بام ايران

Geographical Characteristics

The province of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiyari covers 16,533 square kilometres of land and is a mountainous region in the southwest of Iran. The provincial capital is called Shahr-e-Kord, with a height of 2,150 meters; being the highest city of Iran. Shahr-e-Kord is almost 520km away from Tehran. The province has vast forest covering almost 30,700 hectares of land, which include oaks, wild pistachio, nuts and almond.

The mount Zagros is an attractive range of mountains stretching from northwest to southwest of the province. As a whole 76 percent of the province is covered by mountains and hills. The most famous and the highest mountain is Zardkooh (yellow mountain) and the highest peak is “Koloonchi.”

Mount Zagros has beautiful icebergs and a particular road formation, making it a particular interest to the mountain climbers from around the world. The most famous natural attraction is called Choghakhor Pond. This beautiful pond is about 2,300 hectares and is situated near the town of Boldajee. This pond is located along the road of Shahr-e-Kord–Khuzestan and is almost 65km away from the city centre.

The fine weather and the natural beauty of its beautiful native birds, make this province one of the most pleasurable attraction in the world.

The Mineral Spring

The famous mineral spring of the province is called Dimeh, which is the main spring source of Zayandeh Rood [river], one of the important rivers of Isfahan, and is 10km away from a town called Chalgerd, near a village called Dimeh. The water of this spring is among the best and purest mineral waters and has medical remedies (prevents the decay of the teeth and remedies the kidney stone). Beautiful landscapes and attractions of natural sights around this spring make it one of the best places for tourism in the city of Koohrang. The best time and seasons to visit these natural attractions is spring and summer.

Koohrang Spring

This spring with its heavy water starts from the slopes of Zardkooh mountain and after passing many curved passages, it ends in the lake of the Koohrang dam and flows into the Zayandeh Rood. Many beautiful and attractive landscapes around this spring and the presence of the Bakhtiyari tribes living in that area make it even more beautiful. Visiting these spots in spring and summer are advised for the tourists and visitors. Another mineral spring called Barm Spring is located in the central part of Lordegan. It is 150km away from Shahr-e-Kord. This river provides enough water for agriculture and the rest flows into Karoon River. This river has created special landscape beauty for the town of Lordegan.

Special Tulip Garden

12km away from Chelgerd which is a place near the village of Bano Esteki in the suburbs of Koohrang city. This vast area (3,400 hectares) has a very amazing and wonderful covering of tulips (the tears of Mary). The flowers are divided into two varieties; red and yellow. People visit the place in the middle of the spring season, especially to see this wonderful Plain covered by wild Ted and yellow tulips. The blooms are four or five and hang upside down. The amazing beauty of the sight amazes human being.

Tang Sayaad Sanctuary

This area with about 21,600 hectares of land, including the national park with 5,400 hectares located in the wild central part of this area and a favourable place for wild animals. The road between Shahr-e-Kord and Isfahan is suit-able for visitors to get there. It is a known animal wild life sanctuary.

The southern mountains are difficult to climb, but are a good place for leopards, wild goats, wild sheep, wolf, fox, jackal, and hyena. Nearest city to this area is Farokhshahr.

Sabzeh Kooh Sanctuary

This beautiful area is around 6,200 Hectares and is located among the three cities of Boroojen, Lordegan and generally Ardal. It has a special ecosystems and natural landscapes, pastoral lands, forests, and mountainous area, attractive water falls such as Tang Zendan and Ma'dan add to the beauties of the area.

This area has three climates; therefore wild animals such as leopards, bears, brown or black, squirrels, goats, and birds such as partridges, and eagles can be found there. The best season to visit is spring.

Flying Forest Park

At the end of the western part of the province 50km to Lordegall there is a beautiful park with a pleasant area, spreading on the side of a green valley. The silent space, the shade of tall trees, many sweet-water springs, as well as paddy fields around the park plus many other beautiful landscapes, show a beautiful sign of creation to the eye of any visitor. This forest park is a suitable place for the families and high school and university students to set up camps.

Sarab Cave

This amazing cave has two passages and is located 56km from Shahr-e-Kord towards the southwest and 7km from the city of Baba Heydar (in the suburb of Farsan), to the side of a very wide and long valley. The valley has beautiful plantations and villages, where every person would like to stay for several days to see the beauties of the nature on both sides of the valley, as well as the range of mountain surrounding it. Becasue of natural obstacles, more than 600 metres of this cave is still out of reach. Also, cool water comes out from one of the passages.

The banks of the river from Saman to Ghareghoosh (near Zayandeh rood dam) have pleasant and beautiful landscapes including the passages of water and green gardens on both sides of the river. Huge number of buildings, hotels, coffee shops in the area of Zamankhan Bridge, and favourite climate conditions during nine months of the year, this province attracts a large number of tourists and visitors.

