Sights

Hamadan ALI SADR CAVES About 100 Km (60 miles) northwest of Hamadan are the extraordinary Ali Sadr caves. The caves up to 40m high (132ft) were discovered in the 1970s. In the caves there are several huge lakes with clear water up to 8m (26.4 ft) deep. The water level of the lakes change from 50-100 cm (20-40 in). You can see the water fluctuations by the markings left on the rock surface. Nothing lives in the water or the caves. Amazing stalactite formations can be seen in some sections of the cave ceiling more than 15 m (49.5 feet) high. Stalagmite formations extending towards the roof of the cave can also be seen in some parts. For the tour you ride in a small rowboat attached to a paddle boat with the guide steering. For 20-30 minutes you travel to the middle of cave. Then for about 30 minutes you can walk around and also climb up about 500 stairs in the middle of cave. You return to the entrance of the cave, which takes about 30 minutes, along a different route. You feel you're in the heart of the Earth. Local and foreign tourists started to visit the caves in 1975. In 1991 the Alisadr Tourism Company began to develop the area. Now there is a hotel, a guest house, 1-2 bedroom wooden villas, and area for camping tents. There is also a restaurant, cinema and theater, and playgrounds.