Dorud is the kind of place you drive to for one waterfall and end up falling hopelessly in love with the whole mountain — waterfalls, crystal lakes, caves and a drum-sounding well all vie for your camera.
The enchanting city of Dorud, Lorestan Province, in eastern Lorestan, with its mild climate and majestic mountains, has earned the title “the capital of nature in Iran.” Dorud has become a refuge for travelers who want to step into the cradle of nature’s wonders and see the most attractive sights in the area.
The importance of Dorud for tourism goes beyond geographic coordinates. This city, with its remarkable natural and historical attractions, has become a haven for nature lovers and cultural tourists.
Rushing, multiple waterfalls — among Dorud’s best-known sights — are so numerous that they have given the city the nickname “the land of rushing waterfalls.” In this article from Saed News Travel Magazine we introduce Dorud’s most attractive and popular sights.
Dorud is famous for its pristine nature. Each of the small and large waterfalls in the area has its own beauty and can provide a peaceful setting for nature-lovers.
The Garmeh Waterfall, also called Cham-Chit Waterfall, is one of Dorud’s sights. It is located 23 kilometres from Dorud along the railway road. The waterfall’s main source is the stepped heights of Mount “Bashar Source.” The length of the Garmeh waterfall is 500 metres and it finally flows into the Sezar River. Some locals call this waterfall Cham-Chit because of its proximity to the Cham-Chit area.
The Bisheh Waterfall, also known as Pouran Waterfall, with its 48-metre drop, lies 30 kilometres from Dorud in the heart of the Zagros Mountains. The waterfall is fed by several springs in the Zagros highlands. Interestingly, Bisheh Waterfall is registered on Iran’s Natural Heritage list and enjoys broad popularity among tourists from around the world.
There is a recreation area for visitors at this waterfall, offering facilities such as restrooms, wooden cabins and bathing areas.
Location: Bisheh Waterfall on Google Maps.
This waterfall, one of Dorud’s sights and also known as Espar Valley, is seven kilometres from Dorud and located in the Espar Valley. The first thing that strikes you on arrival is not only the torrent of water but the enormous surrounding mountains that enhance the site’s beauty.
Location: Oznader Waterfall on Google Maps.
The transparency of Gahar Lake’s water is such that you can clearly see fish at depths of four metres. The lake’s source is the Tāpaleh River, which lies 35 kilometres from Dorud. Gahar Lake — also called the jewel of Oshtorankuh — requires a long walk to reach, but rewards visitors with extraordinary beauty. At the lake, you can try water skiing, mountaineering, boating and fishing.
Location: Gahar Lake on Google Maps.
The Vaqt o Sa'at (Time and Hour) Spring is about 14 kilometres from Dorud and flows into a cave where a 15-metre waterfall falls onto the cave floor. Once you enter the cave you will notice that the flow stops after about fifty minutes and then begins again two hours later.
Location: Vaqt o Sa'at spring on Google Maps.
The Azgan Wetland is located a few steps from the Garmeh Waterfall. This seasonal wetland is filled by the region’s rainfall. The best time to visit Azgan Wetland is spring, when rains have filled its basin.
One of the most important sights in Dorud is the Sezar River, which passes through important areas such as Azna, Aligudarz and Oshtorinan. The river’s course continues toward southern Iran and bestows spectacular vistas on the Zagros mountains.
Location: Sezar River on Google Maps.
To reach this beautiful and exciting cave, one must drive about 25 kilometres from southern Dorud. Manoo Cave is in the village of Gurkash and its entrance opens to the sky. Inside you will discover three chambers; going into each requires adequate mountaineering equipment.
Vaqt o Sa'at Cave is located on the slopes of Pariz Mountain under the Vaqt o Sa'at spring mentioned earlier. Note that reaching this cave requires a relatively long and hard hike; so be sure to bring comfortable shoes and any necessary gear.
Location: Vaqt o Sa'at Cave on Google Maps.
The Cave of the Dead lies within a mountain near the village of Derijan and is about a half-hour walk from the village. Many local legends surround this cave — some say villagers sheltered inside during Mongol invasions, and that their remains remain within the cave.
