Kookherd
Encyclopedia
Kukherd is a city in and the capital of Kukherd District
, in Bastak County
, Hormozgan Province
, Iran
. At the 2006 census, its population was 3,144, in 637 families.
It was a major trading center on the old caravan trading routes between the Persian Gulf and other cities in Iran. It had guest houses, or kārvānsarā
, where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey.
, 155 kilometers south of the city of Lar and 45 kilometers from the city of Bastak. The Mehran river
flows through its northern parts.
A chain of mountains extends about 55 kilometers from east to west in northern parts of Kukherd forming a natural barrier that separates Koohkerd from other villages. One of the tallest mountains in Kukherd is Nakh (ناخ) rising about 800–900 meters above sea level. This mountain chain also includes the highest peak, the Paletir (پلتير) mountain (1022 meters), and دسكDask (1380 meters).
Sunni.
(Persia has been applying Sunni Muslim
as the official religion until the rule of the Safavid dynasty after Shah Ismael who adopted the Shiate as the official religion of their empire.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/296081/Ismail-I
Although the majority of Iranians are Shiites Muslims but Iran is also includes minorities of Sunni Muslims.
is Persian. The local Kukherd's dialect is known as Larestani لارستاني
which spreads in Fars province between the two regions of Larestan and Hormozgan. This dialect is much more like an independent language of Persian. The grammar has slight differences from official Persian. There's a belief that this language is one of oldest dialects that have survived from Middle Persian
known as Pahlavi Persian. A good number of Kukherd population can speak some Arabic. Others can speak English
and Urdu
. Many of Kukherdis have migrated to other countries, mainly the UAE, Bahrain
and others to pursue better work opportunities.
in foothills and deserts around Kukherd. There are seasonal migrating birds like flamingo
in and around the Mehran river
.
Being situated in a dry area, Kukherd suffers shortages of rains and so it was one of the targets in Kukherd authorities to maintain water resources through constructing high water dam projects in order to preserve underground water. Currently there are five dam projects in Kukherd.
north Paltir.
of Paltir
Another tool to preserve water is using a kind of traditional water containers (Berkaبركه ) in local Kukherdi dialect and known as Ab Anbar
āb anbār آب انبار, which is a traditional reservoir of drinking water built aboveground in Iran having a structure of a domed shape. Currently, Kukherd still maintain 64 old rain water containers.
To deal with the extremely hot summers, many traditional and old houses in Iran have a special mechanism to protect against the heat of summer as they used to build air towers on their homes known as the Windcatcher
Bâdgir بادگیر which is an ancient architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. The architecture is also spread in many parts of Fars province including Kukherd.
Bâdgir بادگیر
Kukherd in Persian consists originally of two old Persian words: “koy كوي” and “kherd”. خرد
In the لغت نامه Loghatnaameh Dictionary http://www.loghatnaameh.com/dehkhodaworddetail-4a13dc2ad450440f9f47cff36e147852-fa.html, “koy” means alive and "kherd" means reason which can be translated to "The land of reason".
Local historical resources in Kukherd explain that the ancient name of Kukherd was known as Siba after the castle of Siba which was built about 500 BC in the civilization extended from south Arab
peninsula to the land of Kukherd. Other resource explain that it goes back to Zoaroster tribe that came all the way from Armenia
and settled in Kukherd and built a castle known as Siba.
Among ancient monuments that have been found in Kukherd are:
Volume 6th:
Kukherd District
Kukherd District is a district in Bastak County, Hormozgan Province, Iran.At the 2006 census, its population was 13,201, in 2,675 families. The District has one city: Kukherd.- References :- External links :* Kookherd Website....
, in Bastak County
Bastak County
Bastak County is a county in Hormozgan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Bastak. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 65,716, in 13,563 families. The county is divided into three districts: the Central District, Jenah District, and Kukherd District...
, Hormozgan Province
Hormozgan Province
Hormozgan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the south of the country, facing Oman. Its area is , and its provincial capital is Bandar Abbas...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. At the 2006 census, its population was 3,144, in 637 families.
It was a major trading center on the old caravan trading routes between the Persian Gulf and other cities in Iran. It had guest houses, or kārvānsarā
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
, where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey.
Location and geography
Kukherd is a district (Bakhsh بخش) located on the south western side of Iran in the Hormozgān ProvinceHormozgan Province
Hormozgan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the south of the country, facing Oman. Its area is , and its provincial capital is Bandar Abbas...
