Band-e Omar Shah

Band-e Omar Shah (also known as Band-e Amir Shah) is located in Birjand County, South Khorasan Province, about 2 km southwest of the city of Birjand, inside the Baqeran mountain range. This historic structure was built during the Qajar era, under the rule of Amir Shokat al-Molk Alam, and is considered one of the water engineering works of that period.

Structurally, Band-e Omar Shah was built as an east-west oriented dam across a seasonal river, intended to store water and control floods. The materials used include stone, brick and sarooj mortar. The crest of the dam is reported to be about 27 meters long and 4 to 6 meters wide, with a wall height of around 13 meters. The structure was registered as a National Heritage Site of Iran on 19 Esfand 1380 (10 March 2002) under registration number 4815.

To visit the dam, head southwest from the center of Birjand. After about 2 km along a local road toward the Baqeran mountains, you will reach a sign reading "Band-e Omar Shah". The area around the dam is suitable for light walking and sightseeing. The best time to visit is spring and early summer, when the weather is mild and the mountain scenery is at its most appealing. Please do not litter, and refrain from digging at or damaging the structure so that this heritage is preserved.