Darrehshahr County
Encyclopedia
Darreh Shahr County is a county
in Ilam Province
in Iran
. The capital of the county is Darreh Shahr
. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 56,346, in 11,487 families. The county is subdivided into three districts: the Central District
, Badreh District
, and Majin District
. The county has two cities: Darreh Shahr
and Badreh
.
and Luri
mostly but all of the residents of Badreh
speak Kurdish
.
The remains of the Sassanide city of Dareh Shahr is situated between new Dareh Shahr and the Bahman Abad Village. Presently, some vestiges of arches, ceilings, dome-shaped ceilings as well as indications of passages, alleys and urban connection network are visible in the texture of the ruins.
There is a fire-temple in the city of Dareh Shahr which is a four-arched building which is locally called Taaq. Originally the building was constructed by rubble stone and gypsum, and has recently been repaired.
This Sassanide bridge has been constructed in the confluence of the Seimareh and Kashkan Rivers. Although it has been repaired several times during the past, it is almost in a ruined state now.
There are many crevices and caves one of them is known as the Kulkani Cave. The entrance of the cave is 30 meters long and there is a small pond built of stone and Sarouj (plaster of lime and ashes or sands). In addition, there are 12 other caves similar to the dwellings of pre-historic man. Some vestiges like earthenware pieces and other objects belonging to the mid 1st millennium BC. have been discovered in this cave.
Located 6 kilometers southeast of Dareh Shahr, the ruins of this fort can be seen in the entrance of the village with the same name with 150 years of antiquity. Construction materials indicate that it belongs to the Qajar period. The walls of the fort are delicately made of stone and gypsum. There is also the remains of a water mill.
The same resembles the Shrine of Daniel the Prophet in Susa with a northern entrance. It is 15 m. long and 9 m. wide with 8 pillars. There is an adytum in its southern wall which is 180 cm. high. At the lower part there is an inscription with plaster work and adorned with floral design and sacred verses. This mausoleum is one of the important places of pilgrimage in Dareh Shahr.
Baba Seifedin Mausoleum in located in the north east of Dareh Shahr in the outskirts of a hill known as Chahar Taq. There are two tombs in the mausoleum without any description on the tombstones. There is a small inscription on the top of the entrance door which indicates the date of its repair. The materials of the building are stone, gypsum and brick. There are several trees around the mausoleum which are hundreds of years old.
It is located among the agricultural lands in Jamshid Abad Village north east of Dareh Shahr. In excavations carried out here, 4 storeys have been appeared. The earthenware objects obtained in the first floor are simple. Moreover, some flint blades and carved stones have been discovered there as well.
It is about 5.5 kilometers from Tikhan Hill, and is larger and older than it. Its antiquity dates back to the late 3rd millennium BC., but its first floor relates to the Sassanide period. Some colored and engraved earthenware objects have been discovered in the basement of the building. Certain parts of lower floors had been allocated as a graveyard. The upper graves belong to the Zoroastrian period. It is said that this place was a pottery making vicinity so to speak.
This bridge of 18 arches has been constructed on the Seimareh River 4 kilometers north of Dareh Shahr opposite the Chamkalan Village. The antiquity of this bridge dates back to the Sassanide period, but it was used till later centuries. The bridge is directly connected to the remains of the Sassanide monuments in Dareh Shahr.
This narrow and high valley is one of the most important and strategic points of the region, located in the western side of the Dareh Shahr - Pol-e-Dokhtar Road. This gorge, which is also called the Bahram Hunting Field, contains several historical monuments in its entrance and on the hard rocks like the ruins of a Sassanide castle which is built of stone and gypsum with stone stairs and four connected water reservoirs which are worth seeing.
Counties of Iran
The provinces of Iran further subdivided into counties called shahrestan , an area inside an ostan, and consists of a city centre, few bakhsh and many villages around them. There are usually a few cities and rural agglomerations in each county. Rural agglomerations are a collection of a number...
in Ilam Province
Ilam Province
Ilam Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the south-west of the country, bordering Iraq. Its provincial center is the city of Ilam. Covering an area of 19,086 square kilometers, the cities of the province are Ilam, Mehran, Dehloran, Dareh Shahr, Sarable, Eyvan, Abdanan and Arkwaz...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The capital of the county is Darreh Shahr
Darreh Shahr
Darreh Shahr or Dar-i Shahr is a city in and the capital of Darreh Shahr County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 18,214, in 3,851 families. The ruined ancient city of Seymareh is located in the southern part of Darreh Shahr, and has been extensively excavated by...
. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 56,346, in 11,487 families. The county is subdivided into three districts: the Central District
Central District (Darreh Shahr County)
The Central District of Darreh Shahr County is a district in Darreh Shahr County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 34,983, in 7,176 families. The District has one city: Darreh Shahr....
, Badreh District
Badreh District
Badreh District is a district in Darreh Shahr County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 16,478, in 3,382 families. The District has one city: Badreh....
