the destructive earthquake in this city, and this valuable monument is now under reconstruction. The city of Bam is also known for its high-quality dates.
The Akbarabad and Qasemabad qanats in Baravat were also recently registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with a number of other qanats in our country.
Handicrafts
Carpets are the most important handicrafts in Kerman province. In addition, mat weaving, Gilim weaving, and Termeh weaving are also common in the province. Copper smithing and engraving are other handicrafts here.
Souvenirs
Kolompeh is one of the famous sweets in Kerman province. Ghavout is another famous food in Kerman which is consumed as a powder. Kermanis call this food "Qowatou". Komach-e Sahan and Qottab are also among the local foods in Kerman province.
Kerman also has famous agricultural products, some of which have found their way into proverbs, such as cumin. In addition to cumin, pistachios, walnuts, dates, and citrus fruits are among the high-quality agricultural products in this province.
Accommodations
Pars 5-star hotel is one of the good and luxurious hotels in Kerman province. The new Arg-e Bam 4-star hotel is also a good one. Fortunately, the diversity of accommodations in this province is relatively high, and other good hotels in this province include the Jahangardi Hotel and the Akhavan Hotel.
There are also many ecotourism accommodations in different parts of Kerman province ready to welcome tourists. These kinds of eco-lodges are especially found around Shahdad and Kaluts region and some other tourist cities in Kerman province.
Local foods
Kashk is one of the important ingredients in traditional Kerman dishes. Boz Qormeh is one of the most famous cuisines in this province, which is prepared with goat meat, kashk, onion, garlic, and other ingredients. Halim Bademjan (eggplant) is another popular traditional food in Kerman.
Restaurants
Vakil Restaurant, located in the bazaar, is one of the elegant traditional restaurants in Kerman city. The traditional Makss restaurant is also a stylish one in Kerman with an attractive atmosphere. Asiab Badi restaurant offers Iranian and foreign dishes with remarkable architecture. Espakho and AS P restaurants in Kerman have a trendier atmosphere. Salsa Restaurant is suitable for those who want to taste foreign food.
Customs and Traditions
The Sadeh ceremony is one of the most important rituals in Kerman province, which is held by the Zoroastrians of this province. The Sadeh ceremony is held exactly 50 days before Nowruz. In this ceremony, Zoroastrian priests in white clothes walk around a large pile of collected bushes and after circling the bushes a few times, they set them on fire. During the ceremony, happy songs are also played.