Access route to Zingan Cave demanding restoration, recognition
The Director General of Ilam Province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization said that the access route to Zingan Cave, Iran’s only open cave and one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the province, requires renovation and funding.
Farzad Sharifi, in an interview with ISNA, said, “This cave, with its narrow tunnels, stunning blue stalactites, and cool climate, is an excellent destination for nature lovers and tourists.” He also highlighted that this natural site has been registered on Iran’s National Heritage List.
He noted that the cave is located in the Salehabad district of Mahran. While Mahran experiences high temperatures during summer, the air inside the open cave remains very cool, and the humidity helps to forget the outside heat. However, the access road to Iran’s most beautiful open cave needs improvement.
Sharifi mentioned that the cave is located 52km southeast of Ilam. Its access road is straightforward but requires repair and renovation, and funding must be allocated for these improvements.
He added that many people associate caves with darkness, but Zingan Cave is not enclosed or dark. Instead, it is a natural gorge, an open space at both ends, and does not resemble the typical caves we are familiar with.
This cave is renowned for its pleasant, rather cold weather — hence, it is also called Behesht Cave, meaning “Heaven.” Many eco-tourists believe that what appears to be a cave is, in fact, a gorge, due to its open ends and natural formation.
Despite Salehabad and the wider Mehran district having warm, dry weather, the interior of the cave is very damp, fostering the growth of plants and vegetables typical of humid, rainy habitats. High water levels, along with vestibules and numerous icicles, have created a sort of natural forest in the middle of the plain, where ferns, algae, and lichens thrive. Interestingly, the temperature difference between outside and inside the cave exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, making it most suitable to visit during spring and summer.
Passing through Zingan Cave, or the gorge, offers a highly adventurous experience. The estimated length of the passage is about six kilometers. Throughout the journey, water flows along the pathway, requiring visitors to wade through it at times. Certain sections narrow significantly, adding to the challenge and excitement of the trek. Along the route, visitors can see two waterfalls, which must also be crossed.
To reach this remarkable yet lesser-known site, located ten kilometers from Salehabad, travelers should head west from Ilam for about fifty kilometers.
From Salehabad village to the cave entrance, there is a five-kilometer dirt road. After about forty minutes of travel, visitors will arrive at the cave’s entrance.