Kerman

Kerman is a city with 677,650 inhabitants (2006), on a sandy plain, 1749 m above sea level. Kerman is the largest carpet producing and exporting center in Iran, and a large producer of pistachios on the world market.

By plane

• Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Airporthas regular flights to some major and smaller cities in Iran and a few foreign cities. The destinations include Tehran (5-6 flights per day), Mashad, Kish Island (2 flights per week) Ahvaz , Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz , Zahedan, Bandar Abbas, Dubai, Najaf and Karbala (1 flight per week)

By bus

Kerman is well connected to most parts of the country. Taxi from bus station to the city maximum 70000 rials.

By car

Freeways connect the city to Yazd (300 km), Zahedan, Bandar Abbas (600 km), Birjand and Shiraz (600 km), Mashhad (1,200) km.

By train

Kerman is connected to the whole railway network of Iran. It is connected to Yazd and Zahedan.

You can get around the city by taxi or bus. You can also go to the small towns such as Mahan, Shahdad, and villages such as Sirch, Zangi-Abad, by bus or taxi.

• 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.
• Jameh mosque - The Friday mosque. Conciled entrance from teh bazar, another entrance from the main street near Sohada square.
• 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 rials.
• Takht-e Dargah-e 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.

• Kerman Bazaar

  address: Arg sq
  Stretching for 1200 m, from Arg Sq northeast to Moshtag Sq, this is one of the oldest trading centres in Iran. The main thoroughfare is made up of four smaller bazaars, and a further 20 or so branch off to the north and south. It is, however, easy enough to navigate and has an interesting vivacity, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
• 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.
• Ganjalikhan bath - A historic bath. Access from inside the bazaar.
• Ganjali Khan Mosque - It is located in the north-west of square and near Ganjalikhan School. It was constructed in 1007 AH (1694-95 CE).
• 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.

• Gonbad-e- Jabaliyeh

  address: Shohada Ave. Moshtaghiyeh Sq. Kerman
  Jabalieh or Rock Dome, also known as the Gabri Dome, Gonbad-e Jabaliyeh, Gonbad-e Jabalīyeh, etc., is a place of historical importance in Iran. It was constructed of stone and brick, though the building is of stone and gypsum, and its architectural affects were inspired from the Sassanid period. It was repaired during the first decades after the arrival of Islam in Iran.

• Sanati Museum

  address: Shahid beheshti Ave. Kerman.
  Occupying a former orphanage, this art museum is a pleasant surprise in a town that can otherwise feel a long way from modern cultural pursuits. In a Qajar-era building set around an attractive courtyard, the museum houses paintings, sculptures and stone inlays by famous local artist Sayyed Ali Akbar Sanati (1916–2006), who spent most of his childhood in the orphanage. It also exhibits works by younger Iranian artists and even a bronze hand by Auguste Rodin. Not surprisingly, it’s a good place to meet open-minded young Kermanis.

• Moshtaghiye Dome (Three domes)

  address: 17 Shahrivar. Moshtaghiye Square.
  Moshtaghiye is the tomb of one of Sufis leaders whose name is Moshtagh Alishah. This place at first was the tomb of Mir Hossein Khan who was the ruler of Kerman in Zands era and after the death of Karim Khan Zand.

• Museum of Zoroastrianism and temple

  address: Sohada Ave.Moshtaghiyeh Sq. Kerman
  A museum that displays Zoroastrianism customs, and objects. All explanations and names in persian.

Nearby

• Rayen CastleOn a day trip you can visit the magnificent old citadel (similar to Bam). It is well-preserved but has no explanation texts.

• Shazdeh's garden

  address: Mahan, Kerman
  Mahan is 30 km away. There you can see Shazdeh's garden which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers about 5.5 hectares, with a rectangular shape and a wall around it. The garden is a fine example of Persian gardens that take advantage of a suitable natural climate and also contains the Shah-Ne'matollah-e-Vali monument.

• Fathabad Garden

  address: Zangi Abad Road
  Fathabad Garden is a historical Persian garden located near Kerman.

• Shah Nimatullah Wali Shrine

  address: Mahan. Kerman.

• kaloutsKaluts is the region that are extended from the center Lut to the west. They are the most beautiful natural phenomena. They are unique and can't be found in any desert of the world.

• Sadeh Celebration

  address: Sadeh St. Kerman.
  Sadeh (Persian: سده also ransliterated as Sade), is an ancient Iranian festival that dates back to the first Persian Empire. The biggest celebration of Sadeh hold in Kerman. Sadeh celebrates 50 days before Nowruz. Sadeh in Persian means "hundred" and refers to one hundred days and nights past the end of summer. It was a festivity to honor fire and to defeat the forces of darkness, frost, and cold.

