Kerman ( fa, كرمان, Kermân ; also

romanized Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and ...

as Kermun and Karmana), known in ancient times as the

satrapy A satrap () was a governor of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as in the Sasanian Empire and the Hellenistic empires. The satrap served as viceroy to the king, though with consid ...

of Carmania, is the

capital city A capital city or capital is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state, province, Department (country subdivision), department, or other subnational entity, usually as its seat of the government. A capital is typically a city ...

of Kerman Province,

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

. At the 2011 census, its population was 821,394, in 221,389 households, making it the 10th most populous city of Iran. It is the largest and most developed city in Kerman Province and one of the most important cities 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 Cultural heritage is the heritage of tangible and intangible heritage assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. Not all heritages of past generations are "heritage"; rather, heritage is a product of selection by soci ...

. The city is home to many historic mosques and

Zoroastrian Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheistic on ...

fire temples A fire temple, Agiary, Atashkadeh ( fa, آتشکده), Atashgah () or Dar-e Mehr () is the place of worship for the followers of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Iran (Persia). In the Zoroastrian religion, fire (see ''atar''), together wi ...

. Kerman became the capital city of Iranian dynasties several times during its history. It is located on a large, flat plain, 800 km (500 mi) south-east of

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

, the capital of Iran.

History

Kerman was founded as a defensive outpost, with the name

Veh-Ardashir Veh-Ardashir (also spelled as Beh-Ardashir and Weh-Ardashir), was an ancient Sasanian city in present-day Iraq, and formed a suburb of their capital, Ctesiphon. History Originally known as Seleucia, the city was rebuilt and renamed in 230 by th ...

, by

Ardashir I Ardashir I (Middle Persian: 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥, Modern Persian: , '), also known as Ardashir the Unifier (180–242 AD), was the founder of the Sasanian Empire. He was also Ardashir V of the Kings of Persis, until he founded the new emp ...

, founder of the

Sasanian Empire The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the History of Iran, last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th cen ...

, in the 3rd century AD. After the

Battle of Nahāvand The Battle of Nahavand ( ar, معركة نهاوند ', fa, نبرد نهاوند '), also spelled Nihavand or Nahawand, was fought in 642 between the Rashidun Muslim forces under caliph Umar and Sasanian Persian armies under King Yazdegerd I ...

in 642, the city came under Muslim rule. At first the city's relative isolation allowed

Kharijites The Kharijites (, singular ), also called al-Shurat (), were an Islamic sect which emerged during the First Fitna (656–661). The first Kharijites were supporters of Ali who rebelled against his acceptance of arbitration talks to settle the ...

and Zoroastrians to thrive there, but the Kharijites were wiped out in 698, and the population was mostly Muslim by 725. Already in the eighth century the city was famous for its manufacture of

cashmere wool Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from cashmere goats, pashmina goats, and some other breeds of goat. It has been used to make yarn, textiles and clothing for hundreds of years. Cashmere is closely associate ...

shawl A shawl (from fa, شال ''shāl'',) is a simple item of clothing from Kashmir, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or square piece of cloth, which is often folded ...

s and other textiles. The

Abbasid Caliphate The Abbasid Caliphate ( or ; ar, الْخِلَافَةُ الْعَبَّاسِيَّة, ') was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib ...

's authority over the region was weak, and power passed in the tenth century to the

Buyid dynasty The Buyid dynasty ( fa, آل بویه, Āl-e Būya), also spelled Buwayhid ( ar, البويهية, Al-Buwayhiyyah), was a Shia Iranian dynasty of Daylamite origin, which mainly ruled over Iraq and central and southern Iran from 934 to 1062. Coupl ...

