Sohulan Village

Sohulan Village is one of the must-see attractions of Mahabad in West Azerbaijan Province. It lies 43 km southeast of Mahabad, 34 km northeast of Bukan and 157 km from Urmia. It is one of the oldest villages in the region, with a history going back 400 years. Centuries later, life in the village goes on, and according to the 2006 census (1385 in the Solar Hijri calendar), about 180 people live there. Farming, including the cultivation of wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, grapes, almonds, apples and walnuts, forms the backbone of Sohulan's economy.

Sohulan is also known as a centre of handicraft production. Making carpets, kilims, socks and jajim (woven woollen fabric), mostly from wool and other livestock-based raw materials, is another of the village's economic activities. Traditional Kurdish clothing, which is especially common in this village, is what most people wear. With its pleasant climate and pristine, unspoiled nature, Sohulan is a favourite destination for travellers. In the warm months of the year, the village's mild, cool weather can make for a very enjoyable stay. In the Kurdish language, the word Sohulan means "ice", which sums up the village's climate well.

In the past, shepherds from the villages of Yadabad and Isa Kandi used to take their flocks to graze on Sohulan's rich pastures and summer highlands. Suitable weather and sufficient rainfall have made Sohulan an area well suited to rain-fed farming and human settlement. The village's houses are clustered together in a valley, and their flat roofs are a distinctive feature of the village. One of the most beautiful water caves in Iran, the Sohulan Water Cave, is located in Sohulan Village. Local people know this cave as Luneh Kabutar ("pigeon's nest"), a name that comes from the pigeon nests inside the cave. After Alisadr Cave, it is considered the largest water cave in Iran.