Kerman


Kerman is a city in the Central District of Kerman County, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district.

History

Kerman was founded as a defensive outpost, with the name Veh-Ardashir, by Ardashir I, founder of the Sasanian Empire, in the 3rd century AD.
After the Battle of Nahāvand in 642, the city came under Muslim rule.
The Abbasid Caliphate's authority over the region was weak, and power passed in the tenth century to the Buyid emirs. The region and city fell to Mahmud of Ghazni in the late tenth century. The name Kerman was adopted at some point in the tenth century.
File:Abbasid al-Mahdi dirham Kirman 166AH.jpg|220x220px|thumb|left|Dirham of Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi ibn al-Mansur, 8th century. Silver 2.95 g
Image:Rayen Castle 01.jpg|thumb|left|220x220px|The Rayen Castle, the second largest brick building in the world
Under Seljuk Turkish rule in the 11th and 12th centuries, Kerman remained virtually independent, conquering Oman and Fars. When Marco Polo visited Kerman 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 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 he captured Kerman. But soon after he was besieged in Kerman for six months by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar. When the city fell to Agha Mohammad Khan, angered by the popular support that Lotf Ali Khan had received, many of 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 Mohammad Khan.

Demographics

Ethnicity and religion

The people of Kerman are Persians, and are mostly Muslim, with a small Zoroastrian minority.

Population

The population of the city in 1996 was 385,000. At the time of the 2006 national census, the city's population was 496,684 in 127,806 households. The following census in 2011 counted 534,441 people in 147,922 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 537,718 people in 162,677 households.
It is the largest and most developed city in the province and one of the most important cities in southeastern 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. The city is home to many historic mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples. Kerman has been the capital city of Iranian dynasties several times during its history. It is located on a large, flat plain, 800 km south-east of Tehran, the capital of Iran.

Population development

Some of these figures are estimates only, official census results are indicated with.
¹ official census results

Geography

Surrounding municipalities

Kerman is surrounded by the following cities: Anar to the northwest; Ravar to the north; Shahdad to the northeast; Rafsanjan to the west; Jiroft to the south; Sirjan to the southwest; Mahan to the southeast; and Bam to the east.

Location

Kerman is located on a high margin of the Lut Desert in the south-central part of Iran. The city is surrounded by mountains. Kerman is also located along the mountain Saheb al-Zaman.
The city is 1,755 m above sea level, making it third in elevation among provincial capitals in Iran. Winter brings very cold nights to Kerman. The mountains in the south and southeast are snow-capped all year round.
Kerman is located at latitude 30.29 and longitude 57.06.

Climate

Kerman has a cold desert climate, with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is scarce throughout the year.
The city's many districts are surrounded by mountains. The northern part of the city is located in an arid desert area, while the highland of the southern part of the city enjoys a more moderate climate.
The city of Kerman has a moderate climate. The average annual rainfall is 148 mm. Otherwise, its climate is relatively cool.

Geological characteristics

For Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. The discovery of new dinosaur footprints in 2005 renewed hopes for a better understanding the history of this area.

Economy

Carpet weaving is one of the main industries of the city, and the carpets produced there are renowned internationally. Carpet weaving is a very old tradition in Kerman. The oldest carpet discovered in Kerman, dates from about 500 years ago. Cotton textiles and goatwool shawls are also manufactured.
A number of modern establishments such as textile mills and brickworks also have been constructed. The province's mineral wealth includes copper and coal.

Culture

The only Iranian anthropology museum dedicated to Zoroastrianism is located in the Kerman Fire Temple, showcasing the ancient history of Zoroastrians. The idea of launching the museum along with the library of Kerman's Zoroastrian Society came to light in 1983, when the head of the society, Parviz Vakhashouri, and the former head of the library, Mehran Gheibi, collected cultural heritage artifacts of Kerman's Zoroastrian community. These two officials added many other objects to this collection. The museum was officially inaugurated during Jashn-e Tirgan in 2005 by Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.
Jashn-e Tirgan or Tiregan is an ancient Iranian rain festival observed on July 1. The festivity refers to archangel Tir or Tishtar, who appear in the sky to generate thunder and lightning for providing much-needed rain.
The Sadeh ceremony is celebrated every year in Kerman.
Also, the archeological ancient areas of Jiroft and Tappe Yahya Baft are located south of Kerman. Rayen Castle is also located in Rayen town, southeast of Kerman.
Some of the handicrafts and souvenirs of the province of Kerman are traditional embroidery known as pateh, carpets, rugs, jajeems, kilims, satchels, and other hand woven articles. Caraway seeds and pistachios from Rafsanjan, Zarand, and Kerman are best of the main items of this province.

Sport

is the major football team of the city.
The Shahid Bahonar Stadium has 15,000 seats.

Transportation

Kerman is on the Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Zahedan route. Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Airport is considered one of Iran's main airports. It has daily and weekly flights to Tehran, Ahwaz, Yazd, Esfahan, Bandar Abbas, Mashhad and Shiraz. Also, the Trans-Iranian Railway passes through this city. Kerman's newly built bus terminus, Adineh, opened in May 2013.

Chabahar–Zahedan Railway

In May 2016, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Iran, agreement was signed to develop two berths at Port of Chabahar and to build new Chabahar–Zahedan railway, as part of North–South Transport Corridor, by Indian Railways' public sector unit Ircon International.

Colleges and universities