, 155 kilometers south of the city of Lar and 45 kilometers from the city of Bastak. The Mehran river
Mehran River
The Mehran River is a river in Hormozgan Province in the south of Iran. It rises in the south of Fars Province, and flows through the towns of Jenah and Kookherd in Hormozgan Province...
flows through its northern parts.
A chain of mountains extends about 55 kilometers from east to west in northern parts of Kukherd forming a natural barrier that separates Koohkerd from other villages. One of the tallest mountains in Kukherd is Nakh (ناخ) rising about 800–900 meters above sea level. This mountain chain also includes the highest peak, the Paletir (پلتير) mountain (1022 meters), and دسكDask (1380 meters).
Demography and ethnicity
The religion of Kukherd population is the Sunni branch of Islam, most Kukherdis are following the Shafi`i way of فقه FiqhFiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
Sunni.
(Persia has been applying Sunni Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
as the official religion until the rule of the Safavid dynasty after Shah Ismael who adopted the Shiate as the official religion of their empire.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/296081/Ismail-I
Although the majority of Iranians are Shiites Muslims but Iran is also includes minorities of Sunni Muslims.
Language
The official language in IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
is Persian. The local Kukherd's dialect is known as Larestani لارستاني
which spreads in Fars province between the two regions of Larestan and Hormozgan. This dialect is much more like an independent language of Persian. The grammar has slight differences from official Persian. There's a belief that this language is one of oldest dialects that have survived from Middle Persian
Middle Persian
Middle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
known as Pahlavi Persian. A good number of Kukherd population can speak some Arabic. Others can speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. Many of Kukherdis have migrated to other countries, mainly the UAE, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
and others to pursue better work opportunities.
Wildlife
There are flocks of GazelleGazelle
A gazelle is any of many antelope species in the genus Gazella, or formerly considered to belong to it. Six species are included in two genera, Eudorcas and Nanger, which were formerly considered subgenera...
in foothills and deserts around Kukherd. There are seasonal migrating birds like flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
in and around the Mehran river
Mehran River
The Mehran River is a river in Hormozgan Province in the south of Iran. It rises in the south of Fars Province, and flows through the towns of Jenah and Kookherd in Hormozgan Province...
.
Agriculture
Kukherd covers wide agricultural lands mainly for wheat, barely and many kinds of vegetables and about 1000 palm tree.Being situated in a dry area, Kukherd suffers shortages of rains and so it was one of the targets in Kukherd authorities to maintain water resources through constructing high water dam projects in order to preserve underground water. Currently there are five dam projects in Kukherd.
- 1. Shamo dam شمو was established in 1986 at the southern Nakh mountains in northern area of Kukherd and located in the vally of Shamo.
- 2. Jaber dam An old wall which was built 200 hundred years ago at the stream of Jan valley , located in Hadaba “doghal galagh” دُوكَل كَلاغ. The name was after Jaber who built this wall.
- 3. Buz dam A historical damn in southern Kukherd in Baghezard
- 4. Jawid dam After the name of Haji Ismaeil Jaweed which was built in 1979 in
north Paltir.
- 5. Bust gez dam Is a modern dam which was built in 2005 in southern mountain
of Paltir
Another tool to preserve water is using a kind of traditional water containers (Berkaبركه ) in local Kukherdi dialect and known as Ab Anbar
Ab Anbar
An āb anbār is a traditional reservoir or cistern of drinking water in Persian antiquity. The Persian phrase literally translates as "water reservoir".-The structure:...
āb anbār آب انبار, which is a traditional reservoir of drinking water built aboveground in Iran having a structure of a domed shape. Currently, Kukherd still maintain 64 old rain water containers.
Climate
Climate in Kukherd is dry and hot during summer. Summer temperatures vary frequently above 40°C. It has cold winters and sometimes snow falls on mountains of Nakh. Spring and autumn temperatures are moderate and pleasant.To deal with the extremely hot summers, many traditional and old houses in Iran have a special mechanism to protect against the heat of summer as they used to build air towers on their homes known as the Windcatcher
Windcatcher
A windcatcher is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. It is not known who first invented the windcatcher, but it still can be seen in many countries today. Windcatchers come in various designs: uni-directional,...
Bâdgir بادگیر which is an ancient architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. The architecture is also spread in many parts of Fars province including Kukherd.
