The fiscal system of the Soran Emirate under Mir Kora
A study of coinage, taxation and the economy of the emirate based on Ottoman and European sources.
The city between two mountains,
the voice between two centuries
Rawandoz — capital of the Soran Emirate, gateway to the Gali Ali Beg gorge, and a living chapter of Kurdish history and folklore. This platform exists to serve, preserve and study this historic city.
History
From the Soran Emirate to today
Rawandoz is not merely a town; it is a story of resistance and creativity in the heart of the Zagros. This timeline gathers the key moments of the city's history.
Middle Ages
Founding of the town
Rawandoz grew as a trading and strategic stop on the caravan routes between the Erbil plain and Persia.
1813 – 1836
The golden age of Mir Kora
Mir Muhammad of Rawandoz (Mir Kora) brought the Soran Emirate to the height of its power, founding a cannon and arms foundry in Rawandoz and minting his own coinage.
1928 – 1932
The Hamilton Road
New Zealand engineer Archibald Hamilton cut the road through the Gali Ali Beg gorge, an engineering feat linking Erbil to the Iranian border and placing Rawandoz in world literature.
Today
A centre for tourism and research
Rawandoz is now one of the Kurdistan Region's best-known tourist destinations, and this platform aims to make it an academic hub for the study of the region's history and culture.
Mir Kora and the cannon foundry of Rawandoz
How a mountain emirate of the 19th century came to produce heavy weapons.
The tale of Gali Ali Beg
The legend behind the gorge's name as told by the elders of the area.
Culture & folklore
The voice and colour of Rawandoz
The folklore of Rawandoz is a living treasure, from heyran songs and dance to the folk tales of the Gali Ali Beg gorge. We collect it, record it and preserve it for future generations.
Songs & Heyran
Recordings of the region's traditional singers and an archive of heyran, lawk and beyt of the Soran area.
Dance & celebration
Documenting regional dance forms and social celebrations, from Newroz to winter gatherings.
Folk tales
Collecting legends and oral stories: the tale of Gali Ali Beg, Bekhal waterfall and the surrounding castles.
Crafts & clothing
Preserving kilim weaving, traditional dress and the handicrafts of Rawandoz's old bazaar.
Dialect & language
Words, proverbs and features of the Soran-area dialect.
Literature
Poets, writers and literary works of Rawandoz.
Tourism
Places to discover
Waterfalls, gorges, heritage sites and viewpoints around the city.
Gali Ali Beg Waterfall
The tallest waterfall in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, beside the Hamilton Road.
Bekhal Waterfall
A striking spring-fed waterfall gushing from the rock face.
Rawandoz Citadel
Site of the old citadel, seat of power during the Soran Emirate.
Hamilton Road
The famous road cut through the Rawandoz gorge by engineer Archibald Hamilton between 1928 and 1932.
Gallery
Rawandoz through the lens
From the heights of the town to the Gali Ali Beg waterfall, the tallest in Iraq.
Academy
Research and scholarly archive
An open platform for researchers, scholars and students publishing on the history, language, geography and society of Rawandoz and the Soran region.
Heyran of the Soran area: recording and classification
A field project recording 40 heyran texts from local singers with linguistic analysis.
The Hamilton Road in its engineer's memoirs
Translation and analysis of the Rawandoz chapters of "Road Through Kurdistan".
The fiscal system of the Soran Emirate under Mir Kora
A study of coinage, taxation and the economy of the emirate based on Ottoman and European sources.
Conferences & events
Rawandoz Conference on History and Culture
Every year researchers, academics and cultural figures gather in Rawandoz to discuss the city's past and future. The call for papers is now open.
- History of the Soran Emirate and Rawandoz
- Folklore and intangible heritage
- Sustainable tourism and environmental protection
- Language and dialect of the Soran area
- Digital archiving and technology
Digital library
From the digital library
Books, documents and theses about Rawandoz.
News
Latest news
Launch of the Rawandoz digital platform
The new trilingual platform for Rawandoz history, culture and tourism goes live.
1000 m
Elevation above sea level
نموونە — سەرچاوەی فەرمی دابنێ · 2024-01-01
110 km
Distance from Erbil
نموونە — سەرچاوەی فەرمی دابنێ · 2024-01-01
80 m
Height of Gali Ali Beg waterfall
نموونە — سەرچاوەی فەرمی دابنێ · 2024-01-01
65000 people
Population (approx.)
نموونە — سەرچاوەی فەرمی دابنێ · 2024-01-01
Partners
Rawandoz District Office