SISTAN - BALUCHISTAN - IRAN

[DesertRose]

TOWNSHIPS  
 
 
 Townships, Sistan Va Baluchestan
 
   Contents :
    Chabahar        Saravan      
    Iran Shahr        Zabol      
    Khash        Zahedan      
    Nik Shahr      
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chabahar  
 
 This township is located in the south of the province and to the west of which are the provinces of Kerman and Hormozgan. To its south runs the coastal region of the province and to the east is the neighborhood of Pakistan. Bandar Chabahar is the center of this township and is situated at a distance of 2,382 km. from Tehran.  
 
This area experiences a tropical climate, and its southern segments are humid due to the sea. In olden times it was known as 'Bandar Tees' which was held in high esteem, and was one of the trading centers in the Oman Sea. After the Islamic revolution Chabahar gained more importance due to many factors besides the war. Today this region is a strategic vicinity and is considered as a free trade zone area of the country.  
 
Iran Shahr  
 
 The township of Iran Shahr is the largest township of the province, located in the central and western portion of the province. To the north of this township are the townships of Zahedan, Saravan and Khash. In the eastern sector, it lies within the limits of Saravan. To south east it has common borders with Pakistan, and to the south of Iran Shahr is Chabahar. In the west lies the province of Kerman. This city is located 1,987 km. from Tehran, and has a variable climate depending on the altitude. But in general, experiences hot summers.  Page Contents
 
 
Iran Shahr is one of the most ancient cities of Iran which was formerly known as 'Fahraj'. During the conquests of Alexander it was a prospering and verdant vicinity and later too was an inhabited region. During the reign of Naseredin Shah Qajar, the governor of Baluchestan constructed a few castles here and from that time onwards it gradually developed, becoming a new city.
 
Khash  
 
 The township of Khash is in the neighborhood of the township of Zahedan which stands to the north, and to its west and south is Iran Shahr. Due to its high altitude, that is in respect to the other townships and the 'Taftan' peak, which is located to the north, accounts as one of the most pleasant regions of the province climatically. Khash is one of the most ancient vicinities of Sistan Va Baluchestan, and dates back to times before that of Nader Shah. Before the reign of Nader, this region was prone to insecurity because of the high-way pirates, and thereby held no importance. But Nader Shah put an end to these conditions, thus peace prevailed.  

A few castles were then constructed in the region causing it to flourish. On the assassination of Nader, the British government entered this area and were responsible for the constructions there. Thus the place took the face of a city in the course of time.  
 
Nik Shahr  
 
 Nik Shahr was formerly a part of the township of Chabahar, and in the recent years has become a township. The said area has special facets from the natural and geographical point of view, and is famous for its citrus orchards. To its north and northeast is Iran Shahr, to the south stands Chabahar and in its western sector are the provinces of Hormozgan and Kerman. The most important historical relic of this newly founded township is the ancient castle of Chehel Dokhtar.  
 
Saravan  
 
 The above mentioned township is located to the east of the province. In its northern and western limits are the townships of Khash and Iran Shahr respectively, and to the east and south has common borders with Pakistan. Its central city is Saravan and is located 1,974 km. from Tehran. The said township has a tropical climate and comprises of mountainous and plain regions. Past evidences reveal that this area has a historical background with an ancient civilization, and till before 1926 was known as 'Shastoon'. Gradually this vicinity expanded and was called Saravan.  

Zabol  
 
 The township of Zabol is situated to the north of the province and from the north and east is neighboring Afghanistan. The border of Doost Mohammad Khan is the point of transit of passengers and cargo between Iran and Afghanistan. This township is in the west of Khorassan province, and the city of Zabol is located 1,828 km. far from Tehran.

This township has a warm climate, and was formerly called Sistan (Sagestan) and Neemrooz. But in the year 1935 it was renamed Zabol on cabinet approval and a year later became the center of Sistan. On its southern slopes are the ruins of some monuments of the Parthian era, which in its own time spelt glory. Zabol today is comparatively developed and offers required services to the inhabitants.  
 
Zahedan  
 
 The township of Zahedan, is the neighborhood of Khorassan province in the north, the province of Kerman in the west, and in the south is within the limits of the townships of Iran Shahr and Khash. To its east are the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The city of Zahedan is the center of the province, and lies at a distance of 1,605 km. from Tehran.
 