Transport
Lately, a modern aspect of Kukherd is the construction of modern express roads. The main road has been fully upgraded with lighting and high quality pavement to facilitate the transportation needs of people of Kukherd and other towns.History and etymology
Kukherd civilization goes back to ancient more than 2000 years old. Evidence of the ancient archeology includes some ancient monuments that have been found dating to the Sassanid dynasty approximately that was also discovered in Kukherd. This is in addition to having old tombs and having its unique architecture like the WindcatcherWindcatcher
A windcatcher is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. It is not known who first invented the windcatcher, but it still can be seen in many countries today. Windcatchers come in various designs: uni-directional,...
Bâdgir بادگیر
Kukherd in Persian consists originally of two old Persian words: “koy كوي” and “kherd”. خرد
In the لغت نامه Loghatnaameh Dictionary http://www.loghatnaameh.com/dehkhodaworddetail-4a13dc2ad450440f9f47cff36e147852-fa.html, “koy” means alive and "kherd" means reason which can be translated to "The land of reason".
Local historical resources in Kukherd explain that the ancient name of Kukherd was known as Siba after the castle of Siba which was built about 500 BC in the civilization extended from south Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
peninsula to the land of Kukherd. Other resource explain that it goes back to Zoaroster tribe that came all the way from Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and settled in Kukherd and built a castle known as Siba.
Historical sites
Among ancient monuments that have been found in Kukherd are:
- Terenah:, (terenah ترنه ) the unique ancient methods of ancient Kukherd population have been using to transfer the sweet water from Mehran salty river to the other bank of the rive order to water their lands
- The castle of Siba which has been maintained until 1163-1192. But unfortunately was destroyed due to Earthquake in Kukherd and then the flood 1367 destroyed the rest of the castle remaining.
- Another monument is for the bazar of Siba.
- The castle of Aamaj.
- The castle of Towsila in Geri zamerdan valey.
- Siba Ancient bath-house – An ancient bath house that is believed dated back to the Sassanid dynasty.
- Islamic Monuments: Jamea Qhebla : مسجد جامع قبلة this mosque goes back to the ninth hijra century
Kukherd in the Cambridge History of Iran
An early reference to Kukherd is dated to 1649, this is found in the Cambridge History of Iran,Volume 6th:
Went north from Kung through Kuhkird, Bastak and Nimar, where it joined the
main route at Lar, From the lesser Ports at Bandar Rig and Bandar Rishahr routes
converged near Burazgan and the road to Shiraz Passed through Dalaki, Kazarun
and the Dasht_i Arjan, These routes Were subject to extraordinary variations
in climatic conditions, scorching heat when only traveling at night was
bearable and Perishing cold when travel might be impossible, An English factor,
Robert Loftus, noted in April 1628, I stayed in Digerdoo” Dihgirdu” six daies
until….
See also
- Larestan
- Lar, Iran
- EvazEvazEvaz is a city in and the capital of Evaz District, in Larestan County, Fars Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 14,315, in 3,297 families....
- BastakBastakBastak is a city in and the capital of Bastak County, Hormozgan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 8,376, in 1,765 families....
- Bandar LengehBandar LengehBandar Lengeh is a harbor city in, and capital of Bandar-Lengeh County, in Hormozgan province of Iran on the coast of the Persian Gulf. The harbor is 280 km from Lar, 192 km from Bandar Abbas, and 420 km from Bushehr. The weather in Bandar Lengeh is hot and humid, typical of coastal...
- HormozgānHormozgan ProvinceHormozgan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the south of the country, facing Oman. Its area is , and its provincial capital is Bandar Abbas...
- MaghohMaghohMaghoh is a village in Hormozgan Province in the south of Iran. Its settlers are mainly Arabs of the AL marzooqi tribe. They speak Arabic. These people originally came from Arabia but emigrated to Iran for food.- History :...
- AL madaniAL madaniThe AL madani family descends from the Shikh Hasan AL madani section of the a highly respected and authoritative tribal federation that was the dominant power throughout most of what is now....
- MorbaghMorbaghMorbagh is a village in Hormozgan Province in the south of Iran. Its settlers are mainly Arabs of the AlHammadi tribe. They speak Arabic. These people originally came from Arabia but emigrated to Iran for food.- See also :*Kookherd*Bastak*Bandar Lengeh...
External links
- http://kookherd.net Kookherd Website.
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/296081/Ismail-I Shah Ismaail of Iran Britannica.com
- http://www.loghatnaameh.com/dehkhodaworddetail-4a13dc2ad450440f9f47cff36e147852-fa.html كوخرد در لغتنامه دهخدا