Kija Kerchal Cave

Kija Kerchal Cave (also called Kijak Chal) is located in the forested highlands overlooking Pitsara village in Doab, Savadkuh, Mazandaran Province. The cave lies in the face of a 60-metre limestone wall, and its entrance opens 23 metres above the ground. The domed ceiling, about 7 metres above the cave floor, is shaped like a cap. The entrance sits beneath a 4.5-metre-long overhang, which gives the cave a unique character. Kija Kerchal is considered one of the region's natural masterpieces. Because of its unusual location and features, it is very hard to reach, and it can only be entered with full equipment.

The interior of Kija Kerchal Cave consists of three circular rooms, known separately as the north, central and south rooms. The central room is the largest and most important. The rooms differ in length and width, and they are reinforced with walls of stone and hard mortar. The walls are about 65 centimetres thick overall, and some sections have been damaged by natural erosion and the passage of time. Although no tangible traces of ancient civilizations have been found in the cave, its strategic position suggests it may once have been used as a refuge and defensive fortress.

The cave is reached by a forest and mountain route. To get to the entrance, you must cross the Shurab River and a rocky area, then follow a steep forest trail with rock walls. This difficult route, together with the cave's unusual geography, makes getting inside very hard, and you can only enter with full equipment and sufficient experience. The best time to visit is spring and summer, when the weather is pleasant and the routes are in better condition. Together with Spahbod Khorshid Cave, it is one of the most important and unique caves in Mazandaran Province, and nature lovers and cavers can have a one-of-a-kind experience in this pristine setting.