, which maintained control even when the region and city fell to

Mahmud of Ghazni Yamīn-ud-Dawla Abul-Qāṣim Maḥmūd ibn Sebüktegīn ( fa, ; 2 November 971 – 30 April 1030), usually known as Mahmud of Ghazni or Mahmud Ghaznavi ( fa, ), was the founder of the Turkic Ghaznavid dynasty, ruling from 998 to 1030. At th ...

in the late tenth century. The name Kerman was adopted at some point in the tenth century. Shazdeh Garden Mahan Iran

Under the rule of the

Seljuk Turks The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( ; fa, سلجوقیان ''Saljuqian'', alternatively spelled as Seljuqs or Saljuqs), also known as Seljuk Turks, Seljuk Turkomans "The defeat in August 1071 of the Byzantine emperor Romanos Diogenes by the Turk ...

in the 11th and 12th centuries, Kerman remained virtually independent, conquering

Oman Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of t ...

and Fars. When

Marco Polo Marco Polo (, , ; 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known as ''Book of the Marv ...

visited Kerman in 1271, it had become a major trade emporium linking the Persian Gulf with

Khorasan Khorasan may refer to: * Greater Khorasan, a historical region which lies mostly in modern-day northern/northwestern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan * Khorasan Province, a pre-2004 province of Ira ...

and

Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...

. Subsequently, however, the city was sacked many times by various invaders. Kerman expanded rapidly during the

Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; fa, دودمان صفوی, Dudmâne Safavi, ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, as well as one of th ...

. Carpets and rugs were exported to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

and

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

during this period. Kirman1

In 1793

Lotf Ali Khan Lotf Ali Khan ( fa, لطفعلی‌خان زند; ) was the last Shah of the Zand dynasty. He ruled from 1789 to 1794. Early life Lotf Ali Khan Zand came to power after a decade of infighting among a succession of violent and inept Zand chiefs f ...

defeated the

Qajars The Qajar dynasty (; fa, دودمان قاجار ', az, Qacarlar ) was an IranianAbbas Amanat, ''The Pivot of the Universe: Nasir Al-Din Shah Qajar and the Iranian Monarchy, 1831–1896'', I. B. Tauris, pp 2–3 royal dynasty of Turkic origin ...

, and in 1794 he captured Kerman. But soon after he was besieged in Kerman for six months by

Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar ( fa, آقا محمد خان قاجار, translit=Âqâ Mohammad Xân-e Qâjâr; 14 March 1742 – 17 June 1797), also known by his regnal name of Agha Mohammad Shah (, ), was the founder of the Qajar dynasty of Iran, rul ...

. 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. Many women and children were sold into slavery, and in ninety days the city turned into ruins. However, the Zoroastrians of Kerman who had been strong supporters of Lotf Ali Khan suffered the wrath of the founder of Qajar dynasty the most during this period. The present city of Kerman was rebuilt in the 19th century to the northwest of the old city, but the city did not return to its former size until the 20th century.

Geography

Kerman is located on a high margin of Kavir-e Lut (''Lut Desert'') in the south-central part of Iran. The city is surrounded by mountains. Kerman is also located along the Saheb Al Zaman mountain. The city is 1,755 m (5,758 ft)

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...

, making it third in

elevation The elevation of a geographic location is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § Vert ...

among provincial capitals in Iran. Winter brings very cold nights to Kerman. Mountains in the south and southeast Jftan Joopar and Plvar and Kerman have snow all year round. Kerman is located at latitude 30.29 and longitude 57.06.

Climate

Kerman has a

cold desert climate The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk''), is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...

(''BWk'', according to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

), with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is scarce throughout the year. The city's many districts are surrounded by mountains that bring variety to Kerman's year-round weather pattern. 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 mean elevation of the city is about above sea level. The city of Kerman has a moderate climate. The average annual rainfall is 148 mm. Otherwise, its climate is relatively cool (by Iranian standards).

Geological characteristics

For Iranian

paleontologist Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of fossi ...

s, Kerman has always been considered a

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

paradise. The discovery of new

dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is t ...

footprints Footprints are the impressions or images left behind by a person walking or running. Hoofprints and pawprints are those left by animals with hoof, hooves or paws rather than foot, feet, while "shoeprints" is the specific term for prints made by ...

in 2005 renewed hopes for better understanding the history of this area.

