Gerdab Sangi

Gerdab Sangi (the "Stone Whirlpool") is one of Iran's valuable historical monuments. It is located in Khorramabad, in Lorestan Province, in the old quarter of the city near Takhti Square. This unique structure, known in the local language as "Gerdaw Bordineh", dates back to the Sassanid era and is regarded as one of the most important historical attractions of the city. It was registered on Iran's National Heritage list on 18 Mordad 1355 (9 August 1976) under number 1274, and today it draws visitors as a symbol of the engineering knowledge and water resource management of ancient Iran. Its location in the city center, close to other historical sights, makes it all the more significant.

Gerdab Sangi is a circular structure built of stone and sarooj (a traditional waterproof mortar) around a spring, designed to store the spring's water and channel it in a controlled way to different parts of the ancient city of Shapurkhast. The structure has a diameter of about 18 meters, a wall thickness of 3 meters, and a height of nearly 18 meters down to the spring bed. On the eastern side, a gate was installed to direct water into the supply channels. The spring has an average discharge of around 170 liters per second, which rises in spring. This ingenious system was used not only to store water but also to supply the city's drinking water and even the surrounding mills. Because the spring is seasonal, the water level drops in the second half of the year, but in the wetter seasons it becomes a truly spectacular sight.

To visit Gerdab Sangi, simply head to the center of Khorramabad, to the area around Hefdah Shahrivar Street and Takhti Square; the monument is very easy to reach and lies within the city. The best time to visit is spring, when the spring is at its fullest and the surroundings are fresher and greener. A visit usually doesn't take long, but the historical and architectural value of the site is considerable. Practicing responsible nature tourism is very important during your visit: avoid entering the spring's protected area, do not damage the historic walls, and keep the surroundings clean so that this valuable heritage remains for future generations.