Bayaz Village

Bayaz Village belongs to the Central District of Anar County in Kerman Province. It lies at the center of a plain of the same name, about 25 kilometers south of the city of Anar. With its historic fabric, ancient buildings, qanats, water mills and cotton fields, it is considered one of the region's most interesting villages to visit. The name Bayaz is understood to mean whiteness and brightness, and is attributed to the white cotton fields of the area, a crop that has long played an important role in the village's economy. Fertile soil and water from the qanats made farming possible here, and cotton became one of Bayaz's signature crops; one of Iran's first cotton-ginning factories was even built in this village. The history of Bayaz goes back many centuries, and the remains and evidence found in its old quarter point to the village's historical importance.

The most important sights of Bayaz include the Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, Bayaz Castle, the historic Qaleh Dokhtar Hill, the Sabzpoushan Mosque, the Twin Water Reservoir (Ab-anbar), and the qanats and old water mills. The Shah Abbasi Caravanserai is about 400 years old and has a floor area of nearly 2,500 square meters. It stands in the new part of the village on Imam Khomeini Street, and its entrance is on the east side, facing the road that was formerly known as the Shah Abbasi Road. About one kilometer east of the caravanserai, passing the Bagh-e Mazar-e Shah garden and the endowed (waqf) farmlands, you reach the historic quarter, or Old Bayaz. This complex of about 30 hectares contains the various elements of a traditional village, including a castle, small mosques, a hosseiniyeh, a water reservoir, a religious school (madrasa), also known as the Akhund's House, the khan's mansion, and the houses of landlords and peasants. Bayaz Castle is the most prominent building of this quarter. It served as the village's defensive fortification and had a rampart and six towers, of which five survive today. With walls about 10 meters high and nearly 2 meters thick at the base, the castle was registered on Iran's National Heritage list in 1384 (Solar Hijri). The historic Qaleh Dokhtar Hill of Bayaz lies about 15 kilometers west of the village in the Dahaneh Bayaz mountains, and the pottery and surface finds there date the site to the Parthian (Ashkanid) period. Bayaz once had five qanat channels and seven water mills. Three of the qanats, Khosrowabad, Deh-Bareh and Bon-Mur, are still in use, and the remains of four mills can be seen in the area.

To reach Bayaz Village, drive south from the city of Anar; the village is about 25 kilometers along the way. You can start your visit to Bayaz's historic sights at the Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, then follow Yadegar Street and its eastern route to the historic quarter and Old Bayaz. To visit the historic Qaleh Dokhtar Hill, take the western route out of the village into the mountainous area of Dahaneh Bayaz. Given the region's climate, early spring and autumn are among the best times to travel and explore Bayaz, as the cooler weather of these seasons makes it more pleasant to visit the historic quarter, the ancient sites and the landscapes around the village. When visiting historic monuments, especially the old quarter and Bayaz Castle, travelers should avoid damaging the buildings, moving or taking pottery shards and historical objects, and writing graffiti on walls. When passing by fields and qanats, please also respect the boundaries of farmland and water installations. Keeping the environment clean, respecting the historical heritage, and being mindful of the daily life and activities of the local community are also key principles of responsible tourism in this historic village.