Rawanduz Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Rawanduz has a long history dating back to the Neo Assyrian Empire when it was part of the Nineveh trade route. It served as the capital of the Soran Emirate from 1399 to 1835. The second half of the 19th century brought misfortune, which escalating conflicts with neighbouring emirates leading to bloody wars. Assyrian towns Tel Keppe and Alqosh were annexed, and the territory expanded steadily until the First World War when a coalition of Russian and Assyrian forces occupied the city. An onslaught of the Muslim population ensued, and by the time of the city's liberation by Nikolai Baratov's Cossacks, 80% of its inhabitants had bled or been killed. From then onward, the Soran Emirate went into a steep decline from which it would never recover.

After being occupied by the Turks in 1922, the British Army moved in to demarcate the border between Turkey and Iraq. Expecting a genocide by the Turks if left unguarded, the British established a base in the region and started infrastructure works which helped the revival of Rawanduz. From 1928 to 1932 commissioned New Zealand engineer A.M. Hamilton to oversee construction of the much needed highway connecting Erbil with Piranshahr, a Persian city now to which Hamilton gave his name. The road connection caused trade to flourish, and Rawanduz grew rapidly.

Shared taxis (and probably also minibuses) run frequently from Soran Garage in Erbil (next to Family Mall on 100m Street) and cost about 10,000 dinars per person when full.

To get back to Erbil, take a taxi to Erbil Garage on Barzani Street in Soran. From here, there are shared taxis and minibuses (6,000 dinars) leaving to Erbil. Make sure to be here before sunset as later services are less likely.

Map of Rawanduz

• 36.640344.44411 Rawanduz Gorge. 24/7. Dry and dusty canyon in summer, lush and green from spring to autumn. An incredible sight year round! To get into one sector of the gorge (not the one marked in the map here), walk down from the town centre in the direction of Kawlukan (same direction as Soran). After the last switchback and before the bridge, there is a statue (or rather a bust) to the left. Behind it you can enter the gorge, and walk 5,5km to Bekhal Waterfall (however, there's not a footpath all the way and at times, it's right next to a high cliff). Free. (updated Sep 2022)

• 36.6211744.611272 Bekhal Waterfall. 24/7. Spectacular spring and waterfalls. Very popular with Iraqi tourists, who love to stand, sit or smoke nargileh in it. Free. (updated Sep 2022)

• 36.581844.5233 Mount Korek (Çîyay Korek, چیای کۆڕەک). With 2127 m a prominent peak in the region, although dwarfed by the 3000 m peaks in the Erbil Governorate. It is a very popular tourist attraction year round, with a 4-km-long cable car taking tourists from 36.607444.49331 Bekhal station to the top of Mount Korek. The mountain is a ski resort in winter, and among the top 10 highest rated ski resorts of Iraqi Kurdistan as of 2019. (updated Jul 2019)

The Pank tourist Resort, which was opened in 2007 by Hazem Kurda, a former refugee of Saddam Hussein's regime, is the first such resort in Iraq. It includes a ferris wheel and other rides, including a toboggan. When complete it will include a five-star hotel, restaurants, swimming pools, saunas, tennis courts, helipads and mini golf.

While not everyone's favourite, the region is famous for raisins.

• SRUD. 

See the warning in the Iraq article.