Townships, Kerman

Baft 

 The township of Baft is situated in the south of the province, and is at a distance of 1,240 km. from Tehran. To its north is Bardseer, in the west lies Sirjan, the province of Hormozgan is located to its south, and to the east it is within the limits of Jiroft. The rivers take their sources in the northern heights of this region, before running east and entering Jiroft with the name of the Halil River. Baft has moderate winters and warm summers. It is not clearly known as to how this city originated, but in the past, a region called (Dasht Ab) which lay at a farther point, was inhabited. 

Bam 

 The township of Bam is located to the east of the province, and lies at a distance of 1,283 km. from Tehran. To its north is the township of Kerman, to its west Bardseer, in the east is Jiroft and to the south lies the province of Sistan Va Baluchestan. The city of Bam is the main city of this township, and is located in a vast plain between the two mountain ranges of Barez and Kabudi. In the plains it experiences a warm climate, whereas in the higher altitudes, moderate weather prevails. Regarding its ancient history, this city intermingles with that of the old Bam citadel, which accounts as the largest city of the world that is made of sun dried bricks. Unfortunatly Bam City had been ruined in an earthquake in Dec.2003. But it is going to reconstruction by people, Government and International Organizations. 

Bardseer 

 The township of Bardseer is located such that to its east are Bam and Kerman, to the south is Baft, and in the west and north are the townships of Sirjan and Rafsanjan respectively. It has a temperate and mountainous climate, with cold winters and moderate summers. After Sirjan, Bardseer was the second capital of Kerman. Though this city was not considered a seat of power in the early Islamic period, it held a vital position during the Sassanide era.

According to a famous historian, Ardeshir Babakan, (the first king of the Sassanide Dynasty) erected this city and named it 'Vayeh Artakhshir' which meant that 'Ardeshir had performed a good deed'. Vayeh Artakhshir was the center of the township. It was thus located that caravans crossed this area en route from the ports of the Persian Gulf to the north western territories of the country. But later in the Sassanide rule, when Kerman was governed by margraves and its capital was moved to Sirjan, 'Vayeh Artakhshir' was converted into an army base. Today, Bardseer enjoys an important position as one of the main cities in the province of Kerman. 

Jiroft 

 This township is situated in the southern sector of the province and lies at a distance of 1,375 km. from Tehran. Jiroft is one of the most fertile townships of Kerman. To the north-east of which is Bam, to its south stands the township of Kahnooj and in the west is in the limits of Baft

The city of Jiroft is located between two rivers, in a vast plain and on the southern skirts of the Barez Mountain Ranges. It is obvious that in the higher regions Jiroft experiences a cold climate, whereas in the low-lying areas it is warm.The ruins of the old city of Jiroft (known as Sabzvaran) are at a distance of 1 km. from its present location. The origin of the former is said to be from times immemorial.

Kahnooj 

The township of Kahnooj is so located that to its north is Jiroft, to the east is within the limits of the vicinity of Jazmoorian in the province of Sistan Va Baluchestan, and to its western and southern sections is the province of Hormozgan. Kahnooj experiences hot weather with scanty rainfall, which is mostly in the form of thunder squalls. The Halil Rood River is the only permanent river in this township. Due to the presence of underground waters around the Hamoon Jazmoorian, and fertile soil, animal husbandry and cultivation are vital factors here.

Kerman 

 The township of Kerman is at a distance of 1,076 km. from Tehran, and lies in a vast plain, which is divided by a chain of mountains into two, the northern and southern sectors. The former is the desert area, whereas the latter comprises of the inhabited region (both urban and rural) due to its moderate, and suitable climatic conditions. Kerman is the provincial capital and is one of the ancient and historical cities of Iran.

In the Greek language, Kerman was known as 'Karamani', and there is a strong possibility that Ardeshir Babakan was the founder of this city, and therefore was reputedly known as Ardeshir Khoreh. The Arabs called it Bardseer or Bardsheer, and to the Iranians it was known as Guasheer. Kerman is a beautiful city with many historical and religious sites.

Rafsanjan 

 The township of Rafsanjan is located in the north of the province, and at a distance of 949 km. from Tehran. To the east are the townships of Kerman and Zarand, and from the south and west the townships of Bardseer and Shahr-e-Babak respectively. In the northwest it has common borders with the province of Yazd.

In the mountainous regions, Rafsanjan witnesses cold weather, but in the low-lying areas, such as the plains it is moderately warm. From architectural point of view, this city displays spectacular features and has many ancient houses in its vicinity.

Shahr-e-Babak 

 Shahr-e-Babak is located in the west of the province. To its east is Rafsanjan, in its southern limits is Sirjan, and to the north and west has common borders with the province of Yazd. Shahr-e-Babak is one of the ancient cities of Iran, and its founder is said to be Babak, ( the father of Ardeshir Babakan). Such that ancient geographers have mentioned this city in their records, and others have related its historical past with that of Kerman. 

Sirjan 

 This township is located at a distance of 1,099 km. from Tehran, and lies in the west of the province. In its eastern sector are the townships of Bardseer and Baft and to its northern limits Shahr-e-Babak. The provinces of Fars and Hormozgan stand to its west and south respectively.

Sirjan is in the plains, with the peaks of the Panj Tan mountains to the north, the Beed Khan or Chahar Gonbad in the central sector, and the Lalezar in the east. Sirjan witnesses warm and dry weather in the summer, with moderate climate in winter. The ruins of the old city of Sirjan have been discovered near Sa'eed Abad, en route to Baft. These finds prove that this city was one of the oldest territories of the province and Iran. 

Zarand 

 The township of Zarand is located to the northwest of the city of Kerman. The province of Yazd is to its northern and western limits. In the east is the township of Kerman, and to its south and west the township of Rafsanjan. Climatically, this township can be divided into two, the north with a desert like climate, and the mountainous region experiencing moderate mountainous weather

In the 4th century AH., Zarand was a comparatively large city with six gateways. According to historians, Kerman came under assault of the Turkman tribe in the year 583 AH., and this led to heavy damage in this vicinity. The city of Zarand was then claimed as capital temporarily. Due to the weakening of the Saljuqi dynasty in 619 AH., the Qarakhata'yan took over the rule for a short while in Kerman. Today, this township has turned into one of the mining and industrial areas of the province.