Celebrating nature at Water Lily Festival in Babol
The beautiful water lilies of the Heydar Kola Wetland in Babol, Mazandaran Province, have long attracted citizens and travelers alike. This stunning natural setting is set to be the main focus of a cultural and tourism festival called otiti, scheduled for mid-September. In the local dialect, otiti translates to water blossom.
For years, the residents of Babol have enjoyed a cozy, safe, and picturesque environment along the eastern bypass of the city. The Heydar Kola Wetland, also known as the Water Lily Wetland, provides a unique spot for leisure and relaxation during the summer and autumn months, featuring beautiful pink flowers atop the water and the graceful flight of local birds, IRNA wrote.
Spanning 34 hectares, the primary function of the Heydar Kola Wetland is to supply water for the fields in the neighboring areas of Heydar Kola, Haji Kola, and Hamzeh Kola. However, the blooming water lilies have recently highlighted the wetland’s tourism potential. Now, during their blossoming season, these flowers serve as the inspiration for a cultural-tourism event, concluding the summer of 2024 with a festival celebrating their beauty.
Recent infrastructure developments around the wetland have significantly increased its allure for residents. This growing attractiveness has led to the planning of the inaugural cultural tourism festival in the recreational area surrounding the wetland.
According to Mehdi Es’haqi, the deputy head of the Mazandaran Province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization, the first edition of the Water Lily Festival will begin on September 26 and continue until September 30, celebrating the blooming of the lotus flowers.
Es’haqi remarked that the wetland’s optimal environmental conditions make it an excellent location for tourism. He noted that the water lilies, also known as Eastern Lotuses, are considered rare natural attractions in Iran, with the Heydar Kola Wetland being one of the region’s most scenic natural spots.
He emphasized that these flowers grow in limited areas and, during the blooming season — from early July to late September — the wetland transforms into an enchanting landscape, creating a unique environment in the city of Babol. The developments in tourism and recreational infrastructure over the years have made it possible to host cultural and tourism events in the area.
The park features a unique view and is equipped with numerous facilities, including a prayer room, kiosks, a traditional teahouse, a boating dock, children’s playground equipment, horseback riding opportunities, and food stalls, fulfilling all essential criteria for hosting a cultural tourism event.
Es’haqi further explained that leveraging natural opportunities to create tourism events is a key strategy for branding Mazandaran Province’s tourism sector. When combined with cultural programs, these initiatives can effectively showcase the region’s tourism assets and infrastructure.
According to IRNA, the Heydar Kola Wetland is one of Mazandaran Province’s most prominent sites for the growth of water lilies. In addition, several other wetlands in the province, which are also covered with water lilies, boast similar beauty. The water bodies in the villages of Rudbast and Ojaksar in Babolsar are two wetland areas that were registered as national natural heritage sites in 2022, along with the Water Lily Wetland in Abbandansar village of Sari, which has gained attention in recent years.