Aran o Bidgol

Aran o Bidgol is a city in the Central District of Aran va Bidgol County, Isfahan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. It is one of the ancient desert cities of the province, close to Namak lake.

As suggested by its name, the city is an amalgam of two formerly separate settlements: Aran (Persian: آران, also Romanized as Ārān and Arūn) and Bidgol (Persian: بیدگل).

At the 2006 National Census, its population was 55,651 in 15,556 households. The following census in 2011 counted 60,290 people in 24,842 households. The latest census in 2016 showed a population of 65,404 people in 20,315 households.

History
The area originally consisted of two distinct and separate villages named “Aran” and “Bidgol”. Each village had its own customs, social communications, and dialect. It was situated near the Silk Road and many caravans passed it on their way from Europe to the Orient.

About 40 years ago, the wall of separation collapsed and these two small towns unified. We can name the Jandaghian family as one of the most famous ones in this city. Jandaghians have a representative in the Ministry of interiors.

Geography and industry
The town is surrounded by desert from the north and east, and thus it has a typical climate of hot and dry in summer, cold and dry in winter, and very little rainfall during the year. These conditions make agriculture difficult.

Carpet weaving is one of the major industrial products of this city and its carpets are exported to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and other neighboring countries. Recently, sources of natural gas and oil have been discovered near the city. Unfortunately, due to the unauthorized and illegal use of underground water tables by companies such as Foulad and Zob, this city has suffered a severe water shortage crisis, and as a result, we are witnessing severe land subsidence.

Tourist attractions

 * Deserts and salt lakes tours
 * Camel riding in desert
 * Driving on sand dunes
 * Maranjab Caravansarai
 * Si zan castle
 * Holy shrines and religious mausoleums (belonging to the offspring of the prophet Muhammad).