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Kerman  Located in a large and flat plain, this city is located 1,076 km (669 mi) south of Tehran, capital of Iran.

The city was probably founded by the Sassanid king Ardashir I in the 3rd century, and for this reason it was called "Ardasheer Khoreh

 The Masjid gate through which Agha Mohammad Khan entered the city.It is believed, that Kerman has been founded as early as the 3rd century by Ardeshir I, founder of the Sassanian dynasty. In Islamic time, Kerman was one of the important cultural centres of Iran.

 Kerman was under the Seljuk Turks in the 11th and 12th cent., but remained virtually independent, conquering Oman and Fars.

 When Marco Polo visited the city in 1271 it had become a major trade emporium linking the Persian Gulf with Khorasan and Central Asia.Subsequently, however, the city was sacked many times by various invaders.

 In 1793 Lotf Ali Khan defeated the Qajars and in 1794 captured Kerman. But soon, he was besieged in Kerman for six months by Agha Mohammad Khan. When the city fell to Agha Mohammad Khan, angered by the popular support that Lotf Ali Khan had received, all 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 Muhammad Khan. The women and children were sold into slavery, and the city was destroyed over ninety days.

 The present city of Kerman was rebuilt in the nineteenth century to the northwest of the old city, but it did not recover until the twentieth century.

 The city's many districts are surrounded by mountains which bring variety to Kerman's year round weather pattern, thus 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 1755 m above sea level.

 Kerman city has a moderate and the average annual rainfall is 135 mm. Because it is located close to the Kavir-e lut, Kerman has hot summers and in the spring it often has violent sand storms. Otherwise, its climate is relatively cool.

 Sassanid era horse head Found in KermanCarpet weaving is one of the main industries of the city, and the carpets produced there are renowned internationally .Carpet weaving is a very old tradition in Kerman. The oldest carpet discovered in Kerman, belongs to about 500 years ago, which proves the precedence of weaving in this city.

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

Look out for the Ganj Ali Khan Bath and Ethnological Museum in the Vakil Bazaar (now a traditional tea-house). This building houses an interesting exhibition of good waxwork of men in various poses and costumes set in a traditional but no longer operational bath-house.

The Ganj Ali Khan Bath (hammam)  is one of the several ancient monuments and a group of utilitarian buildings in Vakil Bazaar dating from the Safavid period in the 17th century. All garments and other objects exhibited belong to the same period: razors, sandals, phials for attar of roses, pipes with small bowls and long stems to be enjoyed after the bath.

Gonbad-e-Jabalieh (The Stone Dome) : Just beyond the eastern edge of Kerman is the double domed Gonbad-e-Jabalieh (The Stone Dome). This building is beleived to date back to the 2nd century AD functioning as Zoroastraion Fire-temple of its time.

Chehel Sotune Mosque, Kerman 

This mosque belongs to the Sheikhiyeh sect, and was completed in the year 1286 AH, by Haj Aqa Ali Rafsanjani. The same has 40 pillars each sculptured from one piece of stone. Its surrounding areas also add to the beauty of the said mosque.

                           

 

Ganj Ali Khan Mosque, Kerman 

 

 This structure is in the north eastern corner of the Ganj Ali Khan aggregate of Kerman. Actually it is like a small museum, exhibiting decorative Islamic arts such as tile and plaster works as well as calligraphy. This mosque was built in the year 1007 AH. and entails 14 shops. The above mentioned aggregate is an endowment of this mosque

Kerman Jame' Mosque, Kerman 

 

 This mosque is a part of the Mozaffari aggregate and was completed in 750 AH, by Amir Mobarezeddin Mohammad-e-Mozaffari-e-Meybodi Yazdi . The mosque is one of the most ancient structures of the country, and a remnant of the Iranian monarchs after the Al-e-Booyeh dynasty. The mosque has a tall gate-way in its eastern sector, and the same has been adorned with beautiful tile work. A clock tower aids in the enhancement of this entrance. The structure has been constructed in a symmetrical fashion and has a winter and summer porch.

Malek (Imam Khomeini) Mosque, Kerman 

 

 This mosque is a construction of the 5th century AH. (the Saljuqi period). Various portions of this mosque, specially the main platform was constructed in the times of Vakil-ol-Molk (1285 AH.), and the eastern porch was repaired in the last century by the late Deylamqani which is a remnant of the Saljuqi period. There is the brick tower in the north eastern section, which was formerly in a state of ruin, but has since then, been repaired. Besides which there are three altars worked in plaster.

 

Other Old Mosques, Kerman 

 Other old mosques of the province are named as the Vakil-ol-Molk Mosque, Paminar Mosque and Imam Zaman Mosque in Kerman.