01Taq-e Bostan
Royal power is written in stone at Taq-e Bostan. Carved arches frame investiture and hunting scenes, making the site a place to study how the Sasanian court chose to present itself through images.
Western Iran · Zagros
Kermanshah
Royal histories carved into rock
Royal accounts carved in stone provide a strong starting point in Kermanshah: Darius at Bisotun and the Sasanian court at Taq-e Bostan speak through different images. The province lies on the historic route linking the Iranian Plateau with Mesopotamia, while its bazaar and tekyehs reveal later architectural chapters.
Westward, Hawraman’s stepped villages and terraced gardens shift the focus to people shaping mountain land. Zagros springs and caves, local music and bazaar sweets extend that view into everyday life, giving a journey room to move between royal monuments and inhabited landscapes.
Province highlights
Kermanshah at a Glance
- Capital
- Kermanshah
- Region
- Western Iran · Zagros
- Best season
- Spring & autumn
- Suggested stay
- 2–3 days for Kermanshah city; 4–6 days to explore the province
- Best for
- History · Architecture · Nature · Music · Food
- Main access
- Airport · Rail · Road
05
5 essential places
01
02Bisotun
Bisotun pairs an image of power with words in three languages. Darius I’s relief and inscription make this UNESCO World Heritage site a compelling meeting point for Achaemenid history and the study of ancient writing.
03Moaven al-Molk Tekyeh
Look closely at the tiled walls of Moaven al-Molk: religious narratives share space with Persian kings and Persepolis-inspired imagery. This Qajar ceremonial building turns decoration into a densely layered way of telling stories.
04Quri Qaleh Cave
Beneath the Zagros, Quri Qaleh changes the scale of a mountain visit. Water passages and broad limestone chambers at Mount Shahu’s foot reveal stalactites and stalagmites in a consistently cool underground setting.
Piran Waterfall
Piran’s descent is best understood against the cliffs that contain it. Water drops in stages through the Rijab mountains, with orchards below making the contrast between vertical Zagros rock and cultivated ground especially clear.
More about Kermanshah
Important Cities
- Kermanshah — Taq-e Bostan and bazaar
- Kangavar — Anahita Temple
- Paveh
- Sarpol Zahab
- Ravansar
Food & Souvenirs
Local food
- Dandeh Kebab
- Khoresht Khalal — almond stew
- Ash-e Abbas Ali
Souvenirs & crafts
- Nan Berenji and Kaak sweets
- Kilims
- Giveh and Klash shoes
- Traditional musical instruments
Culture & Arts
Kurdish music and dance are part of Kermanshah’s cultural life. Instrument making, including the tanbur, and traditional clothing offer ways to encounter the region’s living arts alongside its bazaars.
UNESCO & Heritage
Selected UNESCO World Heritage properties
- Bisotun — 2006
- Cultural Landscape of Hawraman/Uramanat — 2021; shared with Kurdistan
Other historic places
Other historic sights include Taq-e Bostan, Moaven al-Molk Tekyeh and Anahita Temple.
Selected Universities
- Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