Economy

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 Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

Pistachio The pistachio (, ''Pistacia vera''), a member of the cashew family, is a small tree originating from Central Asia and the Middle East. The tree produces seeds that are widely consumed as food. ''Pistacia vera'' is often confused with other sp ...

s 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 A carpet is a textile floor covering typically consisting of an upper layer of pile attached to a backing. The pile was traditionally made from wool, but since the 20th century synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, nylon, or polyester have ...

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 goats-wool 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

Kerman is among several cities in Iran with a strong

, which is expressed in the local accent, poetry, local music, handicrafts and customs that Kerman has introduced to the world. The only anthropology Iran museum of Zoroastrians in the world, which showcases the ancient history of Zoroastrians, is in Kerman's Fire Temple. 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 (ICHHTO). Jashn-e Tirgan or Tiregan is an ancient Iranian rain festival observed on July 1. The festivity refers to archangel Tir (literally meaning arrow) or Tishtar (lightning), who appear in the sky to generate thunder and lightning for providing much needed rain. The

Sadeh ) , observedby = Canada (by Iranian Canadians) USA (by Iranian Americans) , ends = , week_ordinal = , weekday = , month = January , date2008 = , date2009 = , date2010 = , date2011 = , date2012 ...

ceremony is celebrated every year in Kerman. Also, the archeological ancient areas of

Jiroft Jiroft ( fa, جیرفت, also Romanized as Jīroft; formerly, Sabzāwārān, Sabzevārān, Sabzevārān-e Jiroft, and Sabzvārān) is a city and capital of Jiroft County, Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 95,031, in ...

and Tappe Yahya

Baft Baft ( fa, بافت, also romanized as Bāft) is a city and capital of Baft County, Kerman Province, Iran. Baft is located southwest of Kerman. At the 2006 census, its population was 35,008, in 8,265 families. Notably, Baft is one of the highest ...

are located south of Kerman.

Rayen Castle the Rayen Castle ( fa, ارگ راين ''Arg-e Rāyen'') is an adobe castle 100 kilometers south of Kerman province, Iran. It is situated on the outskirts of the Hezar Masjed Mountains. The medieval mudbrick city of Rayen is similar to Arg-e Bam ...

is also located in

Rayen Rayn ( fa, راين, also Romanize Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliterat ...

town, southeast of Kerman. Some of the handicrafts and souvenirs of the province of Kerman are traditional embroidery known as

pateh Pateh ( fa, پته, IPA: pæte; also Romanized as ''pateh'') is an Iranian traditional needlework folk art. It originated in and is largely associated with Kerman province, where it is produced by women. A wide piece of wool fabric (''ariz'') i ...

, carpets, rugs, jajeems, Kilims (a coarse carpet), satchels, and other hand woven articles. Caraway seeds and pistachio of Rafsanjan and Kerman are best of the main items of this province.

Demography

The people of Kerman are

Persians The Persians are an Iranian ethnic group who comprise over half of the population of Iran. They share a common cultural system and are native speakers of the Persian language as well as of the languages that are closely related to Persian. ...

, and most are

Shia Muslim Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, most ...

. Kerman is a religious conservative city. Kerman has a small

minority. The population of the city in 1996 was 385,000 and in 2006 was 515,414; the current population is 621,374, including 312,873 male and 308,501 female.

Population development

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

Government

Politics in Kerman are influenced by the former

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( fa, اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی, Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī, born Akbar Hashemi Bahramani, 25 August 1934 – 8 January 2017) was an Iranian politician, writer, and one of the founding fathers of the Islami ...