• Rugs, Like many Iranian cities, Kerman produces rugs and has its own well-known style of rug-making.
• Pistachio, Kerman is the center of producing the pistachio in Iran. More than 95% of Iran pistachio is produced in Kerman.
• Kolompeh is a very delicious pie, with walnuts and date paste.
• Henna a flowering plant which is another souvenir of Kerman.
• Cumin a herbaceous annual plant, which is another souvenir of Kerman.
• Patteh is a unique handicraft which is produced in Kerman.
• Quvetoo (Persian:قوِتو - قاووت)
• Distills, Kerman have many kinds of aromatic distills.

You can almost find any food that is served in other cites of Iran. There are many restaurants ( both fast food and traditional) around the city and notably on Jomhuri Blv.

• Vakil traditional tea house

  phone: +98 34 32225989

• Qal'eh Restaurant and Teahouse

  phone: +98 913 5313537
  address: Alley 9, Imam st
  A traditional Iranian teahouse that serves tea, snacks and shisha.

• Sindokht

  address: Hojaj Blvd. Jomhouri Blvd

• windmills

  address: Kerman Mahan road. haft bagh alavi.

Drinking alcohol is illegal, and if seen by police may be met with punishment, though available on the black market.

• Doogh is a popular and delicious naturally-carbonated yogurt drink. It is generally served with ice and a dash of mint.
• Distills - Kerman have many kinds of aromatic distills.
• Pāloodeh-e-Kermani (Fāloodeh-e-Kermani) is a special deliciously refreshing sorbet made from small drops of starch, suspended in rosewater.
• Black tea (chāi, چای) is the national drink of alcohol-free Iran. It is served strong and with crystallized or cubed sugar (ghand, قند) which is held artfully between the teeth while tea is sipped through.
• Fruit juices (āb miveh, آب ميوه), A wide variety of fruit juices (āb miveh, آب ميوه) and drinks are available from shops and street vendors including cherry cordial (sharbat ālbāloo, شربت آلبالو) and banana milkshakes (shir moz, شير موز).
• Soft drinks are widely available, both international makes such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and their brand names including 7up, Sprite, Fanta, etc., and local makes such as Zam Zam. "Coca-Cola Original" and "Pepsi Original", etc., are not made of original Coca-Cola Company's and PepsiCo's ingredients and taste exactly the same as Zam Zam.
• Ma-o-sha'eir is a non-alcoholic beer which you can find in the supermarkets.

• Pars Hotel

  phone: +98 341 2119331-2
  address: Jomhuri Blvd. - Kerman

• Akhavann Hotel

  phone: +98 341 2441411-2
  address: Shahid Sodooghi Ave.

• Govashir Hotel

  phone: +98 341 2512718
  address: Imam Khomeini Expreress way.

• Motevalli bashi traditional hotel

  phone: +98 9133999737, +98 34 33 77 86 14
  address: Shahnematollah west part- Behdari crossing- Valiasr st.
  Free Wi-fi and breakfast. But 40 km out of town in walking distance of Shah Nematollah Vali.
• Hotel Omid has the cheapest rooms in town, but no singles.

• Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman is one of the highest rank universities in Iran (among the 8 top Iranian universities) for its educational and research activities as well as its design and development. The university started its academic activities in 1975, in 3 disciplines: Physics, Chemistry, and English; with 10 faculty members and 70 students.The university is located in the south eastern part of Kerman, in an area of 500 hectares. It has an enrollment of about 12,500 students who are studying and doing research in 16 colleges and research institutes of the university. There are about 100 different disciplines available for the students to choose from, which offers programs leading to B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc., D.V.M.,or Ph.D. degrees. There are 400 faculty members, and 1000 regular employees at the university.
• Afzali Pour (Kerman) University of Medical Sciences
• Azad University of Kerman
• Kerman Khaje-Nasir Higher Education Center
• Shahid Chamran College of Thechnology

Iran is generally a safe country. It is advised however, that being an obvious tourist may attract some unwanted attention from interested Iranians, but do not be alarmed or react negatively. Standard advice to keep your bag secured and safe, and to leave personal and valuable belongings in your hotel room or hotel safe should be regarded. Iranians are generally peaceful, hospitable people, but it is advised to act with caution when walk in the streets alone late at night or when approached by strangers to the same degree that you would in your native country.

Emergency services

• Police: 110
• Fire department: 125
• EMS: 115
• Road EMS: 115 or 112

• Regular buses go further south and up north to Tehran or Mashad.