, and Majin District
Majin District
Majin District is a district in Darreh Shahr County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 4,885, in 929 families. The District is entirely rural....
. The county has two cities: Darreh Shahr
Darreh Shahr
Darreh Shahr or Dar-i Shahr is a city in and the capital of Darreh Shahr County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 18,214, in 3,851 families. The ruined ancient city of Seymareh is located in the southern part of Darreh Shahr, and has been extensively excavated by...
and Badreh
Badreh
Badreh is a city in and the capital of Badreh District, in Darreh Shahr County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 3,775, in 868 families....
.
Language situation
People speak LakiLaki language
Laki is a Northwestern Iranian language. Although it is usually grouped with Southern Kurdish dialects, Ethnologue classifies it as a fourth subgroup of Kurdish....
and Luri
Luri language
Lori or Luri is a collection of Southwestern Iranian languages which are mainly spoken by the Lurs and Bakhtiari people in the Iranian provinces of Loristan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and parts of Khuzestan and Esfahan province and Fars provinces...
mostly but all of the residents of Badreh
Badreh
Badreh is a city in and the capital of Badreh District, in Darreh Shahr County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 3,775, in 868 families....
speak Kurdish
Kurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
.
Darrehshahr Ancient City
The remains of the Sassanide city of Dareh Shahr is situated between new Dareh Shahr and the Bahman Abad Village. Presently, some vestiges of arches, ceilings, dome-shaped ceilings as well as indications of passages, alleys and urban connection network are visible in the texture of the ruins.
Fire Temple
There is a fire-temple in the city of Dareh Shahr which is a four-arched building which is locally called Taaq. Originally the building was constructed by rubble stone and gypsum, and has recently been repaired.
Gavmishan Bridge
This Sassanide bridge has been constructed in the confluence of the Seimareh and Kashkan Rivers. Although it has been repaired several times during the past, it is almost in a ruined state now.
Majeen Gorge
There are many crevices and caves one of them is known as the Kulkani Cave. The entrance of the cave is 30 meters long and there is a small pond built of stone and Sarouj (plaster of lime and ashes or sands). In addition, there are 12 other caves similar to the dwellings of pre-historic man. Some vestiges like earthenware pieces and other objects belonging to the mid 1st millennium BC. have been discovered in this cave.
Sheikh Makan Fort
Located 6 kilometers southeast of Dareh Shahr, the ruins of this fort can be seen in the entrance of the village with the same name with 150 years of antiquity. Construction materials indicate that it belongs to the Qajar period. The walls of the fort are delicately made of stone and gypsum. There is also the remains of a water mill.
Jaber Mausoleum
The same resembles the Shrine of Daniel the Prophet in Susa with a northern entrance. It is 15 m. long and 9 m. wide with 8 pillars. There is an adytum in its southern wall which is 180 cm. high. At the lower part there is an inscription with plaster work and adorned with floral design and sacred verses. This mausoleum is one of the important places of pilgrimage in Dareh Shahr.
Baba Seifedin Mausoleum
Baba Seifedin Mausoleum in located in the north east of Dareh Shahr in the outskirts of a hill known as Chahar Taq. There are two tombs in the mausoleum without any description on the tombstones. There is a small inscription on the top of the entrance door which indicates the date of its repair. The materials of the building are stone, gypsum and brick. There are several trees around the mausoleum which are hundreds of years old.
Tikhan (Tiqan)
It is located among the agricultural lands in Jamshid Abad Village north east of Dareh Shahr. In excavations carried out here, 4 storeys have been appeared. The earthenware objects obtained in the first floor are simple. Moreover, some flint blades and carved stones have been discovered there as well.
Koozeh Garan Hill
It is about 5.5 kilometers from Tikhan Hill, and is larger and older than it. Its antiquity dates back to the late 3rd millennium BC., but its first floor relates to the Sassanide period. Some colored and engraved earthenware objects have been discovered in the basement of the building. Certain parts of lower floors had been allocated as a graveyard. The upper graves belong to the Zoroastrian period. It is said that this place was a pottery making vicinity so to speak.
Jam Namesht Bridge
This bridge of 18 arches has been constructed on the Seimareh River 4 kilometers north of Dareh Shahr opposite the Chamkalan Village. The antiquity of this bridge dates back to the Sassanide period, but it was used till later centuries. The bridge is directly connected to the remains of the Sassanide monuments in Dareh Shahr.
Bahram-e-Choobin Gorge
This narrow and high valley is one of the most important and strategic points of the region, located in the western side of the Dareh Shahr - Pol-e-Dokhtar Road. This gorge, which is also called the Bahram Hunting Field, contains several historical monuments in its entrance and on the hard rocks like the ruins of a Sassanide castle which is built of stone and gypsum with stone stairs and four connected water reservoirs which are worth seeing.