The Beautiful Banks of Karoon

Karoon River starts from the west and southeast of the province through Lordegan, Khanmirza, Felard. It provides valuable places for people to spend their leisure times. It is a good and pleasant place because of the nearest way to the road to Khuzestan province with oak tree on both sides of the road. This river passes from amazing valleys covered with oak trees, mountains with beautiful Landscapes. The best place with landscapes is on the road of Shahr-e-Kord–Khuzestan in the village of Dopo-Ian (110km to Shahr-e-Kord).

Koohrang Tunnel

This tunnel was built in 1953 to transfer the water of Koohrang and other springs to the Zayandeh Rood. The nearest tourist city is Chelgerd the central city of Koohrang. The water from the tunnel creates beautiful landscapes for any visitor. During all seasons even winter this place makes an ideal place for the skiing enthusiasts.

Political and Social History

This province got its independence in 1973. But before that, It was considered to be part of the Isfahan province. It is located northwards and eastwards of Isfahan. The province consists of six districts Shahr-e-Kord, Boroojen, Farsan, Lordegan, Ardal and koohrang. It also consists of 25 cities, 16 counties, 36 large villages with suburbs, 509 small villages and has 920 geographical spots.

Population and Language

According to the census carried out in 2000, the population of this province is about 821,975 people. Out of this number, 414,672 people live in cities and 407,403, live in rural villages. The number of the nomads or tribes inside immigration is about 11,630 families. The people of the province mostly speak Farsi. In villages people speak their native language similar to Farsi.

In some cities such as Saman, Ben and other cities people speak Turkish. Bankhtiyari people speak Bakhtiyari accent, which is one of the branches of Pahlavi of "middle Farsi" and is a treasure of Sarreh (pure) terms. This accent and sweet pronunciation is still untouched.

General History

The most ancient historical centres of human settlement in the province dates back to 7th millennium B.C. The archaeological sites having been dug in the fields of Lordegan, Khanmirza and Felard in the cities as Lordegan, Boldajee (a city of Boroojen) and Shahr-e-Kord have shown that the region had been the settlement of tribal and rural population.

The name of Shahr-e-Kord not long ago was "Dehkord" since the period of Zandieh Dynasty in some historical articles. Bakhtiyari tribes were one of the first divisions of Arian people whose ancestors tried to find suitable pastures in this region. They emigrated from the lands of north Asia and reached the bank of two important rivers; Karoon, which flows away to Khuzestan, and Zayandeh Rood, flowing from Zardkooh. Since the beginning of Safavids dynasty history is more obvious. According to historical facts, research findings from the social and political relations of Bakhtiyari tribes; they were among the most important migrant tribes ruling the region of the country for many years. The most important role of the Bakhtiyari was to change the government by leading and taking part in the reform and constitutional revolution. At present there are more than 50 historical and religious attractions in the province.

Zarnan Khan Bridge

The historical bridge of Zamankhan is located near the city of Saman. History of building this bridge dates back to the Sassanids Dynasty. It was built by the order of the head of Ghashgha’i tribes, Zaman Khan, belonging to the time of immigrant tribes reaching to the area at the time of immigration. It was built on Zayandeh Rood. The combination of the landscapes and huge amount of water flowing with great speed around the area and beautiful nature and the buildings nearby make it very attractive. This area is very convenient for the visitors and is one of the most beautiful centres.

Dezak Castle

This castle is located in the village of Dezak, 35km to the southeast of Shahr-e-Kord. It was built by Lotfali Khan Amir Mofakham Bakhtiyari in two stories, during the age of this castle many events happened. One of the most important: the role in setting up the Constitutional Revolution. The architectures of the building were imitated from European castles with Iranian decorations. The most attractive parts of the castle are the dining hall and the hall of mirrors with beautiful small pieces of mirrors adorned with beautiful paintings. It has been registered as one of the Iranian national and historical works. The great Iranian author of the big dictionary Ali Akbar Dehkhoda lived there for some years.

Sardar As’ad Castle

This castle is 42kme away from Shahr-e-Kord in Jooneghan, and it was constructed by Ali Gholi Khan Sadr As'ad who was the ruler of Bakhtiyari tribes, at the time, and is more than 100 years old.

Shir-e-Sangi

This Shir-e-Sangi (stone lion) used to carry a special reverence and respect among the ancient warriors, and as a sign of bravery had been carved on the stone over the champions who died years ago. These stone lions on the tombs of the youth and the champions have special. Historical message for the events happened to tribes and the people. The oldest existing stone lion belongs to the Safavids Dynasty.

