Saed News: About 50 years ago, this cave was discovered by Mr. Najafi, but due to its unknown nature, people avoided visiting it. In 1998, two elders from the village approached the regional water and informed the official in charge that a mysterious and legendary cave, known as the Hell Cave, was located on the outskirts of Eshghabad.
According to the Saad News analytical news outlet, quoting Fararu, the Hell Cave of Bardaskan is a historical cave dating back 50 million years, featuring breathtaking natural wonders. In this article, we introduce you to this remarkable cave.
The Hell Cave of Bardaskan is an ancient cave located near Eshghabad, Bardaskan, and Tabas. Its name comes from the heat inside rather than its fearsome nature. In fact, the interior of the cave is astonishingly beautiful.
According to Dr. Ariyamanesh, a geologist and university professor, the cave is approximately 50 million years old. The presence of massive and stunning rock formations and stalactites, undoubtedly centuries old, captivates every visitor.
The Hell Cave is located 195 kilometers from Tabas and 85 kilometers from Eshghabad, Bardaskan, in the Kouh Yakhab district. It lies north of Kuh Sefid Tappeh Taq, in the Dastgerdan region of Tabas County, South Khorasan Province, approximately 15 kilometers from the Eshghabad-Bardaskan road.
To reach the cave, one must travel a 40-kilometer dirt road from the village of Teh Taq.
Around 50 years ago, this cave was discovered by Mr. Najafi. However, due to its mysterious nature, people avoided visiting it. In 1998, two elders from the village of Eshghabad reported to the regional water and sewage department that a terrifying and legendary cave, known as the Hell Cave, existed on the outskirts of Eshghabad, and no one dared to approach it.
A group of 10 local officials and members of the water and sewage department, led by Mr. Rostami, the Dastgerdan district governor, entered the cave for the first time, conducting an exploration with the necessary equipment.
The Hell Cave is essentially a pit cave, with a depth of 50 meters and a length of 350 meters. Until recently, few people dared to descend into this 50-meter chasm. Entering the cave requires proper mountaineering and caving equipment, along with a 30-meter rope.
Inside, marble-like stalactites create one of the most mesmerizing sights, reminiscent of Ali Sadr Cave in Hamedan at first glance. The Hell Cave of Iran has four entrances, and chemical activities within it are ongoing, making it one of the few fully active and living limestone caves in Iran.
During an exploratory visit in 2008, a water reservoir measuring 6 by 2 meters was discovered inside the cave. Despite recent droughts, the cave's terminal pool still holds water. By late autumn, water depth inside the cave typically ranges between 20 to 40 centimeters.
Remnants of animal bones, including goat, dog, hyena, and snake skeletons, have been found inside, covered by layers of calcite.
Visually striking geological formations within the cave include white cauliflower-like clusters, blue needle-shaped formations, flowstones, spongy structures, and small draperies.
In 2015, attempts to extract marble from the cave caused damage to its entrance, sparking widespread reactions in the media and among environmental enthusiasts.
Although the Hell Cave has been recognized as a valuable natural wonder by the Iranian Caving Association, it does not hold archaeological or human habitation significance, making it difficult to impose strict mining restrictions.
Due to environmentalists' efforts to preserve the cave as a natural tourist attraction, mining activities were banned within a one-kilometer radius of the entrance. However, permits for manganese and marble extraction near the cave were still issued, leading to the complete destruction of the cave’s entrance by a rogue miner.
