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BAM
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The
historical Bam, in an altitude of 1000 m, is a
half-dead, half-living town 195 km to the southeast
of Kerman. Once a famous citadel and a strategic
stronghold, the old Bam has been built on a huge
rock mass at the northeast of the living town, and
is a city molded in the red clay of the Great
Iranian Desert, Dasht-e Kavir. Locally, it is called
"Arge Bam" meaning Bam citadel, 300 m long and 200 m
wide, consisting of two parts. It is similar to a
large medieval European castle, except that the
material is not stone but brick. It is surrounded by
a more than three-kilometer long crenellated wall
supported by dozens of towers for the defense of the
town.
Outside, a ditch was excavated at the foot of the
high walls to keep away the invaders. The walls
around the citadel are still intact and even toDay
there is no way of entering it except through the
small gate house at the south.
Rayen Castle:
Rayen Citadel is a historical site situated in
the south-west of Rayen city and is considered the
biggest earthen structure of Kerman province after
Bam Citadel which was destroyed in an earthquake a
few years ago. The monument dates back to the
Sassanid era and covers a 20,000-square-meter area,
remaining a symbol of the residential fortresses
during the ancient times. Just like other
fortresses, it consists of the public quarter and
the aristocratic zone. The essential sectors such as
Zoor khaneh (gymnasium for a traditional Persian
sport), mosque, and stable can be seen in the
citadel. Adobe is the main material used in its
construction.
Last year the Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Organization of Iran (ICHTO) announced the
introduction of the citadel as part of its main
programs. Since then, the citadel is gradually
changing to a tourism destination.
Introducing Rayen Citadel in the international
exhibitions of ITB in Germany and FITUR in Spain was
the first step which was took by the ICHTO of Kemran
province, and according to Mohammad Jahanshahi,
director of the public relations department of the
organization, that has been the main reason for the
citadel's success in attracting 400 foreign tourists
since the beginning of the fall.
Right now a model of Bam Citadel with a size of
10x10 square meters is being created by one of the
famous Kerman sculptors in one of the storehouses of
Rayen Citadel. The aristocratic area of the citadel
is under restoration and is not yet open to public
visits. Two ancient industries practiced in Rayen
city, weaponry and knife-making, are due to be
revived there by establishing workshops in the area
of Rayen Citadel. Setting up a traditional tea house
near the citadel is one of the other programs for
its tourism development. The hotel and restaurant
which were built last year have started working and
are ready to host tourists.
Natural and historical attractions of Rayen area
are not just limited to the ancient citadel. Rayen,
located on the foothills of Hezar Mountains and a
beautiful waterfall, enjoys a favorable climate in
Kerman province. The mountain with a height of 4465
meters is the highest mountain in Kerman province
and the forth of Iran. Caraway, which is a famous
seed of Kerman province, grows wild in these
mountains.
Local residents believe that Rayen forces won in
wars due to the quality of their handmade weaponry
produced by locals.
It is believed that Rayen Citadel dates back to
the Sassanid era, although what is remained toDay
belongs to the Islamic period constructions, mainly
Safavid era and afterwards.
Annual
Temperature average:
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APR
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12.1
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32.7
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35.6
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33.2
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30.5
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25.1
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16.8
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12.4
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Inside, the citadel was protected by a
triple ring of fortifications. The place
has undergone frequent repairs
(according to two inscriptions found
inside the citadel), and the inner
citadel dominating the town contains a
rampart, some Safavid structures, a
mosque, a fortified residence known as
Chahar Fasl or Palace of the Four
Seasons, an artillery yard, and another
yard with stables. As you enter you walk
up a steep pathway through the old
bazaar, from where lanes lead past the
remains of mosques, mansions, squares,
military barracks and a caravansary, all
in sand colored mud-brick. You can climb
up steep and narrow stairways to the
pinnacles of the outer walls for the
definitive outlook over the old and new
towns.
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The citadel itself, comprising of four
sections and 28 watchtowers, occupies an
area of 200,000 sq m. One of the
inscriptions in Bam reads as follows: |
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The ancient Bam, which was inhabited
until mid 19th century, is overlooking
that route of trade and invasion, which
the Sassanian Kings had already wished
to control. Subsequently the Arabs
extended their sway over it, only to be
superseded by the Seljuk Turks in the
11th century. Finally the citadel was
captured by devastating Ghalzai Afghan
invaders in 1722, but they were driven
out in 1729, after their power had been
shattered by Nader Shah Afshar. In 1795,
the town w as the scene of the final
stand of the gallant Lutf Ali Khan, the
last of the enlightened Zand dynasty,
against Agha Mohammad Khan, the first of
the Qajar rulers of Iran. Some
forty-five years later, the Agha Khan
Mahallati, the head of the Ismaili Sect
and a lineal descendant of the last
Grand Master of the order of the
Assassins, revolted against Fath Ali
Shah. On being defeated at Kerman, he
and his followers took refuge in Bam,
whence they subsequently fled to India;
the present Agha Khan is a direct
descent of him. Total abandonment of the
city seems to be, however, of a recent
date. Otherwise its ruins should have
been in a much more dilapidating
condition. |
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The Citadel is open daily from 8 am to
noon and from 2 to 5 p.m. but you wont
be admitted later than 30 minutes before
either closing time. The gate house has
some information about the site in
Persian, but nothing in English. An
excellent English-speaking guide can be
arranged through the tourist office in
Kerman. |
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| Suggest your comments about nearby Sightseeing |
Private and group tours Tours , also Accommodation reservation services are available at
www.PersiaTours.com for further information , please contact us.
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