Location: Cave of the Dead on Google Maps.
One of Dorud’s most attractive and popular natural sights, Pariz Mountain rises to 3,070 metres and draws many visitors. The famous Neygast Gorge, through which the Vaqt o Sa'at waterfall runs, is on this mountain.
Another marvel of this mountain is the “drum well” (the drum-sounding well), a chasm that seems to emit a drum-like sound; locals attribute the noise to high-pressure air jets but the exact cause remains unclear.
Qarun Mountain, some fifteen kilometres from Dorud, is one of Lorestan’s popular tourist attractions and a prized Dorud sight. With its beautiful springs and oak forests, it is particularly spectacular in spring.
Lili Gorge, formed by wind and water erosion in the Zagros cliffs, displays astonishing shapes and is one of Dorud’s scenic places.
If you drive about fifteen kilometres from Dorud toward Borujerd you will come upon Azizabad Gorge — a heavenly ravine dotted with waterfalls of varying heights that draw visitors.
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If you have ever seen inverted tulips, you know how thrilling it is to see them in vast numbers. The Rezso field of inverted tulips near Dorud is exactly that spectacle. The field is 10 kilometres from Dorud, near the village of Dareh Espar. Spring is the best season to see these flowers in full bloom.
Neygah Valley — also called Negar Valley — is only six kilometres from Gahar Lake and is one of Dorud’s most pristine and attractive destinations, popular with mountaineers and serious nature travelers.
Chakan Valley lies in southern Dorud and is part of the Shoolabad highlands. If you are interested in historical sites, don’t miss the old settlements and castles of the area.
Although Dorud is best known for its famous waterfalls, the city also has historical sites to explore.
The Afravandeh Bathhouse dates back to the Zand era and was registered in 2006 as an Iran national heritage site. Located 40 kilometres from Dorud, it was constructed of raw bricks, mortar, sarooj (traditional lime mortar) and stone.
The Chalan Chulan Bridge dates back to the Sasanian period — roughly 400 years ago — and was registered as a national historic monument in 1997. This bridge is associated with an historical episode: during World War II, Allied forces passed through and American forces allegedly aided the Soviet army across the bridge.
Residents of Dorud find spiritual comfort in the city’s religious sites. On a trip to Dorud you can visit these places and experience their quiet atmosphere.
Imamzadeh Zeyd ibn Ali is located in the old market in Khorramabad and was originally built by Badr ibn Hasanwayh. Beyond its spiritual significance, the structure contains significant historical and architectural elements. Look closely at the inscriptions and brick minarets to appreciate the past’s architectural splendor.
The shrine of Pir Abdullah, 25 kilometres from Dorud, sits in the Zagros range and has become a recreational site for visitors. Notably, the largest fish-farming farm in Lorestan was established at this shrine.
Although nature-tourism provides much of Dorud’s leisure appeal, the city also offers recreational sites.
This recreational area on the slopes of Baba-Hur covers 500 hectares and is one of Dorud’s largest attractions. Many development plans — a hotel, amusement park, pools and rock parks — are proposed for the site.
This 50-year-old forest park is about fifteen minutes from Dorud city centre. The entrance road, with its winding path, creates a spectacular view; many nature lovers visit Dorud just to drive this road.
Daneshjoo Park — known for its colourful lights and impressive sculptures — draws many visitors. Local families frequent the park on weekends.
Located centrally in Dorud, Azadegan Park is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Established more than a decade ago, it holds local historical value. After a day of sightseeing, the park is a pleasant place to rest and enjoy its diverse vegetation.
If you enjoy markets, Dorud’s shopping centres are part of the city’s attractions.
Pasargad Shopping Complex in Imam Reza Square is a good place for souvenir shopping in Dorud.
Zeytun Passage, located centrally on Rah Ahan Street, is smaller than Pasargad but still contains much that visitors may need.
To have a memorable trip to Dorud, bring comfortable walking gear — many spots require long hikes and mountain walking. Also carry a camera: Dorud’s spectacular scenery is ideal for photography. Try local traditional dishes and speak with friendly locals — they often enrich the visit with stories and hospitality.
