Template:Infobox Iran Province
Kermanshah (Persian: كرمانشاه; Kurdish: Kirmaşan) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the west of the country, bordering Iraq. Between 1979 and the 1990s, the province was known as Bakhtaran.
Its capitol Kermanshah (34°18′N 47°4′E / 34.300°N 47.067°E) is located in the middle of the western part of Iran. The population of the city is 690,000.
The city is built on the slopes of Mt.Sefid Kooh. The builtup areas run alongside Sarab River and Valley. City's elevation average about 1420 meters above sea level.
The distance between Kermanshah and Teheran is 525 km. It is the trade center of rich agricultural region that produces grain, rice, vegetable, fruits, and oilseeds, and there are many industrial centers, oil and sugar refineries, and cement, textile and flour factories, etc. The airport is located in north east of the city and the distance from Tehran is 413 km by air.
History
Architectual evidence has indicated Paleolithic and Neolithic settlemant. The monuments found in Kermanshah show two glorious periods, the Achaemenid and Sassanid eras.
The mythical ruler of the Pishdadian is described as founding the city while Tahmores Divband built it. An alternative narrative is that the construction was by Bahram IV of the Sassanid dynasty during the 4th century CE. Kermanshah reached a peak during the reign of Hormizd IV and Khosrau I of Sassanids, before being demoted to a secondary royal residence.
The city suffered major damage during the Arab invasions but recovered in the Safavid period to make great progress. Concurrent with the Afghan attack and the fall of Isfahan, Kermanshah was almost comletely destroyed by the Ottoman invasion.
During the Iran-Iraq War the province suffered heavy fighting. Most towns and cities were badly damaged and some like Sar-e Pol-e Zahab and Qhasr-e-Shirin were almost completly destroyed.
Climate
As it is situated between two cold and warm regions enjoys a moderate climate. Kermanshah has a moderate and mountainous climate. It rains most in winter and is moderately warm in summer. The annual rainfall is 500 mm. The average temperature in the hottest months is above 22 °C.
Culture and economy
Language
The province is settled mostly by Iranian Kurds, Persian and Luri speakers. There are minority Arabs and Turks living in this province. In addition to the inhabitants of the towns and villages, there are nomadic societies through out the province. High mountain ranges closer to the Iraqi border are home to Kurdish tribes people.The predominant language in suburbs is Kurdish ( Southern Kurdish Dialect called "Kurdî Başûr" ), but Persian is the first language in the cities. Other languages such as Laki and Turki are also spoken.
Higher education and research
Local Products
Kermanshah lends its name to a type of Persian carpet named after the region. It also has famous sweets made of rice, locally known as Nân berendji. The other famous Kermanshahi good is a special kind of oil, locally known as Rüne Dân and globally in Iran known as Roghan Kermanshahi. The Giveh of Kermanshah known as Klash is the highest quality Giveh.
Attractions
- Darius I the Great's inscription at Behistun (6th century BCE): At a site some 1300 meters high in the mountains, one of the most famous sites in Near Eastern archeology has been attracting passersby since time immemorial. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1] It was here that Sir Henry Rawlinson copied the trilingual inscription of Darius I of Achaemenids, carved in 522 BCE in old Persian language, Elamite and Akkadian, an important step in the eventual decipherment of cuneiform in the mid 19th century. The Bisotoun relief above the inscription depicts Darius facing the nine rebel kings, whom the Achaemenid ruler deposed when he came to power.
At the foot of the hill there are three Parthian reliefs believed to be the oldest Parthian reliefs, badly damaged by ravages of time and land endowment, carved by Sheik Ali Khan Zanganeh, the premier of Safavid king Shah Soleiman.
- Taq-e Bostan Sassanid Reliefs (224-651 BCE): The Sassanid kings chose a sensational setting for their rock reliefs at Taghe-e-Bostan, four miles north-East of Kermanshah. A sacred spring gushes forth from a mountain cliff and empties into a large reflecting pool. In writer the entire scene is shrouded in mist and clouds.
One of the most impressive reliefs, inside the largest grotto or "ivan," is the gigantic equestrian of Sassanid king, Khosrau II (591-628 CE) mounted on his favorite charger, Shabdiz. Both horse and rider are arrayed in full battle armor. There are two hunting scenes on opposite side of the ivan, one depicts the imperial boar hunt and the other in a similar spirit shows the king stalking deer. Elephants flush out the feeling boar from a marshy lake for the king who stands poised with bow and arrow in hand serenaded by female musicians following in other boats. These royal hunting scenes are among the most vivid of all rock reliefs, true narrative murals in stone. Jumping 1300 years in time, the upper relief shows the 19th century Qajar king Fath-Ali shah holding court.
*The temple of Anahita (200 BCE) in Kangavar: Kangavar is a small town of great antiquity lying halfway between Hamadan and Kermanshah (90 km. East of Kermanshah). In about 200 BCE during the Seleucid Empire occupation of Kangavar, a major sanctuary was erected to the mother Goddess Anahita who was worshipped in ancient Persia along with Ahura Mazda and Mithras. This vast temple was built of enormous blocks of dressed stone with an imposing entrance of opposed staircases which may have been inspired by the Apadana in Persepolis.
Notable people
One of the renowned scientists and writers of this region is Al-Dinawari who was born at Dinawar north-east of Kermanshah. He lived in 9th century and has written many books in astronomy, botany and history. Notable people born in Kermansha include British author Doris Lessing (b. 1919), whose father, a British army officer, was stationed there at the time of her birth. A family of ancient viziers were living in Kermanshah, the Vaziri family.
Kurdish Poets of Kermanshah Province
- Mustafa Besarani,(1642-1701)
- Khana Qubadi, (1700-1760)
- Sarhang Almas Khan, mid 18th century
- Sheyda Hewramí (1784-1852)
- Muhammad Wali Kermashani, (1901-?)
- Shami Kermashani(Shamurad Mushtaq), (1927- ), Famous Kurdish Poet of Kermanshah.(see[2] and [3])