Khorramabad

Khorramabad is a significant city located in the Lorestan province of Iran. It serves as the capital for the province, the county, and the district. The city is situated within a scenic valley. This valley is surrounded by the Zagros Mountains. Khorramabad sits approximately 100 kilometers east of the Iraqi border. It functions as a major administrative and cultural hub for the region.

The geography of the area is defined by its high elevation and specific climate. Khorramabad sits at 1147.8 meters above sea level. It experiences a Hot-summer Mediterranean climate, also known as Csa under the Köppen climate classification. This means the weather is mild and semi-humid. The city receives high amounts of rainfall during the winter and spring. In fact, it is the sixth wettest city in Iran. The average annual precipitation is 511.06 millimeters. The average annual temperature is 17.21 degrees Celsius.

History in the Khorramabad Valley stretches back to prehistoric times. The valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains evidence from the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic periods. These findings include remains from the Mousterian and Baradostian cultures. The area also features five Paleolithic cave-dwelling sites. These sites were recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2025. These locations show how humans lived in the region thousands of years ago.

Many different groups have shaped the history of Khorramabad. The Hazaraspid dynasty was one such group. Its founder was Abu Tahir ibn Muhammad. He was a descendant of the chieftain Fadluya. Fadluya was originally a commander for the Salghurids of Fars. He was appointed as the governor of Kuhgiluya. Eventually, he gained independence in Lorestan. He extended his realm as far as Isfahan. Later, Khorramabad was the administrative center during the Safavid era. Following the end of the Safavids, the Ottoman Turks conquered the city on 6 September 1725. This occurred after the Treaty of Constantinople was signed with Imperial Russia in 1724.

The city contains several notable historical monuments. One such structure is the Brick Minaret. This is a cylindrical brick tower located south of Khorramabad. It sits inside the ancient city of Shapur khast. The minaret dates back to the Seljuk and Buyid eras. It combines elements of the Indian Stupa and commemorative columns. It also follows the Central Asian tradition of building towers for communication and defense. Another important site is the Sahpuri Bridge. This bridge dates to the Sasanian era. It is officially registered on the list of National Monuments.

Demographics show that Khorramabad is a major center for the Lur people. The population is predominantly Lur. It is the largest city in the country where people speak the Luri language. The city has grown steadily over the years. In the 2006 National Census, the population was 328,544 people in 75,945 households. By 2011, the census counted 348,216 people in 94,747 households. The 2016 census measured the population at 373,416 people in 109,231 households. This growth shows the city's importance as a regional center.

Khorramabad is also a place for education and international connection. Several institutions provide higher learning for its residents. These include Lorestan University and the Islamic Azad University of Khorramabad. Other schools include Lorestan University of Medical Sciences and Madanni Technical College. The city also maintains relationships with other places around the world. It has sister cities in different countries. It is twinned with Afyonkarahisar in the Afyonkarahisar Province of Turkey. It is also connected to Yamagata in the Yamagata Prefecture of Japan.