, his brother and Vice President

Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani ( fa, محمد هاشمی رفسنجانی; born 29 August 1942) is an Iranian politician who was a member of the Expediency Discernment Council from 1997 to 2012. He served as vice president in charge of executive aff ...

and

Hossein Marashi Hossein Marashi ( fa, حسین مرعشی; born 17 November 1958 in Rafsanjan) is an Iranian politician. He served as the Iranian Vice President for Cultural Heritage and Tourism from 2003 to 2005. Prior to that, Marashi represented Kerman in the ...

, both from nearby

Rafsanjan Rafsanjan ( fa, رفسنجان, also Romanization, Romanized as Rafsanjān and Rafsinjān; also known as Bahrāmābād) is a city and capital of Rafsanjan County, Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 136,388, in 33,489 f ...

Mohammad Javad Bahonar Mohammad-Javad Bahonar ( fa, محمدجواد باهنر, 5 September 1933 – 30 August 1981) was a Shia Iranian theologian and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Iran for less than one month in August 1981. Bahonar and other membe ...

was born in Kerman. He was an Iranian scholar, Shiite theologian and politician who served as the Prime minister of Iran from 15to 30August 1981 when he was assassinated by Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK).

Colleges and universities

Kerman Azad University
*

Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman (SBUK) is a research institution and university of engineering and science in Iran, which offers both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Located in the Kerman province of Iran, the university is among the t ...

is one of technological institutions of Kerman province *

Kerman University of Medical Sciences 'Kerman University of Medical Sciences'' also called 'KMU (Kerman Medical University)'', is a university located in Kerman, IranKMUis the 8th largest medical university in Iran and the largest university of medical sciences in southeast of the cou ...

is the a medical university in Iran. *

Kerman Graduate University of Technology The Graduate University of Advanced Technology (GUAT) is an advanced research center and graduate-level degree-granting institution in Kerman, Iran. It was founded in 2007. It is also known as Kerman Graduate University of Technology (KGUT). Th ...

is a graduate-level degree-granting institution. * Shahid Chamran Technical College of Kerman * Payam Noor University of Kerman * Kerman Khaje-Nasir Higher Education Center

Sport

The city is home to many athletic teams representing different sports.

Mes Kerman Mes Kerman Football Club ( fa, باشگاه فوتبال صنعت مس کرمان, ''Bashgah-e Futbal-e Sân't-e Mes Kârman'') is an Iranian professional association football, football team based in Kerman, Iran. They were promoted to Iran's top ...

is the major football team of the city. It was promoted to Iran's top league, the

Persian Gulf Pro League The Persian Gulf Pro League ( fa, لیگ برتر خلیج فارس, ''Lig-e Bartar-e Xalij-e Fârs''), formerly known as the Iran Pro League ( fa, links=no, لیگ برتر ایران, ''Lig-e bartar-e Irân''), is the highest division of profe ...

, in the 2005–06 season. The team is named after and sponsored by Kerman's copper industries. This team has a history of participating in the

AFC Champions League The AFC Champions League (abbreviated as ACL) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's top-division football clubs. It is the most prestigious club competition ...

. The team now competes in the

Azadegan League The Azadegan League ( fa, ليگ آزادگان, ''Lig-e Âzâdegân''), also known as League 1 ( fa, لیگ یک, ''Lig-e Yek''), is the second highest division of professional football in Iran. It was the top-level football league in Iran from ...

. Also, many famous soccer players were born in Kerman. *MES handball team is in the top league. *MES cycling team is in the top league of cycling in the country. *MES chess team is in the first league of the country. *The city's

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

team, known as the Boshra Baseball Academy, won the country's baseball cup for the first time in 2013. In October 2013, Kerman was host to the qualifying Group D of AFC U-19 Championship 2014.

Kerman sport venues

*15,000-seat

Shahid Bahonar Stadium Shahid Bahonar Kerman Stadium () is a multi-purpose stadium, located in central Kerman, Iran. It is used mostly for football matches. The stadium is able to hold 15,430 people and was opened in 2007. Shahid Bahonar Stadium is home venue of Azade ...

