Kish

to Hormozgan university of medical sciences

There is no clear information on the history of Kish in the pre-Islamic era. The only reliable source is the memoirs of Greek sailor Niarkus. In 325 BC, Alexander the Great commissioned Niarkus to set off an expedition voyage into the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Niarkus's writings indicate that he visited Araracta in the 4th century BC. His descriptions of Araracta precisely match with the characteristics of Kish.

Niarkus writes, "There are several parks and abundant palm groves on the island."

The glorious development of Kish began after a horrible earthquake rocked Siraf in the 4th century AH. After being razed to the ground in the powerful quake, Siraf lost grandeur and Kish came to the centre stage. During the Ghaznevid, Seljuqi, Kharazmshahid and Mongol eras, Kish was a major trade centre of the Persian Gulf.

Many great tourists and historians such as Qazvini, Fazlollah ben Abdollah-e Shirazi, Ebne Batuteh and Hamdollah Mostoufi have spoken of the grandeur, development and beauties of Kish. According to historical documents, in the Ilkhanid era, the name of Kish was always followed by Dolat Khaneh and associated with such big names as Baghdad, Shiraz, Bahrain and India. The ruins of Harireh, north of the island, speak of the historical magnificence of Kish.In 885 AH (1506 AD), Alfons Albukerk, the Portuguese colonialist adventurer, leading a naval fleet Of 14 frigates, expedited the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. A year later, he captured the islands of Hormuz and Gombroon, an event which pushed Kish to the backstage.

The Portuguese colonialists believed the Hormuz island, as the outlet of the Persian Gulf, was much more important than other islands such as Kish. They also held Hormuz could serve as a powerful stronghold against the invasion of aggressors. After the return of the ownership of Hormuz and the other Persian Gulf islets to, Iran in the third decade of the 17th century AD, all the Persian Gulf islands including Kish lost grandeur and Bandar Abbas, a newly established port town came to the spotlight. In the meantime English, Dutch and French commercial colonialists were stationed all over Bandar Abbas. At this time, Kish was a semi-abandoned island, almost the residence of pirates. In the Qajarid era, Naseredin Shah offered Kish to Qavaam ol-Molk Shirazi, one of the influential landowners of Fars. Qavaam also sold Kish to Mohammad Reza Khan Bandar Abbasi, the then governor of Lengeh.

Until the Pahlavi era, Kish fell to different sellers and buyers. Yet, in 1340 (1961), the government of Dr. Manuchehr Eghbal, bought the island from the heirs of Mohammad Reza Khan Setvat ol-Mamaalek Bastaki for nine million rials. In 1349 (1970), Iranian-American expert delegations visited Kish, designating it as a geographically strategic spot for international trade and tourism. The Kish Development Organisation (KDO), founded in Mehr 1351 (October 1972), drew up a costly plan to develop Kish like Hawaii in the North Pacific Ocean or the islands of South Mediterranean Sea.With the victory of the Islamic revolution, the Kish development plan, almost completed by then, was halted. In Esfand 1358 (March 1980), the Iranian Revolutionary Council passed a law, offering customs duty exemptions to the island, raising hopes of economic prosperity for the deprived southern areas. For good reasons, The law did not come into effect. In Tir 1368(July 1989), the council of ministers approved the Kish special industrial trade zone. Three years later, the Kish Free Trade Zone organization was set up, giving a new spirit to development of Kish

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Geographical Position

Kish Island measuring 91.5 kilometers in area is situated 18 kilometers south of Iran's southern coast and about 300 kilometers away from the port city of Bandar Abbas.

Kish is almost elliptical with an east-west length of 13 kilometers , and a 7 kilometer width running north-south . the Island's highest point is its eastern part which rises about 45 meters above the sea level. And , its relative heigh is 32 meters which means only 13 meters difference from its highest point

Kish, as one of the most important tourist centers of Islamic Republic of Iran, enjoys the highest per capita of hotel accommodation in the country.

 Kish Free Zone Organization with the cooperation and investment of the private sector has developed over 40 operational accommodation centers & complexes including five star hotels, motels, inns, hotel apartments and guesthouses catering to a wide range of tourist taste and budget.

