Sardar Bozorg Water Reservoir

The Sardar Bozorg Water Reservoir (ab-anbar) is located in the Rahri neighborhood of Qazvin, east of Rah-Ahan Street at the corner of Shahid Alavi Alley. It was built in 1227 AH (lunar Hijri) by two brothers, Mohammad Hasan Khan and Mohammad Hossein Khan Sardar, who were emirs of the Fath-Ali Shah Qajar era. Today it is considered the largest single-dome water reservoir in Iran. The building has a tall brick dome and skylights in its walls that bring natural light into the reservoir. This historic monument was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 8 Shahrivar 1355 (Solar Hijri) under number 1337, and today it is visited by enthusiasts as the Qazvin Water Museum.

The reservoir has a tall entrance portal with a pointed arch, which leads to a channel called the "Rah-e Shir". This is a stepped passage of about 50 stone steps that takes visitors down to a depth of roughly 12.5 meters below ground. The water tank is square, with sides of about 17 meters and a capacity of about 3,000 cubic meters. Its walls, nearly 3 meters thick, are built of materials such as lime mortar (shafteh) and sarooj (a traditional waterproof mortar), which give the structure remarkable strength. Above the tank rises a huge brick dome about 28.5 meters high, which provides ventilation and lighting through the skylights and a central wind catcher. The dome is decorated with turquoise tiles, and this places the Sardar Bozorg Water Reservoir among the most distinctive examples of Iranian architecture.

To reach the reservoir, simply head to Rah-Ahan Street in Qazvin. The monument is close to the city center and the Rahri neighborhood, so access is easy. A visit usually takes one to two hours, and visitors can stroll through its historic space. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when the weather is pleasant and the surroundings are comfortable. Visitors are advised not to enter the protected tanks, not to touch the structures, and to avoid any behavior that could damage the building, and to enjoy the architecture of this valuable heritage site respectfully.