The City of Sanandaj
This township is located in the center of the Kurdistan province. It is limited to Divandareh from the north and to Kamyaran from the south, to the east are Bijar and Qorveh, and to the west are the townships of Marivan and Saqez. Sanandaj is the provincial capital of Kurdistan and lies at a distance of 500 km. from Tehran. The population of Sanandaj is mainly Kurdish, with an Armenian, Assyrian and Jewish minority.
People of Sanandaj speak a variation of Sorani Kurdish.This city has a beautiful natural environment and pleasant climate especially in autumn and spring.
Soleiman Khan Ardalan the governor of Kurdistan constructed the Sahneh Dej (castle) during the Shah Safi period (1038-1052 AH.). In the past, there was the Seer city instead of present Sanandaj. Sanandaj was under the control of the Ardalan household for duration of four centuries. The said are descendant of the Sassanids. In the war between Iran and Ottomans in Safavid period, this family sometimes sided Iran and sometimes the Ottomans. In 1146 AH. Karim Khan Zand destroyed Sanandaj.
After a period of chaos, Khosrow Khan Ardalan took over the power. From 1214 to 1240 AH. Eman Allah Khan, son of Khosrow Khan governed in Sanandaj and to some extent he worked for the sake of improvement of Sanandaj. In 1284 AH. Due to the dissatisfaction of the inhabitants, Haj Mirza Mo'tamed-o-Doleh the uncle of Naseredin Shah governed in Kurdistan till the year 1291 AH. Now a day Sanandaj is one of the beautiful townships of Iran and Kurdistan province.
Handicrafts
As in most other parts of Iran, carpet weaving is one of the most significant handicrafts of the region, especially in Bijar and Sanandaj. Shaw, kilim and jajim weaving. Wood work and jewelry and ornaments are among other main handicrafts of this province.
Attractions
Dense forests of the region
Negel historical village on Sanandaj-Marivan road, (and its historic Quran)
Salavat Abad village
Hajar Khatoon Mosque
Edifices of Khosro Abad, Salar Saeed Sanandaj (Museum of anthropology and contemporary arts) and Moshir which have been constructed in Qajar time
The old houses of Moshiri, Vakil, Asef Vaziri and Sadegh Vaziri
Several historical bridges belonging to the Safavid era
Historical hills
Old public bathes
Old bazaars of Sanandaj and Asef belonging to the Safavid era
Several Mosques and Imamzadehs
Source: wikipedia.org
Other links:
Province of Kurdistan
Nature of Kurdistan (Photo Gallery)
Province of Zanjan
Chogha Zanbil (Photo Gallery)
The Province of Khuzestan
History of Khuzestan (part 1)
History of Khuzestan (part 2)
History of Khuzestan (part 2)
The Province of Ilam