Bard-e-Goori

Brad-e-Goori (the stone of Gabri) the oldest monumental stone in this province belongs to the time of Maads Dynasty and the end of Sassanids government more than 2,500 years ago. In Zoroastrians times, the people believed the soil was holy, therefore they did not bury their dead within the ground. They placed their dead into stone boxes. These boxes were called “the box of bones.” Today they are called Bard-e-Goori (means the stone graves). In different areas, they left the bodies of their dead in cliffs or rocks, which were, hollowed inside with spaces of 3.30m, length 1.20m high and 2 metres wide. The rooms in the cliffs had openings with square forms, some of the rooms were for singles and some rooms were for group of the dead bodies. This proves the custom of burning the dead more than 1,500 years ago, which was under the influence of Zoroastrian religion and the followers. They were mostly discovered in Dinaran, Miankooh and Bazoft.

Sport Attractions

The skiing resort of Chelgerd is in the town of Chelgerd is a well-known part of Mount Zagros, and has also chairlift being at the service of the skiers. Huge volumes of snow, convenient road to reach, fine weather of Koohrang and sunny area in the days of winter make it a good area of skiing for people of different cities inside and outside of the province. Snowfall begins mostly from January to the end of March.

Cultural Attractions

The presence of Bakhtiyari tribes with their own living characteristics, handicrafts, their nomadic tent-dweller with black tents, beautiful and colourful native women dresses and sweet accent of Bakhtiyari language, all are remarkable cultural attractions. Together with their real hospitality and friendliness make every one thoughtful about Bakhtiyari tribes. Watching tribal spring and autumn season emigration, transferring all their properties by quadruped, passing from difficult and high passages grazing the cattle of sheep and goats in green pasture lands, the ceremonies of horse back riding, shooting with rifles, group dancing (men and women) and local games will never be forgotten for any visitor and tourist coming to this attractive tribal land.

Souvenirs

If you want to visit Chaharmahal & Bakhtiyari your can choose you favourite gift while travelling. The most important souvenirs to choose are different brands of nomadic handicraft carpets such as, Chaleshtorcarpet, Gelim, Carpet, Jijim, Sarandaz (small carpet sheet); handicrafts such as: Khatam, table cover pen paintings; ‘gaz’ sweets (from tamarisk tree) from Boldajee with different percentages (nuts, pistachio, mixture and special); dairy products (dried butter-milk); medical herbs such as: (Arvaneh, Brejaesef, Shirin Bayan the flower of Gavzaban, Joshir, Avishan)(native vegetables garlic, Moosir, mushroom, celery from mountains, leek) gum-tragacanth, pickles; local clothes such as: (garment, woven shoes, hat, long overcoat); nuts, raisin, white almond and walnut; sugar candies; honey of Koohrang

Best Places to Visit

The banks of Choghakhor, Gandoman and Soleghan ponds, the dams of Zayandeh Rood and Koohrang, Karoon River, Khersan River, the springs of Dimeh, Barm and Siasard, the parks in Farrokhshahr, Mellat, Mo'allem in Shahr-e-Kord and other historical and natural places.

 The Province of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiyari covers an area of 16,201 sq km, and is situated in the Zagross Mountain Ranges, between the inner ranges and the province of Esfahan. The following five townships such as Ardal, Brujen, Shahr-e-Kord, Farsan, and Lordegan come under the Jurisdiction of this province; Shahr-e-Kord being the capital. In the year 1996, the said province had a population of approximately 761,000 of which about 45% resided in urban areas, 54% rural areas and the remaining were non-resident tribes.

Climate 

Chahar Mahal va bakhtiyari Province Nesting in the center of the Zagross Mountain Ranges, which span over an area from the northwest of the country to the southeast, this province has a difference in altitude due to the mountainous terrain. The highest part being in he the western segment with an altitude of 4,548 m. and the lower most vicinity being in the eastern sector of Chahar Mahal Va Bakhtiyari. Rivers such as Zayandeh Rood and Karoon originate from the mountains of this province. These mountains due to the relief of the land are snow clad throughout the year, and bear and influence over the climate of the province which experiences a cold climate generally. higher altitudes, that is over 2000 m. and forms a major part of this province, rainfall and snowfalls are from mid-autumn and continue till spring about the month of March/April. But in the lower areas hot summers with temperate areas soaring over 40° C and scanty precipitation are experienced. In the higher altitudes, that is over 2000 m. and forms a major part of this province, rainfall and snowfalls are from mid-autumn and continue till spring about the month of March/April. But in the lower areas hot summers with temperate areas soaring over 40° C and scanty precipitation are experienced. beginning usually in the end of autumn and continues over a period of 4-5 months. The coldest time being December/January with temperatures bearing an average of approximately 10° C, the maximum temperature being 35° C and the minimum dropping to - 15° C. The annual rainfall recorded at 426 mm and the coldest 'Snow bound' days being 127 days on the whole. From around the month of May till October the weather is usually dry.