Ilam Province in Iran
About Ilam
Ilam city is located in the west of Ilam province, surrounded by mountains, forest slopes of Monesht, Sivan, Shalam, and Siah Koh Mountains, and enjoying the pleasant and moderate climate. Also, this province is located in Iran’s border areas.
The location of Ilam city is far from the center of the province and the cause of some limitation in its local communications and trade significance. However, the products of different parts and distant villages of this city export to other provinces, and Ilam enjoys a special location in terms of transportation networks. Thus, other cities are connected to Ilam as a city near the border.
It has an appropriate climate, an administrative center, and a political location. Some activities such as agriculture and livestock are highly popular among the residents due to the mountains, vast plains of this city, and climate. The petrochemical and gas industry’s establishment around Ilam as well as training some engineering majors such as electrical, mechanic, computer, civil engineering, and architecture at Ilam universities are the reason to increase the province capacity for research and industrial projects.
The common language of Ilam is Kurdi (Fili). All different ethnicities in the whole province speak in Kurdish with some differences in dialect. Most of the people who live in Ilam are Muslim and they are the follower of Davazdah Imami Shia.
Ghalaghiran Mountain is known as the symbol of this city and the location of this mountain is 3 KM far from Ilam. Ilam is well known as the amazing city of this province, whit so many forest promenades, historical, and ancient places. Heavy showers or snow in the winter and dusty, brutally hot, dry weather in the summer are normal for this region.
Home to Elamites civilization
This province is located on the foothills of the Zagros Mountains in western Iran. To the north and northwest this province is mountainous, and to the west and southwest is flat. It is a suitable place for nomad life as the geographical conditions are favorable for summer and winter relocation.
The common handicrafts of this province include carpet, rug, drugget, felt, and coarse blanket weaving. The people of this province are Kurds, Laki, and Lurs. It is good to mention they speak in Laki, Kurdish, and Luri. Based on the archeological excavations in Ali Kosh’s ancient area the civilization of this province dates back to New Stone Age circa 8000 BC. The land which is called Ilam now was a part of the ancient Elamites civilization that was formed in 3000 BC and was destroyed by Assyrian King Ashurbanipal in 640 BC.
Handicrafts and Souvenirs of Ilam
This province is a tribal region and its handicrafts are well known as Kilim which is famous nationally. The most major handicrafts of the province which should consider are: wickerwork, coarse carpet, silk products, rug, felt carpet, wooden products, and so on.
Ilam province, like the other provinces of the country, has its special souvenirs like local chewing gum (the gum of Persian turpentine tree), candy, local sweets, and others.
Vali Castle
This castle was built in 1906 during the reign of the Qajar dynasty. The main building materials include stone, plaster, and marble. It is one of the beautiful monuments of the city of Ilam.
The ancient city of Darreh Shahr
The remains of this ancient city are located between the village of Bahman Abad and the modern town of Darreh Shahr. Arches, domes, and many other signs of city life have been found there. Civilization in these place’s remains dates back to the Sassanid dynasty, during the reign of Khosro III.
Assyrian Inscriptions
Or Golgol stone inscription is located near Golgol village on a wall of a mountain 25 kilometers from the city of Ilam. This carved stone belongs to the Ashurbanipal of the 7th century BC. This shows an Assyrian (Ashuri) soldier with an arrow in his hand, a star, and the moon above his head. At the bottom, there are some sentences written in cuneiform script.
The Strait of Majineh
The Majineh strait is located near the town of Darreh Shahr. There are many carved holes in the mountain and the most famous one is called the Kul Kani Cave, which is 30 meters wide at the entrance and is inaccessible unless you have the required equipment to climb there.
Chogha Sabz Natural Park
This park with an area of 4000 hectares is one of the pleasant parks of Ilam and plant life includes oak, pistachio, hawthorn, and other types of trees. Other kinds of trees like pine, mountain almond, spruce pine, and walnut have been artificially planted in this park. Rare species of birds like bittern also inhabit this park. Twelve other holes have been discovered in this area displaying the signs of human settlement.
Abtaf Waterfalls
This fall which is among the beautiful falls of Ilam Province is located on the road of Meimeh to Pahle Zarrin in the town of Dehloran. It is a favorite resort for the local people.
Historical Attractions:
Hezarani Castle in Abdanan. The ancient hill of Zarneh and the fire temple of Zaraneh, a Zoroastrian holy site from the Sassanid era are in Ivan. Castles of Vali, Hassan Abad, Falahati Castle (Qhal’eh Falahati), Tang Gochali stone inscription, Sam Castle and Fire temple (late Parthian era), remaining of the Sassanid Sarab Kalan is in Shirvan and Chardavel. The remain of the ruined city of Simareh, ancient hill of Tighan, Cham Namsht bridge- Sassanid era, bridge of Govmishan in Dareh Shahr. Hill of Mosian and the ancient hill of Ali Kosh (nine thousand years old), are in Dehloran. Assyrian and Chahar Taghi (Sassanid era.) stone inscriptions are in Mehran. Shirin and Farhad Ivan in Mehran.
Religious Attractions:
The Shrine of Seyed Saleheddin Muhammad (Seljuk architectural style), is in Abandan. The Shrine of Seyed Abdollah and Haji Hazar is in Aivan. The monastery of Seyed Mehdi and the shrine of Saheb Az-Zaman Mosque are in Ilam. Shrines of Abass, Bagher, and Shah Galandar are in Shirvan. Shines of Jaber Ansari, and holy shrines of Imam Saleh in Dareh Shahr, shrines of Akbar, Seyed Naser – Aldin, and Abbasi in Dehloran are historical religious attractions of Ilam Province.
Natural Attractions:
Important natural attractions of Ilam Province include Se-Yah Gov lake, Garden of Sarab, Anaran Mountain, and Kabir Kuh (the Great Mountain) in Abdanan. Recreational areas of Khoran village and Sarab, Calcareous Cave of Kaleh, hunting grounds of Sharazvel, are in Aivan. Forest parks of Tajrian, Sheshdar Dalav, Bakhtiar, Abshar, Sarataf Fall, nature parks of Shahed, Sarab, Kudak, and the wildlife Museum are in Ilam. Mar Bareh Fall, valleys of Kalam Badreh and Kolcani cave in Dareh Shahr. Hot water springs, Khofash (bat cave) in Dehloran. Recreational areas of Mehran dam, the river of Kanjan Cham, Zinehgun Cave (haven Cave) are in Mehran.