*30,000-seat dedicated MES soccer team stadium (under construction) *Salimi Kia Stadium *Sports Complex of Imam Ali *Sirch Ski Resort *Kerman Horseback Riding Club *International

Kart racing Kart racing or karting is a road racing variant of motorsport with open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. They are usually raced on kart circuit, scaled-down circuits, although some professional kart races are als ...

track: This track is one of the most standard Kart racing tracks in Iran. *international Large track cycling (under construction)

Media

Kerman is the media hub of the Kerman Province. Several newspapers are published in the city, such as ''Kerman Emruz'' (''Kerman Today'') and ''Bidari''. ''Hadis–Pasargad'' is a weekly newspaper. Kerman has a 24-hour TV channel known as the Kerman Channel or Channel 5. The city also has a radio station.

Transportation

Kerman is on the Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Zahedan route.

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Airport Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین‌المللی آیت‌الله هاشمی رفسنجانی) is an airport in Kerman, Iran. The airport is used for commercial, general aviation and military training purposes. Fli ...

is considered one of Iran's main airports. It has daily and weekly flights to

Ahwaz Ahvaz ( fa, اهواز, Ahvâz ) is a city in the southwest of Iran and the capital of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz's population is about 1,300,000 and its built-up area with the nearby town of Sheybani is home to 1,136,989 inhabitants. It is home ...

Yazd Yazd ( fa, یزد ), formerly also known as Yezd, is the capital of Yazd Province, Iran. The city is located southeast of Isfahan. At the 2016 census, the population was 1,138,533. Since 2017, the historical city of Yazd is recognized as a Worl ...

Esfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...

Bandar Abbas Bandar Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās ( fa, , , ), is a port city and capital of Hormozgān Province on the southern coast of Iran, on the Persian Gulf. The city occupies a strategic position on the narrow Strait of Hormuz (just across from Musan ...

Mashhad Mashhad ( fa, مشهد, Mašhad ), also spelled Mashad, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. It serves as the capital of R ...

and

Shiraz Shiraz (; fa, شیراز, Širâz ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, Fars Province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As o ...

. Also, the

Trans-Iranian Railway The Trans-Iranian Railway ( fa, راه‌آهن سراسری ایران) was a major railway building project started in Pahlavi Iran in 1927 and completed in 1938, under the direction of the then-Iranian monarch Reza Shah. It was entirely built ...

passes through this city. Kerman's newly built

bus terminus A bus terminus is a designated place where a bus or coach starts or ends its scheduled route. The terminus is the designated place that a timetable is timed from. Termini can be located at bus stations, interchanges, bus garages or bus stops. Te ...

, Adineh, opened in May 2013.

Metro and Tram

Kerman's Metro had been approved by the government cabinet and was meant to cover large parts of the metropolitan area in Kerman, but the project's operations were cancelled due to several issues. Later it was heard that a

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

project would replace the Metro project, but this project has not been launched yet. In 2017, it was announced that Metro and Tramway would both be used in Kerman with two lines in each system.

Chabahar–Zahedan Railway

In May 2016, during Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi (; born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Parliament from ...

's trip to Iran, agreement was signed to develop two berths at

Port of Chabahar Chabahar Port ( fa, بندر چابهار) is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. It serves as Iran's only oceanic port, and consists of two separate ports named ''Shahid Mosa Kalantari, Kalantari'' and ''Shahi ...

and to build new Chabahar–Zahedan railway, as part of North–South Transport Corridor, by

Indian Railways Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...

' public sector unit

Ircon International Ircon International, or Indian Railway Construction Limited (IRCON), is an Indian engineering & construction corporation, specialized in transport infrastructure. The public sector undertaking was established in 1976, by the Indian Railways und ...

