TEHRAN – As a major field of development for the western province of Kermanshah, tourism plays an important role, the provincial tourism chief has said. “From all the capacities present in Kermanshah, tourism has the largest effect on the development of the province,” CHTN quoted Mohammadreza Soheili as saying on Wednesday. To attract investment into the tourism industry, major steps must be taken, the official added. “A major goal of the province’s tourism directorate should be to attract new and effective investments to the tourism sector of the province, and to encourage large investors from the private sector to do so.”For the welfare of tourists, it is necessary to prioritize the development of tourism infrastructure as well as the use of historical monuments and tourist attractions, he noted. Kermanshah embraces a variety of awe-inspiring historical sites including Taq-e Bostan and the UNESCO-registered Bisotun.Inscribed into the base of a towering cliff, Taq-e Bostan comprises extraordinary Sassanian bas-reliefs of ancient victorious kings divide opinions.

Late afternoon is the best time to visit, as the cliff turns a brilliant orange in the setting sun, which then dies poetically on the far side of the duck pond.Bisotun is a patchwork of immense yet impressive life-size carvings depicting king Darius I and several other figures.

UNESCO has it that Bisotun bears outstanding testimony to the important interchange of human values in the development of monumental art and writing, reflecting ancient traditions in monumental bas-reliefs.Another popular historical site in the province is the Temple of Anahita in the city of Kangavar, which is believed to have been built circa 200 BC.

Several column bases and ruins of a wall remain from the magnificent Greek-style temple.

The temple was used during the Parthian era (248 BC-224) as well as the Sassanid era (224-651).Kermanshah was founded in the 4th century CE by Bahram IV of the Sassanid dynasty.

Conquered by the Arabs in 640, it was called Qirmasin (Qirmashin).

Under the Seljuk rule in the 11th century, it was the chief town of Kordestan.

The Safavids (ruled 1501–1736) fortified the town, and the Qajars repulsed an attack by the Turks during Fath Ali Shah’s rule (1797–1834).

Occupied by the Turkish army in 1915 during World War I, it was evacuated in 1917.

The construction of a road in the 1950s over the age-old Khorasan track added considerably to the importance of the city.ABU/AFM