KERMANSHAH


The capital of Kermanshahan Province, in an altitude of 1,630 m above sea level, Kermanshah is 525 km to the southwest of Tehran. It can be reached either by air or via Hamadan (190 km), partly on a highway and partly on a first-class national asphalt road.
Being a populous city of 631,199 inhabitants, mainly Kurds, Kermanshah stands, like Hamadan, on the great highway that connected Baghdad and the West with Iranian Plateau. The town's situation is highly picturesque, and it is one of the liveliest market-centers of the province, where you will meet a large number of Kurds and mountain peasants once famous as warriors. These Kurds still speak their own language among themselves and remain faithful to their testamentary traditions: the men wear large turbans on their heads and black dungarees tight at the waist and at the ankles. The women wear trousers and bright-colored scarves and sometimes brocade bodices, but they are mostly changing into urban type of dress, particularly in towns.

First built on a site a few km from the present town, it probably dates from the 4th century AD. Its vulnerable position has always rendered It liable to incursions, and it was in turn captured by the Arabs in 649 AD, the Buyids in the l0th century, soon after by the Seljuks, and then sacked by Mongols in the early 13th century. After several centuries of relative peace and prosperity, its strategic position on the road to Baghdad brought trouble in the form of very heavy Iraqi missile and bomb attacks during the Iraq war against Iran.
Modern Kermanshah is an important agricultural and a burgeoning industrial center~ In the surrounding country fruit of many kinds is grown; another local product is sugar beet. Carpet weaving and manufacture of givehs (canvas-covered shoes like the Spanish alpargata in appearance) have long been carried on in the town. Since the construction of an oil refinery on the banks of Qara Su river in 1935, motor spirit and other petroleum products have been processed there for consumption in northern and northwestern Iran.
However, the present Kermanshah does not seem to be of any great interest, especially for a foreign visitor. And although it is not, relative)y speaking, an old town, there are some very ancient remains in its neighborhood, which suffice to attract the attention of the interested tourist. It has a beautiful setting, framed by permanently snow-clad mountains. Kermanshah is best avoided in winter, but the climate is very pleasant for most of the rest of the year.

EXCURSAROUND KERMANSHAH
Buildings and places of interest around Kermanshah are as follows: the Rock Carvings and Inscriptions of Darius I at Bisotun, 32 km east of Kermanshah, in addition to which you will see the relief of a bearded reveler {probably Hercules) with a goblet of wine recently discovered near the main road; the Relife and Inscriptions at Taq-e Bostan; the two Staircases of the Temple of Anahita at Kangavar; the Taq-e Gara {believed to be Sassanian, but the actual date is the subject of much controversy) near the top of the Pay-e Taq pass, approximately 90 km west of the town; the Ruins of Dinavar {dating from the Seleucid era to the late 14th century AD), 45 km east-northeast of the town; the Mound of Kambadene {from Achaemenian to Sassanian times), just to northeast of Kermanshah; and Dokkan-e Davoud {David's Shop), a Median Tomb of 7th century BC, 3 km from Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, which shows a praying man on a rock niece.

Giveh: the Comfortable Traditional Shoe
Giveh is the name of a sort of traditional foot-wear made from strong, coarse cotton cloth in Iran since many centuries ago. The upper cotton is sewn to a leather sole to make one of the coolest, most comfortable, I and sturdy traditional shoes that exist in I the world. In northwestern, western, and central parts of Iran, people have I traditionally worn givehs. When it comes to making these traditional shoes for women, the giveh-makers spend longer I time, particularly when they decide to I decorate the upper surface with beautiful designs. The upper cloth may be either of cotton or silk, and the quality of the material used for the sole depends on the income and social status of the people for whom gives are made. The best quality giveh is produced in Kermanshlh and Abadeh.

