Zarrin Cave

Zarrin Ghar is a limestone cave and one of the most beautiful caves discovered in Zanjan Province. It lies 35 kilometres from Khodabandeh County, on the western side of the Zanjan–Hamadan transit road. The cave overlooks the village of Zarrinrud and sits between the villages of Dashbolagh and Aghbolagh, on the route to the famous Alisadr and Kataleh Khor caves. Zarrin Ghar was found by local residents in Esfand 1384 (March 2006), after an earthquake struck the region, and they reported it to experts. The first official visit took place in Ordibehesht 1385 (May 2006), carried out by a delegation of Zanjan Province mountaineers accompanied by the Cultural Heritage Organization's protection unit.

The cave has only one entrance. Beyond it, narrow and difficult passages, sloping routes and deep vertical pits continue to a depth of roughly 165 metres. Inside are gleaming limestone formations (stalactites and stalagmites), as well as numerous columns and tunnels, and several underground lakes with depths from 1 to 40 metres have formed here. The ceiling height varies from section to section, and in places the cave becomes so narrow and dark that you can only get through by crawling on your belly. The first sections of the cave are dry, but as you move further down, springs of very cold, drinkable water appear. These springs link the upper and lower levels of the cave. Despite the long route, the air circulates, so breathing inside the cave is not difficult.

Entering the cave is possible only for professional cavers with full equipment, such as a harness, rope and lighting, and with technical expertise; the route is not recommended for general visitors. The cave combines both dry and water-filled sections, and its registration as a National Natural Heritage site of the province (item no. 892) reflects its geomorphological and natural importance.