TEHRAN – Kerman province’s tourism chief has expressed optimism about a potential tourism boom for Maymand Village, a UNESCO site, if it secures a prestigious UN tourism label as an outstanding village tourism destination.
Syed Shahrohi on Monday said that Maymand as one of the best rural tourism destinations in the world will lead to the growth and better development of tourism in the region.
He made the remarks during a meeting with a meeting of United Nations evaluators assessing the village’s bid for the title of World’s Best Rural Tourism Village. The official emphasized the importance of the registration of Maymand for the improvement and further development of tourism in the area.
He added that the provincial cultural heritage administration was committed to teamwork and completing infrastructure projects to address shortcomings in the pursuit of Maymand’s global registration.
Shahrokhi highlighted the advantages of the village in tourism, animal husbandry, agriculture and various aspects of rural and nomadic life, highlighting the importance of Maymand.
He further explained that the ongoing animal husbandry and breeding activities in Maymand are an integral part of the livelihood of its residents, contributing significantly to the village’s attractiveness.
Regarding the botanical wealth of the village, Shahrokhi pointed out that Maymand’s treasure trove of medicinal herbs and edible plants greatly enhances its appeal as a tourist destination.
He further emphasized that Maymand’s unique architecture, recognized as one of the criteria for its global registration, made it an excellent candidate.
The Maymand Cultural Landscape was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 as an exemplary system of artificial cave dwellings believed to be practiced in the region to cope with the harsh climate.
Sandwiched between desert and mountain, Maymand has cold winters and extremely hot summers, but is abundant with mulberries and blackberries. Living conditions in the village are considered harsh due to the dry land, high temperatures in summer and very cold winters.
Maymand, believed to be one of the earliest human settlements in the region, boasts a history dating back approximately 10,000 years. Many of its natural and man-made caves continue to serve as homes and shelters to this day.
The village’s dwellings, carved into the mountainside, resemble caves, with interior spaces with corridors and columns reflecting rustic architectural styles. These houses, arranged four or five stories high, create a unique silhouette against the background of the rocky landscape.
Legend has it that the first inhabitants of the village used a local pointed stone instead of conventional tools such as hammers and chisels to carve intricate designs into the rock walls, a tradition that continues in the region. Some of the stone carvings found in the village date back millennia, providing a glimpse into its ancient past.
Today Meimand is inhabited mostly by semi-nomadic herders who graze their cattle in the mountain pastures, migrating between temporary settlements during the spring and autumn seasons.
The community’s deep connection with the natural environment is evident in their social customs, cultural rituals and religious practices.
The local dialect of Meimand retains elements of the ancient Sasanian and Pahlavi languages, largely unchanged over the centuries due to the village’s remote location.
The area supports a variety of wildlife including snakes, lizards, hedgehogs, deer, leopards, wolves, foxes and various birds of prey. Despite the dry climate, the availability of seasonal springs sustains agriculture in the region, with residents scrupulously conserving water resources to sustain their livelihoods, a tradition passed down through generations.
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