Māhān is a small town in Kirmān province, Iran, with a population of 16,787 (as of the 2006 census). The town is approximately 20 kilometres to the southeast of Kirmān city, the provincial capital. This proximity has ensured that the history of Māhān has been intertwined with that of its conspicuous neighbour. A prominent nineteenth-century historian, Vazīrī Kirmānī, who was born and raised in Kirmān, wrote about Māhān's pleasant climate and more than 500 gardens. He also praised the town's produce, noting the excellence of its