. The establishment of the port of Chabahar's connection to the country's railway plan, is under study and consideration. With the completion of the Kerman–

Zahedan Zahedan ( Balochi and fa, , ' ) is a city and capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. At the 2016 census, its population was 587,730. The city was the site of a deadly crackdown in October 2022, with dozens citizens killed by pro- ...

railway and its connection to the port of Chabahar, this port will connect to the

Health

The city has several hospitals. The well known ones are: Afzalipour hospital, Doctor Bahonar Hospital, Raziye Firoz Hospital, and Mehregan Hospital.

Notable people

Al-Mahani Abu-Abdullah Muhammad ibn Īsa Māhānī (, flourished c. 860 and died c. 880) was a Persian mathematician and astronomer born in Mahan, (in today Kermān, Iran) and active in Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate. His known mathematical works included his ...

(9th century mathematician and astronomer) *

Khwaju Kermani Khwaju Kermani ( fa, خواجوی کرمانی; December 1290 – 1349) was a famous Persian poet and Sufi mystic from Iran. Life He was born in Kerman, Iran on 24 December 1290. His nickname Khwaju is a diminutive of the Persian word ''Khwaja ...

(14th century poet from the 14th century) *

Shah Nimatullah Wali Shāh Nimatullāh or Shāh Ni'matullāh Wali, ( fa, شاه نعمت‌الله ولی ''Shāh Ne'matullāh-i Valī''), also spelled as ''Ne'matollah'' and ''Ni'matallah'' was the spiritual leader or Qutb of the Ni'matullah Order in Iran from th ...

(14th century

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...

Master and poet) *

Ganj Ali Khan Ganj Ali Khan ( fa, گنج علی خان or گنجعلیخان) was a military officer in Safavid Iran of Kurdish origin, who served as governor in various provinces and was known for his loyal service to king (shah) Abbas I. Ganj Ali Khan cont ...

(16th century

Kurdish Kurdish may refer to: *Kurds or Kurdish people *Kurdish languages *Kurdish alphabets *Kurdistan, the land of the Kurdish people which includes: **Southern Kurdistan **Eastern Kurdistan **Northern Kurdistan **Western Kurdistan See also * Kurd (dis ...

governor of Kerman. *

Mirza Reza Kermani Mirza Reza Kermani (Persian: میرزا رضا کرمانی) ( Born in 1854 in Kerman, Persia (modern Iran) - 10 August 1896 in Tehran) was an adherent of Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and an Iranian who assassinated King Nasser-al-Din.Dabashi, Hamid. ...

(Iranian revolutionary who assassinated the Shah of Persia) *

Qasem Soleimani Qasem Soleimani ( fa, قاسم سلیمانی, ; 11 March 19573January 2020) was an Iranian military officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). From 1998 until his assassination in 2020, he was the commander of the Quds F ...

(Commander of the

Qods Force The Quds Force ( fa, نیروی قدس, niru-ye qods, Jerusalem Force) is one of five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) specializing in unconventional warfare and military intelligence operations. U.S. Army's Iraq War ...

, a division of the Iranian

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC; fa, سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی, Sepāh-e Pāsdārān-e Enghelāb-e Eslāmi, lit=Army of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution also Sepāh or Pasdaran for short) is a branch o ...

) *

(the Prime minister of Iran from 15 to 30 August 1981 when he was assassinated by Mujahideen-e Khalq) *

Mohammad-Reza Bahonar Mohammad-Reza Bahonar ( fa, محمدرضا باهنر, born 2 February 1952) is an Iranian principlist politician who was member of the Parliament of Iran for 28 years. He is also secretary general of Islamic Society of Engineers and the Front o ...

(the conservative First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Iran) *

Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi (born 1953 in Kerman) is an Iranian politician and was the former minister of science and technology in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mr. Zahedi was approved by Iran's parliament with the fewest supporting votes possible (supporters ...

