Darreh Gahan Waterfall

Despite the fact that most areas of Yazd Province are considered desert and its climate is hot and dry, it has many beautiful and eye-catching natural attractions one of which is Darreh Gahan seasonal waterfall located near Taft County.

Where Is Darreh Gahan Waterfall Located?

Darreh Gahan Waterfall is located in the south of Taft City, which is about 22 kilometers away from Yazd, and due to its location on the foothills of Shirkuh, it is considered one of the summer towns of the province. Shirkuh, with a height of 4075 meters, is one of the peaks of the central mountain range of Iran and is considered the highest peak in Yazd Province. The cool climate of Taft City has resulted in the creation of lush pomegranate orchards.

Features of Darreh Gahan Waterfall

Darreh Gahan Waterfall is a seasonal waterfall that is about 20 meters high. This waterfall can be considered the only important waterfall in Yazd Province, which is located in a valley called “Lakano”. The water of this waterfall is supplied by the gradual melting of snow that flows down Shirkuh. Usually, the highest flow of this waterfall takes place from early spring to early summer, and in the summer and early autumn seasons, when there is less rainfall in the region, the waterfall gets almost dried.

Nature and Attractions of Darreh Gahan Waterfall

The nature around this waterfall has provided the possibility of climbing and created a beautiful recreational resort. There is relatively little vegetation around the waterfall, which is mostly due to the rocky bed of the mountain and the lack of suitable conditions for the growth of trees.

There is an ancient castle in the Darreh Gahan region, which is called “Pahlavan Badi”. This castle is located on top of Malik Mountain, on a high rock, and according to the existing narratives, it was the shelter of a person by the same name. According to some people of the region, Pahlevan Badi had built this castle as his residence after escaping from the cruel king of his time.

According to them, he was a man of great strength and used to get his food from the caravans that traveled by the mountain by throwing a long chain down. It is also narrated that after learning about the existence of this power of his, the king of the time invited Pahlavan to a party and had him killed by planning a conspiracy.

Experts attribute the construction of Pahlavan Badi Castle to the pre-Islamic era. The remains of a windmill can be seen next to this castle, which is referred to as “Paloon” by the local people.

This castle is made of thin bricks and has a total area of 1,500 square meters. Keeping in view the arduous path to the castle the use of bricks for its construction is one of the amazing issues related to this fort.

Tarzjan permanent ice house, Eagle Mountain, Nabati cave and Saanich resorts, Manshad, Nir, Farashah, Tudeh, Bidakhoid, Sokhoid, Zardin, and Tang-e Chenar are other scenic and pristine areas on the edge of Shirkuh, which are near Darreh Gahan Waterfall.

What Is the Origin of the Name of Darreh Gahan?

One of the possibilities for this name is the temporary nature of the waterfall (Gahan meaning at times), in the sense that there is a waterfall in this valley sometimes in the year, and one should not expect this waterfall at all times.

Since some people consider this area to be a suitable place for cattle grazing, they pronounce the name of this valley as “Darreh Gavan”, which means a valley suitable for cows.

In addition to these, there is also a third possibility about the naming of this valley, which has its roots in Zoroastrian rituals and customs. The word “Gahan” refers to a ritual of the Zoroastrians of the area who have been present in this region for thousands of years and used to go to this valley to perform this ritual.

Despite the fact that most areas of Yazd Province are considered desert and its climate is hot and dry, it has many beautiful and eye-catching natural attractions one of which is Darreh Gahan seasonal waterfall located near Taft County.