Zahedan experiences a tropical type of climate in the south, but to the north it is comparatively moderate. In the early period of the reign of Fathali Shah Qajar, there was a well in the vicinity of Zahedan which was used by highway robbers. But in the year 1315 AH., a subterranean canal (Qanat) was dug by one of the inhabitants which caused the formation of a small village named 'Dozdab'. After the Belgians entered in this area, in order to install a customs office, it gradually developed and thereby its population increased. The name Dozdab was renamed Zahedan in the year 1935, after which it rapidly expanded and became the center of the province.


http://www.irancaravan.com/UTown.htm

[DesertRose]

Handicrafts and Souvenirs, Sistan Va Baluchestan  
 
 In Sistan Va Baluchestan province and specially in the former territory, majority of the inhabitants are employed in this field. Handicrafts of the province can be said to be the following: Kilim weaving (or a kind of coarse carpet), carpet and rug weaving, embroidery including other needle art works, pottery making and jewelry making can be mentioned as the handicrafts of this province.
 
Local and Regional Foods, Sistan Va Baluchestan  
 
 The traditional array of food in this region of Iran, intermingles with that of the food habits of its tribal and rural areas. Thereby most of the dishes prepared are similar in the cities of Sistan Va Baluchestan. Most of these are sea food dishes, such as fish.  Page Contents
Sistan Va Baluchestan Preface
 
 
 
Local Music and Dances, Sistan Va Baluchestan  
 
 The local music and folklore of this regions holds its own, in that it depicts the life-style of the inhabitants. Music plays an important role in wedding and other festivities such as the Eid-e-Fitr ceremony which is a celebration after the fasting month of Ramadan. Musical instruments such as the drum and a local string instrument called 'Geychak' (considered as one of the traditional musical instruments of this region), accompanies the songs and folklore.

[DesertRose]

Geography & History  
 
 
 Geography and History, Sistan Va Baluchestan
 
   Contents :
   Geographical Position  
   Climate  
   History and Culture  
   Sistan Va Baluchestan  Province Townships    
 
 
Geographical Position, Sistan Va Baluchestan  
 
 The said province covers an area of 178,431 sq. km. and is located to the east of Iran. The various townships of this province are, Iran Shahr, Chabahar, Khash, Zabol, Zahedan, Saravan, and Nik Shahr. Zahedan is the center of this province. The province comprises of two sectors, 'Sistan' in the north and 'Baluchestan' in the south. In the east it has common borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the south is the Oman, to the north and northwest is Khorassan province and to the west stand Kerman and Hormozgan provinces.  
 
Sistan Va Baluchestan Province Position
 
In the year 1996, the province had a population of approximately 723,000, of which 46.1 % resided in the urban areas, 52.8 % in the rural areas and the rest accounted as non-residents.  
According to the natural relief, the formation of this area relates to the late Cenozoic period, and due to the tectonic movements, the mountains have been segregated from the sea. Thence, calcareous sedimentation from the sea, in addition to other comparatively large and soft sediments, have piled up on each other. The southern part of the province known as Mokran, is gradually subsiding due to the thickness of the clay or sandy sedimentation of the Cenozoic period. The altitudes of the province belong to the Mezozoic and Cenozoic periods and are composed mainly of limestone and gypsum.  
Some of the mountains of this province, for example Taftan volcano, are of the late Cenozoic and early Quaternary periods. The altitudes or heights of Sistan Va Baluchestan are part of the central mountain ranges of Iran, and comprise of the uneven lands of the eastern sector of the Challeh Loot and the elevations of the eastern and southern walls of the Challeh Jazmoorian. These mountainous walls stretch out from north to south, and reach a maximum in the area between Iran Shahr and Koohak. These irregularities form both distinctive sections of the mountains of Sistan Va Baluchestan.   Oman Sea
 
 
Climate, Sistan Va Baluchestan  
 
 With regards to the geographical location of this province, Sistan Va Baluchestan comes under the influence of various air currents and also high pressure of medium latitudes. The most prominent climatological phenomenon of the region being the heat. Besides which the strong seasonal winds, sand storms, torrential showers a high percentage of humidity and morning fog are other factors to be considered. Basically this province experiences long, hot summers and short winters, the coldest city being Zahedan and the warmest Iran Shahr. Whereas the coastal region of the Oman Sea has warm weather coupled with a higher percentage of humidity.  Page Contents
Sistan Va Baluchestan Preface
 
