Site visited in May, 2010. No doubt one of world wonders and certainly a must-see place while visiting Iran (together with many others). Once considered the biggest adobe (clay-based) building in the world, Arg-e Bam or Bam Citadel is currently slowly rising from ruins after devastating earthquake that struck in 2003 destroying the whole city.

Currently the traces of the earthquake are visible everywhere. Citadel is undergoing restoration process, still in scaffoldings, with many parts closed for visiting. Other are carefully restored and only on the tables with photos you can see the level of destruction (photos were taken shortly after the earthquake). Many parts of the lower city have already been restored like areas around bazaar, Tekiyeh (central square surrounded by chambers), stables or Garrison (barracs), other like Governor’s Residence (upper part on the hill) or areas around Jameh Mosque are still under reconstruction. In fact it is possible to visit the lower part of the city (as well as certain part of town walls) while the part still under reconstruction is closed for visiting (especially Governor’s Residence).

More about the earthquake and its consequences you can read here https://www.earth-auroville.com/bam_and_arg_e_bam_en.php

Entrance to site is currently paid (around 200 000 Iranian Rial). Unfortunately Iran still performs a policy of different (higher) fees for foreigners (not only in Bam but also in other major tourist attractions). But Bam Cultural Landscape includes not only Bam Citadel. In fact if you look at official UNESCO map (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1208/multiple=1&unique_number=1564), Arg-e Bam is just a small part of inscribed property. The majority of the area lies outside city walls to the south of Citadel. It is a vast area of former town with palm plantations, partly destroyed and party rebuild houses.

Bam Citadel you can easily combine with visiting another UNESCO site – Persian Qanat. There are two qanats close to Bam – look for brown signs Qanat Akbar abad & Qasem Abad (some 7 km from Arg) and if you walk there you will have to cross the area of Bam Cultural Landscape.