TEHRAN - Karaftoo cave in Kordestan province requires targeted measures to support a potential nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status, the governor of Divan-Darreh said on Tuesday.

Naseh Mohammadkhani said the cave  contains archaeological, artistic and historical features that underscore its cultural significance, but further work is needed to meet UNESCO standards, Mehr reported on Tuesday. 

The official, however, did not specify a timeline for submitting a nomination file or detail the measures required.

As a wonder in the heart of the mountains, the cave attracts thousands of tourists annually. Karaftoo is the most mysterious man-made cave and one of the most beautiful and popular tourist attractions in Divan-Darreh county, Mehr news agency wrote.

It is a natural cave whose Greek inscription at the entrance is considered one of the most attractive parts.

The feature of the cave is that it is four-story, consisting of two natural and man-made parts. This cave was formed in the second geological period and is made of limestone, the natural part of which has a corridor 750 meters long. The entrance to the cave is located 20 to 25 meters above the mountainside, which can be reached with the help of 180 steps and its halls and corridors can be visited, but the noteworthy point is that no one has yet been able to identify all the routes and a complete map of the cave.

Mohammadkhani said that  250 billion rials ($250,000) were allocated for easing the process of global registration of Karaftoo cave, of which 100 billion rials  ($100,000) were provided by the Kordestan Governor-General's Office, 50 billion rials ($50,000)  by Majlis Tourism Faction, 50 billion rials by the governor, and another 50 billion rials by the representative of Divan-Darreh in Iranian Parliament

He added:” I am trying to accelerate the process of world registration of Karaftoo cave with provincial coordination and the support of officials. Karaftoo cave has a valuable place in the development of the tourism industry in Kordestan and Iran, and special efforts should be made to register it world-wide.”

Mohammadkhani stated that Kordestan should be presented to the world with tourist attractions in order to introduce the culture and history of this border and landscape to other parts of the country and the world and provide a basis for attracting more domestic and foreign tourists. 

Kordish writer Ghotbedin Sadeghi said  that Karaftoo cave is one of the historical and cultural attractions of the province, which has played an effective role in Iranian culture and rituals as a historical refuge from ancient times to the present day. 

Pointing to his research on the name Karaftoo, he said: “This name means refuge, which throughout the history, including the Sassanid period to the Mongol period, the cave has been a safe refuge for people against enemy attacks.”

He added that Karaftoo was actually a ritual temple for the people that was considered a symbol of resistance against the oppressive and ruthless rulers. 

The Kordish writer acknowledged that today, Karaftoo plays an important role in preserving the cultural identity of the Kordestan province and Iran, and efforts need to be made to revive this precious heritage. 

Also, Mohsen Fathi, representative of Sanandaj, Divan-Darreh and Kamyaran in Iranian Parliament stated that the world registration of Karaftoo cave not only will indicate the cultural and historical authenticity of Kordestan, but also will be considered a fundamental step towards the sustainable development of tourism and job generation across the province.

He added: “We are all trying to achieve the desired result for this historical heritage and introduce it to the world, because this is especially vital to improve the position of Divan-Darreh city and Kordestan province on the world tourism map.”

The head of Tourism Faction in Iranian Parliament emphasized the important role of the county and provincial managers in achieving this goal and said: “The global registration of  Karaftoo cave will be possible thanks to the efforts of the Divan-Darreh management team and  managers of Kordestan Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department, and all efforts should be focused on realizing this main demand of local people.”

Fathi announced his full readiness to pursue this issue at the national level adding: “As  people's representative in Parliament, I will spare no effort to support the global registration of the Karaftoo cave and the development of the province's tourism infrastructure.”

Also, Director General of Kordestan Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department Pouya Talebnia announced the holding of an international tourism exhibition in Tehran and said that Kordestan province will participate in this cultural event to introduce the valuable tourist attractions, including the national and global bases of Karaftoo cave and Uraman rural landscape.

He added that Karaftoo cave is several thousand years old and must be introduced at the global level, and a special effort must be made for this. 
He also said that Karaftoo cave is one of the important centers of Iranian civilization and a place where Mehr (Mithra) was worshipped.

Holding handicraft exhibitions and cultural festivals, including the Mehregan Festival in this cave last fall was an opportunity to introduce this valuable potential in the province, he added. “The world registration of the Karaftoo cave requires the cooperation of all people and officials, and we must all work together to register it.” 

Earlier, Ayyoub Sharifi, head of Saqqez Department of Environment said that Karaftoo cave, as one of the few ancient limestone caves in the country, not only has unique geological values, but also has numerous historical monuments, including Greek inscriptions and ancient architecture. 

He added that protecting the surrounding environment of Karaftoo cave is a shared responsibility between government institutions, local people, and tourists, and ignoring it can cause irreparable damage to this precious heritage. “Every year, on the occasion of World Clean Cave Day, environmentalists and public associations take action to clean up the cave.”

Karaftoo cave was registered on National Heritage List in 1940.

KD