Iran is said to be the cradle of civilization. This Asian country of stark contrasts, woven from mighty mountains, vast deserts, and rare fertile fields, is adorned with incredible natural beauties and phenomena. One of these is Meymand, an unusual village located deep in the interior of the Shahr-e Babak district in the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman. Its most excellent and unique feature, the impressive houses carved from volcanic rock, was recognized by UNESCO and included on its World Heritage List in 2015. Researchers believe that people have continuously inhabited this remarkable place for 3,000 years. According to the 2016 census, 105 people lived in 44 households. However, it is estimated that Meymand today has only about 40 souls. And not all year round.
Conditions
The conditions are incredibly harsh. The land is dry and difficult to cultivate, the summers are hot, and the winters are cold. Therefore, the locals, who have been semi-nomadic since time immemorial, move with the seasons. In spring and autumn, while their animals are grazing in the mountains, they live in temporary settlements. During winter, they reside in these cave dwellings, which serve as permanent homes for troglodytes. In addition to livestock farming, they are also engaged in agriculture. They grow wild almonds, pistachios, pears, grapes, walnuts, and Persian olives.
Locals estimate that about 400 houses exist in Meymand. They contain as many as 2,500 hand-dug rooms interconnected by narrow alleys. Each of these stone beauties has up to seven rooms, traditionally used for living and storage. There is also an open stone fireplace outside. Some houses also served as stables or storage rooms. Currently, about 80 percent of the rooms are uninhabited. The builders constructed the homes on top of the cliffs. Thus, the roof of one serves as the yard of another.
Iran’s extremely dry climate is characteristic of this harsh climate. The locals collect every drop of water from various sources, including rivers and underground pools. They store it in reservoirs, direct it through underground channels, and use it to cultivate orchards and vegetable gardens.
Inhabitants
Before they accepted Islam, the inhabitants of Meymand were Zoroastrians. They believed in the concept of dualism, according to which the universe is composed of two opposing forces—good and evil. They worshipped the sun god. This is evidenced by the remains of the ancient fire temple, which still forms the focal point of the village to this day. There is also a small ethnographic museum, a traditional Iranian bathhouse, a mosque, and a school.
- Why are men banned from entering this village?
- In this city, monkeys attack people, steal food, and fight
Today, many agencies in Iran offer one-day trips to Meymand. The programme also includes lunch in a comfortable, hand-dug guesthouse. For the whole experience, you can even sleep in the stone architectural wonders. Friendly locals will show you how they make carpets, baskets, and traditional nomadic hats. However, local authorities are trying to avoid mass tourism so as not to damage the centuries-old agro-pastoral tradition of the entire region. Time will tell if he will succeed in this.