Iran Grand Tour
Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, Fars, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Tehran, Gilan, Zanjan and Khuzestan 22 Day Book 1 month earlier
Kermanshah is one of the western provinces of Iran bordering Iraq.
Kermanshah is bordered by Kurdistan to the north, by Lorestan and Ilam to the south, by Hamedan to the east and by Iraq to the west.
Kermanshah has always been an important province because of its location on the Silk Road. Thus, the area has been inhabited by various tribes permanently and continuously. Yet, most provinces and regions of Iran have been inhabited temporarily based on the time and strategic conditions.
Kermanshah was one of the earliest centers of human civilization. It was of high importance in Medes period and so it used to be called “Maad”.
The province did not lose its importance even after the Medes and Achaemenid eras, and, named as “Maah (Moon)”, it was one of the most important areas of the time.
Most of the monuments and places of interest, now attracting tourists to the province, are attributed to the Achaemenid era.
These attractions include Taq-e Bostan which means “Arch of the Garden” or “Arch made by stone”, Behistun Inscription, the Temple of Anahita, and so on.
It’s the capital of Kermanshah Province.
The city of Kermanshah dates back to the fourth century AD. This city was of great importance before the Arab invasion of Iran. Kermanshah has been so important that it is referred to as the second capital of the Sassanid’s.
The city is at an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level.
There are several theories as to the origin of this city name. But most of these theories are based on the fact that the city was built by Bahram IV, who was the king of Kerman in the fourth century AD, and that is why it was named Kermanshah.
Kermanshah Province has various historical tourist attractions, most of which belong to the Sassanid era before Islam. Some of them are as follows:
One of the most striking monuments in Kermanshah Province is Taq-e Bostan, a collection of rock paintings and inscriptions.
Sassanid kings in the third century AD, moved to this area from Persepolis, and chose this area as their royal hunting ground. Among the reasons for choosing this area as a hunting place was its lushness, and its good climate and also because it was located on the Silk Road.
There is a collection of rock paintings and inscriptions in this area, depicting the Sassanid kings’ hunting and their coronation.
Among the most important paintings and inscriptions on this site are the images of hunting and coronation ceremonies of Sassanid kings like Khosrow II and Ardashir II.
Taq-e Bostan is the first rock monument in the world with the principles of painting.
Another important monument in Kermanshah Province is Bisotun inscription that is located in Paraw Mount. This inscription that belongs to the sixth century BC is the world’s largest inscription.
The text of the inscription describes one of the victories of Darius the Great, an Achaemenid king.
The inscription is engraved into a lime rock, and its surface is covered with a coating in order for its protection.
The Bisotun inscription is recorded by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Like other major historical cities in Iran, Kermanshah has a traditional indoor bazaar, which is one of the largest indoor bazaars in the Middle East. This bazaar, dating back to two centuries ago, is one of the well-known attractions in west of Iran.
One of the activities offered by Iranviva Travel Agency is caving. Kermanshah Province is very important and valuable for caving because of Paraw Mount, and it is known as the paradise for cavers.
The biggest and strangest caves of Iran are located in this region, including Parau Cave (Paraw), Jujar Cave, Qijlan Cave, etc.
Don’t miss article “Best Amazing and Technical Caves in Kermanshah, Iran“, for more information about the caves of Kermanshah.
Kermanshah Province has a high- quality mountainous climate. For this reason, Kermanshah region used to be used as the second residence of the Sassanid kings in the fourth century AD.
The maximum temperature in summer reaches around 43 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature in winter is about minus 27 degrees Celsius.
The city of Kermanshah is easily accessible by land, rail and air:
Kermanshah Province air access is through Kermanshah Airport. However, to travel to the city of Kermanshah by air, you need to fly to Tehran (capital of Iran) first and then fly to the city of Kermanshah.
Rail access is also provided for tourists interested in traveling by train to reach this province and the city of Kermanshah.
The main land route from Tehran to Kermanshah is:
Tehran, Saveh, Hamedan, Kermanshah: about 500 km
One of the attractions of traveling is tasting foods and sweets from different regions that makes our travel more gratifying and enriching.
Each region in Iran has its own special sweets and foods. Kermanshah region, is also very well-known for its delicious sweets among Iranians and Iran-lover tourists.
If your travel destination is the city of Kermanshah, do not miss experiencing the taste of sweets such as Rice bread, Kaak, and Date Sweet.
Among various handicrafts in this province, Iranian musical instruments, such as tar, daf and sitar, can be artistic and beautiful keepsakes for you.