(the former Iranian minister of Science and Technology and Mathematics full professor) *

Majid Namjoo Majid Namjoo ( fa, مجيد نامجو) is an Iranian politician who was the minister of energy in second cabinet of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Early life Namjoo was born in Tehran on 5 January 1963. Career Namjoo was a member of Kerman city Coun ...

(Iranian politician who was the Minister of Energy in the 9th government) * Mohammad Ebrahim Bastani Parizi *

Houshang Moradi Kermani Houshang Moradi Kermani ( fa, هوشنگ مرادی کرمانی, also Romanized as "Hūshang Morādi-e Kermāni"; born 7 September 1944 at Sirch, a village in Kerman Province, Iran) is an Iranian writer best known for children's and young adul ...

(writer) *

Keikhosrow Shahrokh Keikhosrow Shahrokh ( fa, کیخسرو شاهرخ) (1864 in Kerman, Sublime State of Persia – 1939) was the mastermind and designer of the mausoleum for Persian poet Ferdowsi at his burial site in the city of Tus. He is often credited with sp ...

Peyman Soltani Peyman Soltani ( fa, پیمان سلطانی, ''Peymân Soltâni''; born 17 January 1971 in Iran) is a Persian composer, orchestra conductor, instrumentalist and critic. He is currently living in Tehran. Life He started learning music and pain ...

, conductor of

Melal Orchestra The Melal Orchestra ( fa, ارکستر ملل, Orkestre Melal, ) is an orchestra founded in 2007 by Peyman Soltani in order to perform pieces of ancient Iranian musical heritage at twelve historical monuments around the world. This orchestra that ...

Saeed Nafisi Saeed Nafisi (also Naficy) ( fa, سعید نفیسی; June 8, 1895 – November 13, 1966) was an Iranian scholar, fiction writer and poet. He was a prolific writer in Persian. Nafisi was born in Tehran, where he conducted numerous research proje ...

(writer) *

Arash Borhani Arash Borhani ( fa, آرش برهانی ; born 14 September 1983 in Kerman, Iran) is a retired Iranian association football, football player and coach. He is the all-time top goal scorer of Esteghlal F.C., Esteghlal and also the second all-tim ...

(soccer player) *

Zahra Nemati Zahra Nemati ( fa, زهرا نعمتی, born 30 April 1985) is an Iranian Paralympic and Olympic archer. She originally competed in taekwondo before she was paralyzed in a car accident. At the 2012 Summer Paralympics she won two medals, an indiv ...

(paralympic

archery Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In m ...

gold medalist at the

2012 Summer Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Gam ...

2016 Summer Paralympics ) , nations = 159 , athletes = 4,342 , opening = 7 September , closing = 18 September , opened_by = President Michel Temer , cauldron = Clodoaldo Silva , events = 528 in 22 sports , stadium = Maracanã , sum ...

2020 Summer Paralympics The , branded as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, was an international multi-sport parasports event held from 24 August to 5 September 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. They were the 16th Summer Paralympic Games as organized by the International Paralym ...

) *

Roohollah Khaleghi Ruhollâh Xâleqi ( fa, , born 1906 in Kerman, Iran – 12 November 1965 in Salzburg, Austria), also spelled as ''Khaleqi'', was a prominent Iranian musician, composer, conductor and author. He was the father of the first Persian women conduct ...

Ali Movahedi-Kermani Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi-Kermani ( fa, محمدعلی موحدی کرمانی) is Tehran's Friday Prayer Ephemeral Imam and the former secretary-general of Combatant Clergy Association. He is also a member of the Assembly of Experts. He is ...

Mahnaz Afkhami Mahnaz Afkhami (Persian: مهناز افخمی; born January 14, 1941) is an Iranian women's rights activist who served in the Cabinet of Iran from 1976 to 1978. She is founder and president of Women's Learning Partnership (WLP), executive direc ...

(women's rights activist ) *

Ahmad Madani Ahmad Madani (July/August 1929 – 12 February 2006) was an Iranian politician, Commander of Iranian Navy (1979), governor of the Khuzestan province (1979–80) and candidate in the first Iranian presidential election. Madani became a navy Com ...

