There are many monuments to see and architecture to be awed by you when you visit Kerman
. Among the places which deserve special mention is the city of Rayen. Situated to the south-west of the city is a huge earthen structure which is only smaller than the Bam citadel. Known as the Rayen citadel, it finds its origin in the Sassanid era and is spread out over an astounding 20,000 sq.m area.
The citadel has come into prominence in recent times after the destruction of the Bam citadel in an earthquake a few years ago. It is a fortress which consists of buildings belonging to the public and also to the privileged groups during the ancient times.
Interesting Construction
Your tour to Rayen will take you to the glorious castle with the Rayen citadel being the most interesting part of it. Sun-dried bricks or adobe has been used in the construction of the citadel. The castle itself is square shaped with 4 towers situated in each corner of the square. It is secured by walls on all sides which extend up to 10 meters in height.
You can enter the huge structure in the eastern side. A huge door welcomes you inside and you get to witness the old-world charms of the Rayen citadel when you visit Kerman. There are many kinds of buildings inside including four beautiful ones which are believed to have been occupied by the governor.
Unknown History of Rayen Citadel
You will learn to appreciate Qajarid architecture when you take a tour to Rayen. There are walls and towers around important buildings which remind you of the structures belonging to the Qajarid era. It is believed that the Qajar artists were very much inspired by this style and adopted it in their own buildings. You will be elated to see the bazaar, stable and zoorkhane inside the fortified community.
Common people also had a pre-defined area of their own in this structure. Archaeologists or available documents have not been able to establish when exactly the structure was built although research points to Mirza Hossein Khan Rayeny as the builder of this fortress.
Even after several natural calamities and destruction by foreign rulers, the Rayen citadel stands in glory today. Your tour to Rayen will help discover the antiquities of this glorious citadel.