Saed News: Kolmakareh Cave is one of the must-see places in Lorestan Province, located in Poldokhtar, and is considered one of the most mysterious historical and natural caves in Iran.
Saed News: Kolmakareh Cave is one of the most fascinating natural and historical attractions in Lorestan province, located in the city of Pol-e Dokhtar. It is considered one of the most mysterious caves in Iran.
According to the Saed News analytical and news outlet, citing Fararu, Iran is filled with ancient hills and historical sites that date back to the dawn of humanity. Kolmakareh Cave, located in Lorestan's Pol-e Dokhtar, is one of Iranβs most mysterious natural and historical caves. This cave, believed to have housed the sixth largest treasure in the world, has many intriguing stories surrounding it. In what follows, we explore the caveβs discovery, its antiquity, and the historical artifacts found there.
Address: Lorestan Province, Pol-e Dokhtar County, village of Taq-e Malek Hossein
Kolmakareh Cave is a tourist attraction near a village called Taq-e Malek Hossein, on the eastern side of one of the last rocky valleys of the limestone Melleh mountain. Since the entrance of the cave is about 1.5 meters below its opening, it remained hidden from view for a long time. There is debate about the exact location of the caveβsome locals of Pol-e Dokhtar claim it belongs to their region, while others from Rumeshkan do the same. However, officially, it is registered under the jurisdiction of Pol-e Dokhtar County.
Kolmakareh Cave was registered as a national heritage site of Iran on August 13, 2005, with the number 13119.
To reach the cave, part of the route must be traveled by car and part on foot. From Pol-e Dokhtar, drive along the road by the northern bank of the Kashkan River for about 12 kilometers toward the village of Darreh Bagh. Then hike the mountainous terrain to the caveβs entrance. The cave mouth faces west, and to enter it, you must descend 10 meters with a rope into a 100-meter-deep valley.
Kolmakarehβs story is full of mystery. The cave dates back approximately 2,700 years, and some believe it was a burial site for the wealth of Sassanid kings and one of the key treasuries of ancient Iranian empires such as the Achaemenids and Sassanids. Others link it to the Neo-Elamites or pre-Achaemenid periods, suggesting the treasure was composed of royal gifts and offerings.
One story says that after Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and Mesopotamia, the temple treasures from Babylon were moved to this cave from Susa. Another version claims the treasure was hidden in the mountains of Pol-e Dokhtar during Alexander the Great's invasion of Iran and was guarded by four chosen men who each buried the previous one after their deaths. Skeletons believed to belong to these guards were found during recent discoveries.
An archaeologist who explored the cave believes the first chamber served as a burial site with at least 12 interments.
Recently, Iranian researcher Rasoul Beshash discovered inscriptions that reveal the name of a royal family from a previously unknown land. The treasure likely belonged to the Samati (Samatureh) kingdom, founded by a king named Amirish, son of Dabala, who ruled a small region in southern Lorestan during the Neo-Elamite era. Some scholars, however, believe the treasure is not linked to a specific kingdom and may consist of spoils reclaimed by the Kassites, the original inhabitants of Lorestan, from Antigonusβ troops, one of Alexanderβs generals.
"Kolmakareh" is formed from three words in the Luri dialect:
"Kol" β a type of wild goat with curved horns.
"Ma" or "Man" β meaning shelter or residence.
"Kareh" β a type of fig-like inedible tree that once stood at the cave entrance.
Thus, "Kolmakareh" means βShelter of the Wild Goat and Fig Tree.β
Many accounts exist about the caveβs discovery. In 1989 (1368 SH), a local hunter or shepherd named Aziz Kolmakarehei discovered the cave while following a wild goat that entered and exited the cave repeatedly. He found an ancient coin on his first visit and, realizing its value after showing it to an antiques dealer, returned better equipped and began removing and selling more items. Eventually, the Cultural Heritage Organization learned of the cave, but by then most treasures had been looted by locals, smugglers, and artifact dealers.
In a recent documentary, Aziz Kolmakarehei gives a different version: he was neither a hunter nor a shepherd, but a heavy vehicle driver from nearby villages. He claims his uncle showed him the cave in 1971 (1350 SH), and he finally entered it in 1978 (1357 SH). He fired his gun at the ceiling of the cave, causing gold and silver coins to rain down. Later, he included his cousin in the secret. They found treasures around columns, capitals, and niches, and believed at least eight or nine other hoards existed. However, their arrest led to the caveβs exposure. Between 1989 and 1990, up to 50β70 people daily were seen looting the cave.
Geologists consider it more of a natural site than a historical one. The cave is filled with beautiful natural features and spectacular columns.
Composed of four large halls, each with sediment columns and majestic stalactites and stalagmites, some as high as 15 meters.
The known space is 4,300 mΒ², with 670 meters of connected passageways.
Entrance space is about 20 meters long and 8 meters wide, located 550 meters above ground level.
The first hall served as a guard station and had a 2 mΒ² room built of stones and mud, now destroyed. Human-made stalagmites have also been damaged.
The second hall contained large and small jars possibly used for daily storage. The third and fourth halls, where the main treasure was kept, are still poorly documented.
Most artifacts, including figurines, plates, and rhytons, are now housed in museums abroad, such as:
Louvre Museum (France)
British Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)
In Iran, they are kept in:
National Museum of Iran (Tehran)
Falak-ol-Aflak Museum (Khorramabad)
Famous finds include:
Almond-fish bowls
Rhytons (animal-shaped vessels)
The most iconic: the Griffin Cup (Jam-e Shirdal), repatriated by the U.S. in 2013.
First items found by the Islamic Revolutionary Committee in Pol-e Dokhtar:
A gold mask
6 silver animal ears
A winged goat leg
Curved metal rods
Silver ingots
Parts of animal figurines
Over 114 artifacts are held in the Falak-ol-Aflak Museum, 100 in the National Museum, and others scattered globally. Itβs estimated that 2,300 items from the cave are worldwide, out of a total of 5,000, of which only 10% remain in Iran.
Spring and summer are ideal, although spring can bring cold, rain, and floods.
Autumn and winter are less suitable but attract experienced cavers with proper gear.
Physical fitness and proper caving equipment are essential.
A 10-meter descent is requiredβnot suitable for children or untrained individuals.
Natural light only penetrates 10 metersβa headlamp or flashlight is mandatory.
Unauthorized excavation is severely punished.
No amenities or shops nearby.
Cell signal is weak around the cave.
Entry is free.
Helt Gorge
Address: Lorestan Province, Pol-e Dokhtar, 90 km from Zaal Highway toward Andimeshk
Formed over millennia by water erosion, it's 4 km long and a popular ecotourism spot with springs and water-based activities.
Khazineh Valley
Address: Lorestan Province, Pol-e Dokhtar, KhorramabadβAndimeshk Highway, Khazineh Village
Known as the Grand Canyon of Iran, it features the tallest suspension bridge in Iran and the Middle East. The Simareh River flows through it, forming stunning landscapes.