 Loot Plain
 
Sistan Va Baluchestan province accounts for one of the driest regions of the country with an increase in rainfall from east to west, and an obvious rise in humidity in the coastal regions. The province is subject to seasonal winds from different directions, the most important of which are, the 120-day wind of Sistan known as Levar, the Qousse wind, the seventh (Gavkosh) wind, the Nambi or south wind, the Hooshak wind, the humid and seasonal winds of the Indian Ocean, the North or (Gurich) wind and the western (Gard) wind.  1000 Year Old Cypress, Saravan
 
 
History and Culture, Sistan Va Baluchestan  
 
 The province is comprised of two distinct segments from the point of view of its natural characteristics and habitation. Namely being Sistan and Baluchestan. The current Sistan is situated in the north of the province, and due to its strategic position and geographical location, has been considered an important region throughout history. In the epigraphs of Bistoon and Persepolis (Tahkht-e-Jamshid), Sistan has been mentioned as one of the eastern territories of Darius (Dariyoosh). The name Sistan is derived from 'Seka' one of the Aryan tribes that had taken control over this area in the year 128 BC. From the Sassanide period till the early Islamic period, Sistan flourished considerably.  
 
During the reign of Ardeshir Babakan, Sistan came under the jurisdiction of the Sassanids, and in the year 23 AH., the Arab moslems gained access to this territory. Such that during the rule of Moaviyeh, this region was completely under his domain. The primal governor of this region was the renounced Yaqoob Lais Saffari, whose descendants dominated this area for many centuries. Other dynasties such as the Saffarian, Samanides or (Samani), Qaznavid, and Saljuqi also ruled over this territory for a period. But the region witnessed heavy damage during the Mongol assault.  

In the year 914 AH., Shah Esmail Safavid conquered Sistan, and in the reign of Nader Shah due to internal discrepancies, the region saw damages too. The ancient name of Baluchestan was 'Moka' and through the passage of time it changed to Mokran, which is known as the southern sector of Baluchestan. This territory came to be known as Baluchestan from the time that the Baluch tribes settled here. According to the relics discovered in the hillocks of Baluchestan, the history of this region dates back to the 3000 BC.    Karkooy Fire Temple
 
During the reign of the second caliph, this territory was conquered by the Arabs and an Arab commander was assigned as governor. In the year 304 AH., Baluchestan was conquered by the Daylamians and thereafter the Saljuqis, when it became a part of Kerman. After the reign of Nader Shah, Baluchestan was formally, a part of Iran, but devoid of a local self-rule. Mohammad Shah Qajar beseiged the territory of Iran Shahr and gradually the coastal region of Baluchestan came under the rule of the central government.  

Generally speaking, the inhabitants of the province of Sistan Va Baluchestan embrace their own norms and traditions, and this region can be accounted as one of the sight-seeing areas in the country. Two of the important tribes, named as 'Barahuie' and 'Baluch' reside in Sistan Va Baluchestan province. Their means of livelihood, life-style, mode of dwelling, customs, traditions and tribal paths all form a cultural background worth seeing. A group of scholars, orators and literary personalities have sprung up from this part of the country, amongst which are the reputed Farrokhi Sistani, Yaqoob Lais and Rostam.

[DesertRose]

BALUCH RUGS ON SALE



http://www.exploitz.com/Baluch-rugs-rgz.php

[DesertRose]

ISLAM IN MAKRAN


http://www.princeton.edu/~batke/itl/chron.html



643 Campaigns to the coast of Makran and southeast Iran.

[Baluch]

Thanks a lot Bro DesertRose for the beautiful links & knowlage about Sestan Va Balouchistan ..

There was't any sestan ... iranian gov make sestan to kill and make balochs slaves with the

hand of these afghanis who called there self irani... i mean by the zabolis ...

I know the ppls and the owner of sites don't allow me to post msgs like this ... but i can't ctrl

my self our seyasat is baloch, balochi, & balochistan ....

Sabz Baat Balochi

Kaster Pad
Jawad Raeesi

[Ahmed]

Thanx Zeba for the informative post on the Sistan...
Seems this part of Baluchistan recieves less importance than the pakistani part in the online baloch forums..

anyways thanx for the gr8 article

[DesertRose]

Dear Bro Baluch and Ahmed

Thanks for your useful information.


your Sister