Kermanshah Museum

ACCESS AND DISTANCES:
520 km to Tehran. 177 km to Hamadan. 136 km to Sanandaj. 188 km to Ham. 192 km to Khorramabad.
ACCIDENTS:
27777,22166.
AIR AGENT:
1. Aseman, Dr Beheshti Blvd, next to Basij Bldg 831255.
2. Homa (Iran Air) On Dr Beheshti Blvd, 22 nd Bahman Junction 53813-5.
3. Khadamat-e Mosaferati, Bargh Junction, next to Borujerdi Mosque 761116.
4. Kish, Municipality Parking Lot 24812.
5. Setareh Soheil, Bargh Junction, near Ferdowsi Sq, 771115.

AIRPORT:
There is a small airport with daily flights to Tehran.

BANKS AND EXCHANGE OFFICES:
I. Bank Melli Iran, Modarres Ave, Opp Police Station 26811.
2. Bank Saderat Iran, Modarres Ave 83376.
3. Bank Mellat, Azadi Sq 28511-3.
4. Bank Sepah, Azadi Sq 20034- 7
5. Ballk Tejarat, Azadi Sq 24766.

BUS TERMINAL: (All in Shahid Kaviani Tenninal).
 I. Cooperative No I: 45200, 22877.
2. Cooperative No 4: 45499, 27475.
3. Cooperative No 5: 47500,873057.
4. Cooperative No 7: 47200,27187.
5. Cooperative No 15: 47600.

CITY DIALING CODE NUMBER:
The dialing code for Kennanshah is 0831.

DRUG STORE (24-HOUR):
 I. Azadi, Azadi Sq 39129.
2. Bu Ali, Shari'ati junction 22434.
3. Dr Abdi. Azadi Sq 26793.
4. Dr Tussi, Municipality Parking Lot 22970.

EMERGENCIES: 115.
1. Ayatollah Taleghani Emergency Clinic, Dr Beheshti Blvd 57753.
2. Shohada Hospital, Dr Beheshti Blvd 57753.
3. Imam Reza Clinic, Municipality Parking Lot 35131

FIRE STATION:
112, 34444, 24444.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE:
Ostandari 28017-8, 22242.
Fannandari 51071-5, 58010.

MEDICAL SERVICES:
1. Imam Khomeini Hospital, Taq-e Bustan 25110,29962.
2. Rashidi Health Department Clinic No 7, Vahedi Street 29067.
3. Razi Hospital, Dr Behesht Blvd 58047-8. 4. Taleghani Hospital, Taleghani Street 58751.

MUNICIPALITY:
22447-9. Public Relations: 26041.

POLICE:
On Modarres Street between Safavi Junction and Azadi Square. Tel: 110,23716,22161-4, 22171. Road Police: 28911,50650,39116.

POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
The main post office is on Sepah Square, and the main telephone office is on Madani Street. Tel: 52440-1, 33333.

RESTAURANTS:
Best restaurants can be found around the city center, Taq-e Bustan, and Bisotun. Use the opportunity of staying in Kerq1anshah to try some of the excellent rice cakes (nan-e Berenji) for which the town is known.
1. Alimorad, Municipality Parking, 20574.
2. Behnam, Next to Ghareh Su Bridge, 52328. "
3. Chelcheleh, 22nd Bahman St, Bargh St 52072.
4. Gol, Ayatollah Kashani St, next to Azadi cinema, 27828.
5. Homa, Ayatollah Kashani St, 34246.
6. Jamshid, Taq-e Bostan 44185.
7. Malakuti, Kashani Sq 24338.
8. Nayeb, Jomhuri Eslami Sq 24338.
9. Orkideh, Next to Ghareh Su Bridge 54017.
10. Vali Asr, Modarres Intersection, 39615. II. Yass, Dr Beheshti Blvd, 57261.

TAXI AGENT:
1. Amir, 22"d Bahman St 58601,54448.
2. Azad, Shahid Ja'fari (Kasra) St, 22822.
3. Homa, 15th Khordad Highway, 55155.
4. Motahari, Karegar St 37832.
5. Pouria, Rahmanpour St, 20128.
6. Roz, 17th Shahrivar St, 50056.

TOURIST MAP:
Available in English and Persian.

TOURIST OFFICE:
1. On Beheshti Blvd, near 22 nd Bahman junction and a few meters from Iran Air 55472-3.
2. Cultural Heritage Organization, 59541.