(Iranian politician, Commander of Iranian Navy (1979)) *

Javad Nurbakhsh Javad Nurbakhsh (10 December 1926 – 10 October 2008) was the Master ('' pir'') of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order from 1953 until his death. He was also a psychiatrist and a successful writer in the fields of both psychiatry and Sufi mysticism. Li ...

, previous Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order) *

Ahmadreza Ahmadi Ahmadreza Ahmadi ( fa, احمدرضا احمدی; 20 May 1940 – 11 July 2023) was an Iranian poet and screenwriter. He was one of the prominent figures of the "New Wave poetry movement" in Iran. Ahmadi was born in 1940 in Kerman, Iran. He mo ...

Mozzafar Baghai Mozzafar Baghai ( fa, مظفر بقائی; 23 July 1912 18 November 1987) is known best as an Iranian political figure of the 1940s and 50s. He rose to prominence during the national struggle against British control of Iran's oil industry. For de ...

Ali Akbar Abdolrashidi Ali Akbar Abdolrashidi (Persian: علی‌اکبر عبدالرشیدی) (born 9 July 1949 in Kerman) is an Iranian intellectual, journalist, writer, traveler, television host, translator, and university lecturer. During his lengthy career as a ...

* Parviz Shahriari (mathematician, author, translator and political activist) *

Tahereh Saffarzadeh Tahereh Saffarzadeh ( fa, طاهره صفارزاده , 1936 in Sirjan, Kerman Province, Iran – October 25, 2008 in Tehran, Iran) was an Iranian poet, writer, translator and prominent university professor. Education She received her BA in E ...

, poet and writer

Gallery

File:Ganjali Khan Mosque.JPG, Ganjali Khan Mosque File:Ganjali Khan Caravanserai 01.jpg, Ganjali Khan Caravanserai File:Ganjali Khan Complex, Kerman 01.jpg, Ganjali Khan square File:Shazdeh Garden Mahan Iran.jpg,

Shazdeh Garden Shazdeh Mahan Garden ( fa, باغ شازده ماهان ''Bāgh-e Shāzdeh Mahan'') meaning ''the Prince`s Garden in Mahan'' is a historical Persian garden located near (6 km away from) Mahan in Kerman province, Iran. The garden is 5.5 he ...

(Prince's Garden) File:Jardín del Príncipe, Mahan, Irán, 2016-09-22, DD 21.jpg,

File:Jabalieh, Kerman, Irán, 2016-09-22, DD 02.jpg,

Jabalieh Jabalieh or Rock Dome, also known as the Gabri Dome, is located in Kerman, Iran. Gonbad-e Jabaliyeh also goes by the names, Gonbad-e Jabaliyeh, Gonbad-e Jabalīyeh, gnbd jblyh, گنبد جبليه The dome, a place of historical importance in Iran ...

Dome File:Shah Nematollah Vali Shrine 07.jpg,

holy shrine File:Shah Nematollah Vali Shrine 06.jpg,

holy shrine (praying hall) File:Mezquita de Malek, Kerman, Irán, 2016-09-22, DD 27.jpg, Entrance to Kerman's Jameh Mosque (also known as Friday Mosque) File:Rayen Castle 01.jpg,

near Kerman File:Bazaar de Kerman, Irán, 2016-09-22, DD 38.jpg, Kerman's Grand

Bazaar A bazaar () or souk (; also transliterated as souq) is a marketplace consisting of multiple small Market stall, stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, North Africa and India. However, temporary open markets elsewhere, suc ...

File:Museum of Zoroastrians - Kerman.jpg, Museum of Zoroastrians File:Patteh-Kerman.png, Kerman's Patteh File:Pars Hotel.jpg, Kerman Pars Hotel File:Kerman Railway Station.jpg, Kerman Railway Station

Surrounding municipalities