Quri Qala Cave

The water cave of Quri Qala is 65 million years old and is the largest water cave after Ali-Sadr Cave in Iran.

Quri Qala Cave is located in Kermanshah city. The Kurds people called Gora Qala. Gora means large and Qala means castle. Later a village was built there, and a cave was found, all known as the Quri Qala Cave. This cave located on the slopes of Mount Shaho.  Quri Qala Cave registered in the list of Natural Heritage Works.
The length of this cave is more than 12 kilometers and is about 3,000 meters deep. The temperature in the cave is about 7 to 11 degrees Celsius and its humidity is between 40 and 60 percent. The cave is millions of years old but was discovered in 1976 by an English and French cave group.

Speleological groups traveled and mapped this cave twelve kilometers in 1989. Inside the cave, there are winding paths. The first large enclosure in the cave is called Mary Hall. The hall is full of beautiful cressets of various shapes. One of the cressets looks like Maryam (AS).
At a thousand meters deep, you will find one of the most beautiful and magnificent water pools in the world. There are curtain-like cressets in the area where if you touch each one, it makes a sound. The name of this hall is Beethoven.
When you reach a depth of 1,500 meters, you will see the Bride's Hall. The bride's hall has white and shiny crystal stones.
At a depth of 2700 meters, you will see several waterfalls at the height of 10 to 14 meters, which is astonishing to see. There is also a 220-meter tunnel in the Quri Qala Cave, known as the Purgatory Tunnel.

Archaeologists believe this cave was home to hunters about 12000 to 5,000 years ago. After seeing so many surprises in the cave, you come out of it and enter the valley where this cave is located.

• What is the best time to go?
  The best time to travel to Kermanshah is from early June to early September. If you want to travel to Kermanshah in the spring, June is the best time because the weather is gradually warming up. Do not travel to Kermanshah in winter because it has cold winters.

• Getting there?
  From Kermanshah to Quri Qala Cave is 108 km, about two hours’ drive and is 37 km from Paveh. When you reach Paveh. Of course, the cave is closed to Ravansar than Paveh, and it is 27 km away. Move from Kermanshah to Paveh. Continue to Qazanchi-Paveh - Kermanshah Three-way junction towards Paveh. Pass through the town of Ravansar and follow the signs, you will reach the village of Quri Qala Cave. This cave is on the right side of the road. All roads are asphalted and have traffic signs.