About Kermanshah
Kermanshah sits in the fertile valley of the Qareh Sū River in western Iran, about 525 km from Tehran, and serves as the capital of Kermanshah Province, County, and Central District. Founded in 390 CE by the Sasanian prince Bahram IV—whose title “Kirmanshah” means “King of Kerman”—the city occupies a strategic point on the ancient caravan route linking the Mediterranean to Central Asia. Today it is home to nearly one million residents of diverse Kurdish tribes who mingle amid a landscape of prehistorical caves, Achaemenid and Sasanian rock reliefs at Bisotun and Taq-e Bostan, and bustling bazaars. Kermanshah’s economy thrives on its rich agricultural hinterland—producing wheat, barley, rice, fruits, and oilseeds—and on industries such as textile manufacturing, food processing, sugar and oil refining, and carpet weaving. The city’s four-season climate and cultural tapestry have earned it the nickname “the India of Iran,” reflecting its ethnic, linguistic, and ecological diversity. Modern Kermanshah blends historic sites with contemporary amenities, including universities, hospitals, and an international airport, making it both a regional hub and a gateway to Iran’s storied western frontier.
About the Climate of Kermanshah
Kermanshah, perched at approximately 1,400 meters on the Zagros Mountains’ slopes, experiences an arid continental climate characterized by cold, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. During winter (December–February), frequent night frosts prevail, with daytime temperatures ranging from 8 to 15 °C, occasional mild interludes exceeding 15 °C, and record lows plunging to −27 °C (with a modern-era low of −20.3 °C)1. Spring (March–May) brings unstable weather, gusty winds, and most of the city’s annual 16.3 inches (414 mm) of precipitation, peaking at roughly 2.7 inches in March before tapering off by April. Summers (June–August) are intensely hot and bright, with highs routinely climbing to 35–40 °C and heatwaves pushing temperatures to 43–44 °C, but minimal rainfall during these months. Across the year, Kermanshah basks in approximately 2,910 hours of sunshine, making it one of Iran’s sunniest urban centers outside the coastal Caspian region.