 A number of independent hotels, such as Shayan, Ana, Flamingo, Tamasha, Jaam-e-Jam, Sadaf, Maryam, etc., offer accommodation ranging from 5-star luxurious to simple no-frills economical room and board. Kish's comprehensive development plan has been geared toward tourism activities and the major portion of the land and resources have been allocated to tourism industry.

In addition to the existing facilities, many more are under construction such as the beach-front five star hotel "Taban" and the luxurious five star hotel "Dariush" with the Persepolis motive in architecture and an exceptional view of the Persian Gulf, promising to be one of the finest hotels in the country.

 Kish's top hotels cater the best, offering a perfect combination of business and leisure facilities.Attractive service and outstanding cuisine can be expected and most of the restaurants entertain the guests with live music.

In the year 2000 the polulation of Kish was 16501. The investigation into places of birth shows that 1400 people were born in Kish and the rest born in various other places of the country who mainly traveled to the island in the last ten years. After finding out the laws of Kish Free Zone Administration and development of Kish Free Zone Organization, building construction, marketing and touring increased on the island and as a result immigration of experts, investors and young workers coming to the island seriously grew. The population of Kish went from 8047 in 1996 to 16501 in 2000 (that means more than 100% population increase in 4 years) shows how Kish has had the power to attract and keep immigrants in the last years.

99.88% of the population of Kish are Muslims and the rest other religions. At the last population count in Kish, the rate of education of the older residence (7 years and up) was 93%, older ladies 94%, older men 92%. Rate of uneducated people in Kish is approximately half of the Countries city areas. The measure of activity for men is 89% and ladies 19%.

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Kish Island is surrounded by soft golden beaches, palm trees and crystal clear waters, in a place where time moves imperceptibly. The island offers relaxation combined with adventure in a destination that is unspoiled by commercialization, with its refreshing natural beauty and the unsophisticated life style of its people still very much intact.

Kish Island has a calm sea and beautiful coast . The coast in the northeast , west and south wings is made of rock where the sea is also wavy due to the wings blowing from the  sea. Kish soil made of coral with a silvery color dazzlingly shining under the sunlight . Such specification may not be seen in many other coasts in the world covered with gray sand .The sea water in Kish island is bright and clear in a way that the bottom of the sea can be easily seen from a very far distance . Kish coast is one of the least dangerous coasts in the world .

Coast of Kish

Since there is no dangerous shark in the sea , people can enjoy the water without any danger  threatening them . It should be noted that the sharks which are some times seen in the Kish coasts , feed on small fishes and are therefore no threat to people swimming there .  Kish coast is one of the exceptional coasts suitable for aquatics both in winter and summer .

Kish Island is a resort island lapped by the sheltered waters of coral-edged lagoons, home to many of the world's spices of reef fish. Snorkeling in the Kish Island is amongst the best in the world, whilst scuba diving offers an even more spectacular insight of life beneath in waters.

Kish Island lies like a pearl across the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf and is a heaven of peace and tranquility fringed by sandy beaches and coral reefs vivid with colorful fish.

For the diving enthusiasts the island has its own PADI/SSI Dive Center.

A variety of other water sports are also available. Jet-skiing, sailing, fishing, parasailing, reef walking, coral viewing, boating and water skiing are just a few popular ways to spend the time and enjoy yourself during your visit to the Island.

These are just few reasons that have turned Kish Island into a popular holiday destination in the region. All together, Kish Island offers a stunning variety of cultures, scenery, sports, duty-free shopping and entertainment.

Hotels provide every comfort, shops offer an enormous variety of goods, and superb food is served in establishments ranging from country inn to elegant restaurants.

It is not surprising that Kish Island attracts visitors from all over Middle East, and increasingly nowadays, from other countries around the world. The Sunshine Island has a climate that allows visitors to enjoy its attractions to the full and Kish really does have something for everyone, no matter what they may seek from a holiday.

No entry visa to Kish

Foreign nationals need no visa at the authorized arrival and departure points of Kish Island.

At Kish international airport the officials will just stamp your passport , which allows you to stay up to 14 days on the Island.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

Green Tree Harireh Historical Town Traditional Water Reservoirs Payab (Underground Canal) Aquarium Ahovan Animal Park Greek Ship Sabet Forest Park Dariush Hotel Recreational Dock Glass bottom boat

RESTAURANTS