Sarab-e Niloufar

Sarab-e Niloufar is a small but highly significant and renowned lake about 20 kilometers northwest of the city of Kermanshah, in the village of Sarab-e Niloufar at the foot of Mount Kamajar. This natural lake is registered on Iran's National Natural Heritage list as the 55th national monument, which highlights its ecological and tourism importance.

In the past, the lake was covered with water lilies. In the warmer seasons their buds and leaves blanketed the surface of the water and created a stunning view. In some areas the lake reaches a depth of more than 32–33 meters, and it has springs, underground water sources and even underwater caves. Its clear, mineral-rich water provided ideal conditions for water lilies to grow, and in the rainy seasons its beauty was doubled.

The sad fate of Sarab's water lilies is a story of the impact of environmental crises on nature. From the mid-2000s (the mid-1380s in the Solar Hijri calendar), drought and excessive extraction of groundwater dried up the springs of this headwater, and the lilies died out. In 2016 (1395), through the efforts of a local worker and in cooperation with Razi University, an attempt was made to revive the lilies and a few plants were replanted. However, in Mordad 1401 (August 2022) it was announced that, because of severe water shortage, the newly planted lilies had also died.

To reach the lake from Kermanshah, you can head toward Dowlatabad Boulevard or the city ring road and, after about 20 to 22 kilometers, arrive at the Sanjabi area and the lake. Facilities such as a parking lot, restrooms, a prayer room, gazebos, a snack bar and a cycling path have been provided around the lake so that visitors can enjoy their experience more. Spring and early summer (especially Ordibehesht to Tir, roughly late April to mid-July) are the best time to visit, when the water lilies show off their blooms on the water and create a dreamlike scene. Migratory birds also come to the area around the lake, especially in winter, which makes it a good destination for birdwatching.