Varian Village

Varian is a village in Karaj County, Alborz Province, located in Adaran Rural District, Asara District. When the Amir Kabir Dam (Karaj Dam) was built, much of the village's original area was submerged, and its residents were forced to move to the surrounding heights. Since then, Varian has taken on a new form beside the dam lake, and thanks to its unique location it now sits among clear waters and lush green mountains. According to the 2016 census (1395 in the Solar Hijri calendar), the village has a population of only 39 people in 15 households. Because land routes are so limited, Varian can be reached only by boat, which is why the village has rightly been called "Iran's only blue village."

The village has no road, no landline telephone and no conventional electricity grid, and these conditions have kept it largely unspoiled and free from environmental damage. Most of Varian's houses stand on the mountain slope next to the lake, and the surroundings are marked by mountain scenery and mountain vegetation. The villagers speak Tati, and before the dam was built, people's livelihoods were based mainly on farming, animal husbandry, beekeeping and handicrafts such as giveh (traditional handwoven shoes) making and karbas (coarse cotton cloth) weaving. Varian's vegetation includes fruit trees such as walnut, apple, peach and citrus, which, together with wild plants and mountain flowers, enrich the region's biodiversity. Songbirds and a variety of native insects are also found in the area.

To visit Varian, first take the Tehran–Karaj Freeway and, after the Fardis Bridge, join the Chalus Road. After about 25 kilometres, you will reach the Amir Kabir Dam area, where boats are stationed beside the dam lake to carry visitors to Varian. These boats usually run at set times of day, particularly in the morning and afternoon. Please note that entering the village requires prior arrangement or an invitation from the villagers, and unrestricted open access for the general public is not possible. The best time to visit Varian is spring and summer, when the lake's water level is high and the weather is mild and pleasant. While visiting, responsible nature tourism is very important: take your rubbish back with you, do not light fires in unauthorised places, and respect the natural peace and quiet of this valuable ecosystem.