“Darband Reshi” cave is one of the tourist destinations and places of interest in Gilan province, and it is located in the south of Rishi village in Rahmat Abad and Blokat section of Rudbar city, at an altitude of about 750 meters above sea level. This ancient place includes the large cave “Koilgar” with an approximate length of 60 meters and the cave “Darband B” (Jokovileh) with an approximate length of 30 meters, the mouth of both of which is in the south direction. Darband Reshi cave is considered the only known cave with archeological remains of the old Paleolithic period in the country.
According to the electronic publication of jahane-gardesh, quoting from Kajaro – Every year, nature tourists and adventurers who travel to Diyar Rudbar, include visiting the ancient cave of Darband Rishi in their travel plans, in order to get to know the history and culture of Rudbar, as well as a transition to nature. Have a pristine and green Darband river area.
Introducing Darband Rishi Cave
Darband Reshi cave is located near a village called Ashtrakgah, which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Gilan province and one of the most beautiful places in Rudbar. This village is located at the foot of Darfak mountain and in the heart of the towering forests. In Ashtrakgah village, you can visit the natural waterfall and the extraordinary forest path of the village and enjoy watching the untouched rural texture and its different vegetation.
Most of the charm of Darband Reshi cave is the beauty of the area and its path, and of course entering the caves has always been a special attraction for people. From inside the cave, there is a beautiful view in front of you; As if you want to sit on a stone bed for a few minutes and look ahead to watch a dream paradise.
قدمت باستانی غار دربند رشی
The only ancient site that provides information about some animal species at the end of the Old Paleolithic period is Darband Reshi Cave in Gilan River, which was first identified in 2004.
Some teeth discovered in Darband Rishi cave date back to more than 200,000 years ago
During the archaeological excavations of this cave in 1391, along with stone tools, a number of fossils of different animals such as bear, deer, wild cow and mountain goat were discovered. Most of these remains belonged to an extinct species of bear that was discovered for the first time in Iran. Until now, paleontologists thought that the territory of this bear was from the west of Europe to the east of the Caucasus mountains; But the discovery of its remains in Darband Reshi cave shows that these big bears also lived in the west of Alborz. A few teeth discovered in the cave have been radiometrically dated to more than 200,000 years ago.
During a relatively warm and humid period when the Darfak region was covered with forest, humans temporarily used the Darband cave and used igneous rocks and flint to make stone tools such as scrapers and Darfash.
The scientific chronology of the history of human presence in Iran has gone back 100 years with the results obtained from the findings of Dr. Fereydon Bigleri in the Darband cave of Rashi Gilan and goes back to 200 thousand years ago. This cave was the dwelling place of Stone Age hunters and for this reason it is considered the oldest dated human settlement in Iran.
Tips for visiting Darband Rishi cave
From the slope of the mountain to the cave, you have to walk for about 15 minutes on a relatively smooth path with a slight slope, which is generally not difficult to reach the cave.
Since the cave route does not have springs or water sources, take drinking water with you.
Inside the cave, there is no special attraction or engraving.
It doesn’t take more than two minutes from the beginning to the end of the cave, so you don’t need any special equipment or tools; Only a flashlight or mobile light is enough for lighting.
To visit the cave, it is better to bring sports shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen and, if necessary, a climbing baton, as well as a headlamp or flashlight for entering the cave.
On Tutkabon road, there is a supermarket and a fruit shop for supplies, as well as a gas station. The public toilet is located in Tutkabon square next to the municipality.
The best time to travel to Darband Rishi Cave
The best time to travel to Darband Rishi Cave is the first half of the year; because the green nature is in front of your eyes and the spring fog plays on your face; However, try to walk to the cave before 10 o’clock in the morning or after 5 o’clock in the evening so that the sun doesn’t bother you along the way.
Access route to Darband Rishi cave
If you are interested in visiting Darband Reshi cave, go to Tutkabon exit on Qazvin-Rasht highway after Rudbar. After about 10 kilometers from Tutkabon road, go to Defraz-Paleng Dere and Siddasht road. Continue along the main road until you reach the Darband Reshi cave sign on the right side of the road after Rishi village and before Si Dasht.
From Tehran to Tutkabon exit, it takes 270 km and about three hours, and from there you have another 22 km to Rishi, which will take you about four hours in total. Visiting this cave and exploring the beautiful nature around it can give you a memorable and unique experience of traveling to Rudbar.
Darband Rishi cave address: Gilan province, Rudbar city, Rahmatabad and Bloket sections, south of Rishi village
Attractions near Darband Rishi Cave
In addition to visiting the Darband Reshi cave, it is also possible to visit the beautiful Si Dasht region, which often has fog in spring and summer. Si Dasht welcomes tourists with green plains and beautiful valleys such as the Leopard Valley. Strawberries are the main product of Yilaq Si Dasht and it is interesting to know that in June every year a strawberry festival is held there and many tourists go to Yilaq Si Dasht to participate in this festival and buy fresh local strawberries.
Darfak Mountain is also located near Darband Reshi Cave, which attracts many hikers and nature lovers. Darfak peak is the roof of Gilan province and a silent volcano, which is located between the two cities of Rudbar and Siahkol, and the natural beauty of the Shirkoh forest is spread on its slopes.
Bijar city is a village of Rahmatabad and Blokat districts of Rudbar city, which is considered a beautiful and pleasant place to spend leisure time due to the Bijar dam and the forests around it, and it is the destination of many people on holidays. You can also go fishing in Bijar dam.
The Director General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Gilan Province recently announced the numbering of the access route to the 230,000-year-old Darband Rudbar cave as the first early human settlement in Iran.
common questions
Reshi Kej Darband Cave
Where is Darband Rishi cave?
Darband Reshi cave is located in the south of Reshi village in Rahmat Abad and Blockat section of Rudbar city in Gilan province.
How ancient is Darband Rishi cave?
The existence of humans in Darband Rishi cave dates back to 200 thousand years BC.
How can we go to Darband Rishi cave?
On the Qazvin-Rasht highway, after Rudbar, go towards the Tutkabon exit. After about 10 kilometers from Tutkabon road, the road to Defraz-Paleng Dareh road and become thirty. Continue along the main road until you reach the Darband Reshi cave sign on the right side of the road after Rishi village and before Si Dasht.
Do you need special equipment to visit Darband Rishi cave?
You don’t need any special equipment or tools to visit Darband Rishi cave; Only a flashlight or mobile light is enough for lighting.
Cover photo from Instagram @gardeshgarish
Author: Siddiqa Shojaei
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