Ardabil

Eilam

Eilam Province:

	Ilam Province is located west of Iran and is bound to the north by Kermanshah Province, to the south by Khuzestan Province and Iraq, to the east by Lorestan Province and the cities of Dezful, Andimeshk and to the west by Iraq.
The province has 425 kms borders with Iraq and has an area of 22,000 square kms, occupying 1.3 percent of the country's total area.

Historical Background

Ilam has a very ancient history and has been among the oldest Iranian regions. According to archaeological excavations and researchers, about 4,000 years before Christ,

inhabitants of the region mostly comprised hunters and shepherds. According to Dr. Kereshman, the renowned researcher, the first government was formed about 4,000 years ago in a land, covering present Khuzestan, Lorestan, Poshtkooh and Bakhtiari mountains. Most recently over the past three decades the autonomous government of Valian ruled over Ilam and Poshtkuh; The government ruled part of Poshtkuh in Lorestan Province and today's Iraq. The most renowned among the rulers were Hossein Khan Gholam- Reza Khan and Hassan Qoli Khan Abuqddar.

The two inherited the governance of Poshtkuh region from their predecessors and had special links to the central government of Iran. Annually specific amount of tax and a number of gunmen were put at the government's disposal. They ruled over regional tribesmen.

Hassan Qoli Khan Abuqaddareh was so powerful that he protected the western borders of t he country and fought the Arabs on several occasions on border disputes and forced them to withdraw to the banks of the Tigris River. Tribesmen took Baghshahi of Iraq or Hosseinieh in Mesopotamia as their winter resort and Halilan or Hosseinabad, i.e. present day Ilam, as th eir summer resort. The city of Vali included 1,500 tents, all belonging to the crew and soldiers of tribes in Poshtkuh. They were all loyal to 'Vali' (regional ruler). (the old gendarmerie building, today located within the city of Ilam, was once one of the summer administrative center of Vali). The cost of running the affairs of the city was financed out of the taxes or bribes received from regional people on various pretexts. The last Vali in Poshtkuh was suppressed by Rezakhan and he sought refuge in Iraq. Since then, the district of Hosseinabad, changed its name into Ilam and expanded gradually for the policy of suppressing tribesmen. It turned into a center for accommodation and commercial exchanges of regional tribesmen. However, large number of district dwellers are scattered all over the province as decamping citizens.

Handicrafts and Souvenirs:

Among the most important handicrafts of the province one can refer to carpet, soft wool, silk and 'Gelim' with embossed floral designs, inspired by nature, history and culture of the region.
Among other handicrafts of the region are the 'Jajim', felt and 'Qatreh' weaving, 'Faranji' making and wood works. animal fat,honey and 'Kashk' are among the most important travel gifts of the province