Ali Sadr Cave - Isfahan       Back

The Ali Sadr Cave (Persian: غار علی صدر) originally called Ali Saad (meaning dam) or Ali Saard (meaning cold) is a cave located about 100 kilometers north of Hamedan, western Iran (more accurately at 48°18'E 35°18'N). The cave walls can extend up to 40 meters high, and it contains several large, deep lakes. The cave has a river flowing through it and most travel through the cave system is done with a boat. Ali Sadr cave is situated between the large cities Hamadan , Tehran , and Qom making it a popular destination for Iranians.

The cave was originally discovered during the reign of Darius I (521-485 BC) which can be verified by an old inscription at the entrance of the tunnel. However, the knowledge of the existence of the tunnel was lost, and only rediscovered in 1978 when a local shepherd followed the tunnel searching for water or a lost goat.