TEHRAN - Once an intact village in the heart of Zagros Mountains, Zaras is becoming a favorite travel destination in the southwestern Khuzestan province.

Temperate climate in winters or scenic nature seem to be the raison d’etre. However, the village was put on the map for nature lovers when became equipped with tourist facilities over the past couple of years, Tasnim reported.

Situated adjacent to a lake, the village is teemed with oak trees and is surrounded by rouged mountains. The lake is a place to sail and catch fish.

There are also tourist attractions near the village, including historic monuments such as Tagh-e Tavileh and Atabaki citadel, as well as Shivand waterfall, villages and gardens where various fruit trees grow.

Kul-e Farah rock reliefs and Qaleh-ye Kazhdamak are other ancient monuments close to this area, located a few kilometers southwest of the ancient city of Izeh.

Khuzestan province is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites of Susa, Tchogha Zanbil and Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System yet it is a region of raw beauty where its visitors could spend weeks exploring.

The province is also a cradle for handicrafts and arts which crafters inherited from their preceding generations.

AFM/MQ/MG