Aligudarz
Aligudarz is the fourth most populous city in Lorestan province. Experts say that Aligudarz could date back to 7000 years ago.
Various narrations could inform us on why they named Aligudarz, Aligudarz. Among them lies the story of the native inhabitants of the city. According to this old tale, the word Aligudarz is a combination of the word Al meaning family and Gudarz.
Based on this, the people of Aligudarz relate themselves to Gudarz. He was one of the famous characters of Shahnameh. The Gudarzi sir name is so common in Aligudarz. There could be a confirmation of this tale. Who knows? There are lost parts or epochs in the history of Iran. Mainly because of writing them down or documenting them was not that common.
Historical evidence shows that there were civilizations within the city of Aligudarz around seventeen centuries BC. Of course, archaeologists have found artifacts belonging to the pre-Parthian and Achaemenid periods in the northwestern hills.
Though, pieces of solid evidence and buildings built in this city seem to bring Aligudarz only 700 years back.
In the past, the monastery of this city was a religious training center for the Kizilbash and Dervishes. Main sights In the mountains and hills around Aligudarz, ancient objects have been discovered including rectangular brick earthenware from the 13th century AD. Important natural and historical sites of Aligudarz include Ab Sefid (literally “White Water”) waterfall Aligudarz Forests Sayleh castle Tamandar and Bexnavid caves Masisilan Ancient Hill Mandish mountain Chakan.
Anyway, you will not need this historical information in Aligudarz. This city is not where you would want to spend your time in the past, where you could enjoy the present nature.
Aligudarz is located in the mountainous region of Central Zagros. It is 152 km away from Khorramabad and 393 km away from Tehran.
This city, which is 2022 meters above sea level, reaches Khomein, Mahallat, and Arak from the north, Dezful, Koohrang, and Fereydunshahr from the south; It is bordered on the east by Daran, Golpayegan, and Khansar, and on the west by Dorud, Azna, Shazand, Boroujerd, and Khorramabad.
Aligudarz has a mild climate in spring and summer and welcomes tourists. In autumn and winter, cold weather prevails in this region. There are several waterfalls and rivers around the city, and it is considered a watery city. The people of this city mostly work on agricultural lands and produce organic food. Some have small businesses like running a store full of the handicrafts of Aligudarz.
Fritillaries plain in Dalani village is one of the vastest Fritillaries plains in the country. This plain attracts many tourists when it is the season for them to bloom and cover the whole land.
The waterfalls around the city are also spectacular, including Abe Sefid waterfall, Cheshmeh Asar, Chekan waterfall, Wark waterfall, Tinder waterfall, Durak waterfalls, Chong Sheneh waterfall, Darreh Mahi waterfall, and Baranjeh waterfall.
Wark waterfall is a waterfall that could be counted as the twin type. The amount of water that pours down Wark waterfall is abundant. After it originates from the springs above the rocky cliff, it creates the first waterfall, and within 15 meters, it falls from another rock, and its twin is born. Both of the waterfalls find their way into Rudbar River in Lorestan.
Ab-Sefid waterfall is known as the beautiful bride of Iranian waterfalls. This waterfall is in the southeast of this province, in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains, next to the high mountain of Qali Kuh in Zalqi.
You could get to this waterfall by road from the city of Aligudarz. The water of this waterfall comes out of the heart of a tunnel in the depths of a rocky mountain. The height of it is 70 meters and the width of its crown in the high water season is about 8 meters.
As we as the twin Wark waterfall, this one also joins the Rudbar River of Lorestan and eventually flows into River Dez.
Above, we mentioned that Aligudarz is a place to spend time in nature. Agritourism, mountaineering, and hiking are some activities people who decide to travel to Aligudarz could do.
Tamandar mountain in western Barbrood has two peaks, Azna and Darhsar. Ghalihkuh or Ghalikuh is also a destination for climbers.
The historical castle of Bajol, Zaz and Mahro oak forests, Poshtkuh cave, Houzian dam tourist village, Darreh Jari hunting ground, Shat Tami lake, Khaneabad lake, Houzian dam lake, and Mahichal river are among the tourist attractions of this region.
Camping in the plains around Aligudarz or the protected arias around it is an excellent plan.
Aligudarz is one of the cities where the ethnic tribes of Lurs settle. These people have a variety of costumes and different local ingredients for their unique dishes. The language they speak is one of the branches of the Lori language. A social photographer or a culture researcher could find many objects to study.
One of the local dishes of Aligudarz is Ash Kloonak, which they cook in spring. Kaloonak pottage is one of the delicious foods of Aligudarz which is cooked in the spring. Tarkhineh or Kashgineh soup, apple tree stew, sour stew, and Parshkeh soup are other local dishes of Aligudarz.
Organic food is what you could find most in Aligudarz and even take as a souvenir with yourself. Honey and high-quality dairy products such as curd, buttermilk, cereals, legumes, and salmon could fill your baggage. Your travel would defiantly weigh much more!
The best souvenir of Aligudarz is honey and it is because of the live nature of this place. In addition, high-quality dairy products like Kashk, dough, Qare Qurut, grains, beans, salmon fish, wood carving, marquetry products are made here in high quality.
Other souvenirs of this city of Lorestan province are carpets, inlays, mosaics, kilims, and jajim.
Also, there are traditions such as reading Shahnameh in Nowruz and Yalda eve. Yalda is the first night of winter. Its eve is considered the longest night of the year, and it is four days before Christmas eve.
For those who seek somewhere quiet and peaceful, we could recommend Aligudarz.