Gudbungah Cave

In spite of being situated in a plain and desert area, Yazd Province houses many interesting caves. According to available statistics, there are at least 80 caves in this province, in some of which traces of prehistoric human life have been found. Some of the caves of Yazd Province - such as the Ashkaft Yazdan Cave in Meybod City, which hosted the sacred fire of Zoroastrians for many years - have even found their way into history and stories and have taken on a sacred aspect. The caves of Yazd Province can be a suitable destination for tourists interested in natural attractions. One of the important features of these caves is the variety of their shape and structure, which makes each of these caves special. Gudbungah Cave is one of the most beautiful and spectacular caves of Yazd Province, visiting which can be very fun in terms of nature tourism and cave climbing.

Where Is Gudbungah Cave Located?

Gudbungah Cave is 17 km away from Nadushan City, and Hafthar Village is the closest settlement to it. The cave is located among hills and low mountains, which is a habitat for various species of mammals and birds, such as rams and sheep, goats and wild goats, partridges, and see-see partridge. Two grassland and mountainous ecosystems can be identified in the surrounding areas of the cave. The vegetation of the grassland part is very thin, and the mountainous part houses such species as wild almonds, wild figs, and wild pistachios. Echis (common names: saw-scaled vipers and carpet vipers) also live in this area. This type of viper is one of the small types of snakes the length of which does not go beyond 90 cm. Due to the presence of this species, numerous cases of snakebite on humans and livestock are reported in this region every year. According to the studies conducted in the region, the number of identified plant species that grow in this area is more than 250, of which 44 species grow exclusively in Iran.

The Structure and Features of Gudbungah Cave

This cave is located 11 kilometers west of the “Marvar No Hunting Area” of Meybod City. Keeping in view the form of the faults and the geological structure of the area, experts are of the opinion that the age of the cave dates back to the pre-Cretaceous period (about 150 million years ago). The cave has an almost circular opening with a diameter of about 9 meters. The entrance of the cave looks like a well, which is 15 meters long and its slope is about 50 percent. This steep entrance leads to the main hall of the cave.

The signs of some birds, including a pigeon can be seen in the main hall of the cave. However, because sunlight cannot penetrate this part of the cave, no plants grow in it.

The floor of this huge hall has soft and sticky soil. The very large and high stalagmites in this hall will amaze every viewer. These beautiful natural structures were formed as a result of the accumulation of sediments that water droplets carried down from the roof of the cave over hundreds of thousands of years. Currently, due to the severe drought in the region, there is no trace of water in the cave except during the rains. The biggest stalagmite of the main hall is about five meters high. The dimensions of the main hall are about 18 into 35 meters. Several column-like stone heaps have been formed at the end of this hall, which are stretched from the floor to the ceiling of the cave.

Being located at a long distance from human settlements, Gudbungah Cave has so far been unknown and untouched and has been spared from human activities such as mining. For this reason, the cave deposits and its internal structure are completely untouched. Of course, the drought and the interruption of water flow, which is the most important factor in transporting sediments to the inner parts of the cave and creating natural protrusions and decorations, have had negative effects on the caving process. Autumn and winter are the best time to visit the cave. In early spring, the nature of the region is greener than ever and can present beautiful sights to tourists. Exploring this beautiful cave is not technically difficult and does not require advanced equipment, but it is necessary to use suitable shoes and basic caving equipment and to take water and food.