Situated between cold and warm regions, Kermanshah has a moderate and mountainous climate. It rains mostly in the winter while in the summer it is moderately warm. The average annual rainfall is 300-500 mm. The average temperature in the hottest months is above 22 degrees centigrade.
Kermanshah lies on the slopes of Koh-e Sefid, which is the most famous mountain in the city’s proximity. The city extends for more than 10 km in length while its altitude is 1,420 meters above sea level, Iran Chamber Society reported.
The distance between Kermanshah and Tehran is 525 km. Kermanshah is a rich agricultural region producing mostly grain, rice, vegetable, fruits, and oilseeds. There are many industrial centers, oil and sugar refineries, cement, textile and flour factories. The airport is located to the northeast of the city and the distance from Tehran is 413 km by air.
Kermanshah is one of the ancient cities of Iran and it is said that Tahmores Divband, a mythical Pishdadi ruler had constructed it. Some attribute its establishment to Sassanid king, Bahram, in the fourth century CE. During the reign of Sassanid kings Qobad I and Anoushirvan, Kermanshah was at the peak of its glory. And then became the secondary royal residence.
Evidence indicated that human settlement in the province goes back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages.
The population is a medley of Kurds, Lors, Arabs and Turks. In addition to the inhabitants of the towns and villages, there are nomadic tribes across the province. The predominant language is Persian, but Kurdi and other languages are also spoken. From the Paleolithic time to the present, it has been home to peoples of different backgrounds.
Monuments from the Sassanid era as well as caravansary and bridge from the Safavid period, indicate the great importance the area enjoyed in different ages.
Darius inscription at Bistoun: Bistoun Inscription is located 1,300 meters above the ground-level high in the mountains. Sir Henry Rawlison copied the trilingual inscription of Darius I of Achaemenids, caved in 522 BCE, in 1864.
The Bistoun relief lies above the inscription depicting Darius facing the nine rebel kings, whom the Achaemenid rulers uppercased when he came to power.
There are three old Parthian reliefs at the foot of the hill, badly damaged by ravages of time.
Taq-e Bostan, Sassanid rock reliefs: Sassanid kings (224-651 BCE) chose an amazing setting for their rock reliefs: Taq-e Bostan to the northeast of Kermanshah. A sacred spring originates from a mountain cliff and flows into a large reflecting pool.
One of the most impressive reliefs within the largest grotto or ivan is the gigantic equestrian figure of Sassanid king, Khosrow II (591-628 CE), mounted on his favorite horse, Shabdiz. Both horse and rider are attired in full battle armor. There are two hunting scenes on the opposite side of the ivan, one depicting the imperial boar hunt while the other in a similar spirit shows the king stalking deer.
These royal hunting scenes are among the most vivid of all rock reliefs, true narrative murals in stone, Jumping 1,300 years in time the upper relief shows the 19th century Qajar king, Fathali Shah, holding court.
Anahita Temple in Kangavar: Kangavar is a small town of great antiquity lying midway between Hamadan and Kermanshah (90 km east of Kermanshah).
During the occupation of Kangavar in Seljuk era, a major sanctuary was erected to the mother goddess, Anahita.
This vast temple was built of enormous blocks of stone with an imposing entrance of staircases probably inspired by Apadana in Persepolis.
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