Welcome to Kurdistan Province!
Geography
Kurdistan Province is located in the west of Iran, surrounded by Iraq on the west, the province of West Azarbaijan to its north, Zanjan to the northeast, Hamedan to the east and Kermanshah to the south. Kurdistan Province is a mountainous region that has many rivers, lakes, glaciers, and caves rendering it rather picturesque. Sanandaj, also called Senna, is the capital of Kurdistan Province in the northwestern Iran. It is 153 km far from the Iran-Iraq border and lies at a distance of 500 km from Tehran. Other counties with major cities are Marivan, Baneh, Saqez, Qorveh, Bijar, Kamyaran, Dehgolan, Diwandarreh, amd Sarvabad.
Nature and Climate
The area around Sanandaj is well-known for its natural beauty, fresh water springs and mountainous geography. Sanandaj has a humid continental climate. It has four distinct seasons, generally mild and quite pleasant throughout the spring and summer; winters are long and can be cold with heavy snowfalls.
Crafts and Souvenirs
Sanandaj is a major manufacturer and trade center of hand-made carpets, woodworking, cotton weaving, leather, pottery, metal ware, and processed foods. Its old bazaar is the best place to buy Kurdish handicrafts.
Language and Culture
The population of Sanandaj is mainly Kurd ethnic. According to National Census, in 2011, population of Kurdistan province was 1,493,645 out of which 66% live in urban areas. The Kurdish people are the majority population in this province, and they speak Sorani sometimes called ‘Ardalani’ dialect.
Festivals
Nowruz (literally translated New Day) is one the oldest celebrations in Iran, held vigorously in the first day of spring marking the beginning of the Iranian calendar (March 21). Families usually gather around the Haft-Seen table to celebrate the precise moment the Earth finishes its annual journey around the Sun to celebrate the first day of spring.
Pir-e-Shalyar celebration is a spiritual event of thousands years' history which is held twice a year in Uraman-e-Takht. This area has been inscribed as one of the main tourism poles of Iran because of its extraordinary and astonishing nature along with a particular architectural style in which a house’s roof is the other house’s courtyard.
Eid Al-Fitr is one of the greatest Islamic events after the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims spend a month of fasting with particular customs. Eid Al-Fitr prayer is held as a congregational prayer in the morning of the Eid with certain ceremonies.
Eid-Qurban (Eid-Al-Adha) is one of the most important ceremonies of Muslims, which is held vigorously all over the country. According to traditional customs of each region, the people prepare for the celebration by house cleaning and buying clothes. Moreover, it is highly recommended in Islamic culture to visit elders and Haji’s to congratulate them after the Eid prayer.
Yalda Night (Chellah Night) is the one traditional ceremony in Iran, which celebrates the time between the sunset of the last day of the autumn and the sunrise of the first day of winter. It is the longest and darkest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Iranian families get together and visit their relatives. Various ceremonies are common such as eating special food and fruits, nuts, sweets, as well as reading the Hafiz and Shahnameh poetry.
Tourist Attractions
Asaf mansion named “Kurdish House” is a symbol of Kurds cultural identity and the most valuable cultural relics of Sanadaj. It is also recognized as the biggest anthropology museum relating to one ethnic in Iran. Carved stones, mirror decoration, carved brick and embowed arches, and exquisite woodworks have been reflected skillfully in this building.
Khan Hammam, built in 1805, is an invaluable monument of Sanandaj. It is famous for grey-and-white floral and bird motifs, attractive tiling with Rumi and local designs, and remarkably lifelike ‘bathers’.
Abidar Recreational Complex (also known as Abidar Mountainous Park), located in the west corner of Sanandaj, is the most well-known resort of Sanandaj. The park attracts a large number of tourists annually. The city of Sanandaj has a very beautiful landscape from above the park. There are several gardens, natural springs, and sub parks such as ‘Amiriah’, as well as an outdoor cinema with the biggest screen throughout the world.
Khosrow Abad mansion is an astonishing extensive building with a long history of Kurdish heritage. The architectural decoration of this building includes gliding, bricklaying, elegant orosis and a cruciform pool. This construction is a unique royal palace which was the center of government of Ardalan, Qajar era.
Old Bazzar of Sanandaj is a historical roofed bazar which has been recognized as one of the main tourist attractions of the city. Its construction dates back to almost 400 years ago. The interesting point is the design method of the bazar, which is a large triangular area. It seems to be inspired by Naqsh-e-Jahan square in Isfahan. Despite the fact that there are several modern shopping centers in the city, old bazar plays its significant role in the business of the city.
Darulehsan Mosque, also called the great mosque of Sanandaj, was built in Qajar era and is located in the heart of the city. It represents astonishing glory of Iranian-Islamic architecture, and has been recognized as one of the most attracting historical monuments for its specific features. In this mosque, it is possible to admire noteworthy ornaments such as: encaustic tiles, carved marbles, rough and enameled bricks. In addition to the Qur'anic verses, in the large surface of the facades, there are also verses by famous Iranian poets.