Pamenar Village

Pamenar Village is located in Shahiun District of Dezful County, Khuzestan Province, about 40 kilometres from the city of Dezful. The village lies on the slopes of the Zagros Range and overlooks the Dez Dam Lake (Shahiun), and it enjoys unrivalled natural scenery and mountain views. Pamenar is regarded as one of the most beautiful and popular tourist villages in Iran and attracts many visitors every year. Traditional adobe (mud-and-straw) houses, oak, fig, jujube (sedr) and palm trees and other native plants, along with plentiful rivers and springs, create an amazing blend of pristine nature and traditional architecture, offering visitors a different and memorable experience.

One of the village's natural attractions is the Dez Dam Lake, also known locally as Shahiun. This artificial lake, covering 6,000 hectares, lies behind the Dez Dam and offers visitors an incomparable view. The calm blue waters of the lake, surrounded by green mountains and unspoiled nature, create a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere that appeals to travellers and nature lovers. One of Pamenar's most interesting and distinctive features is a natural phenomenon that occurs during two months of the year, Azar and Dey. During this period, from about 2 pm, the sun disappears from the villagers' view, so sunset effectively happens much earlier than in other areas. For this reason, villagers used to eat their evening meal in the early hours of dusk, and the expression "Shahayi Sham" ("Shahi dinner") became common among the people of the Shahi region. This is one of Pamenar's cultural and natural attractions.

Alongside these features, the presence of Shadab Castle, or the Shahi Fortress, which overlooks the village, doubles Pamenar's historical and natural importance. This castle, described as one of the largest natural fortresses in Iran, offers extraordinary views of the surroundings. Pamenar is also well equipped with excellent accommodation for tourists, including Kapui Pamenar, Khaneh-i Pamenar and Manar Pamenar, lodgings that give travellers an unforgettable experience of staying in the heart of nature. To reach Pamenar, head south from the city of Dezful and, after about 40 kilometres, you will arrive at the village. The mountain roads and beautiful natural scenery along the way make the trip enjoyable. The best time to visit Pamenar is spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and the landscape is green. Practising responsible nature tourism and protecting the environment when visiting this place is especially important.