The Dehloran Bat Cave (غار خفاش دهلران), locally known as Khoffash Cave and Sarim Ab-Garma Cave, is a 255-meter-deep ancient cave situated on the slopes of Mount Siah Kuh in Ilam Province within a valley at an elevation of about 600 meters above sea level. Located about 4.5 kilometers northeast of Dehloran city, it serves as a natural habitat for thousands of tailed and large bats. The cave entrance faces south and is visible from Dehloran.
The cave contains numerous chambers and branches. It is part of the historical caves of the troglodyte era and has many stalactites and stalagmites with wide corridors whose height in some parts reaches 400 meters although on average the corridor spans 30 meters wide and 50 meters high.
Its floor is covered with a layer of bat guano exceeding one meter in thickness, producing a strong odor and serves as a vital source of nutrients for the cave’s micro-ecosystem and is used by farmers to fertilize agricultural land. More than 40,000 bats inhabit the cave, representing five species, including long-winged, horseshoe, short-lipped, trident leaf-nosed, and large mouse-tailed bats. Some species reside year-round, while others are seasonal.
The cave has two entrances. The eastern gate is almost 31 by 30 meters although it is inaccessible to people.
The southern gate is smaller, about 5 by 3 meters wide and it is the only way to go inside the bat cave. This entrance is visible from a distance.
The broad entrance passage slopes steeply upward and then opens into a relatively large room. This room has some piles of breakdown, and much of the ceiling is covered with small, sculptured domes about a meter or so in diameter. Left of the entrance passage, beyond a pile of breakdown, a huge corridor opens off the back of the room. This corridor is about 5 meters wide and the walls converge gradually to meet at the apex about 35 meters above the floor and as such no true ceiling is present.
Aside from its bat population, Dehloran Bat Cave offers stunning natural beauty. The cave overlooks the valley and thermal springs of Dehloran, providing visitors with breathtaking views. There is no fee for visiting the cave. The best time to visit is at least 30 minutes before sunset. At this time thousands of tailed and large bats emerge from the southern gate in sweeping waves each evening, a phenomenon that has made it famous among tourists.
As a natural attraction, the Dehloran Bat Cave is the only bat cave in Iran. It was recorded as a national heritage by the Environment Preservation Council of Iran in 1976. Preserving and protecting this natural heritage is managed by the Cultural Preservation Organization of Ilam Province.
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