Underground Reservoirs in Khameneh

Dry and semi-dry climate covers a large portion of Iran and this has basically influenced the land's architecture in various types. Access to water has long been the main struggle in many parts of the country and the Iranian have taken advantage of all of their potentials and made tens of kilometers of underground canals. They saved a large amount of water by building canals and dams in wintertime to consume in summers. They also made underground reservoirs to accomplish their consumption
Underground reservoirs were in use in desert cities and a couple of hamlets, townships and neighborhoods. In many neighborhoods they were regarded as the largest and most remarkable architectural structures.
They contained a large rectangular or cylinder-shaped container in the ground whose ceilings were covered in arches or were domed.
Sometimes the ceilings of the structures in mountainous areas especially in pleasant places and foresty areas were flat and covered in wood and mud-straw.
The containers were usually underground which would be reached by means of several steps.
One of the main points to determine the location was that it should be close to a flowing water in rainy seasons, with water abundance. The containers or cisterns had a small door which joined a current or stream or a subterranean canal. When they were filled the path of water was wiped and removed of any pollution and after opening the small door, water went into the container and filled it up.
Despite a fairly large amount of rainfall in mountainous areas ,unlike hot and dry regions, and in spite of the existence of springs and permanent or seasonal rivers, underground reservoirs were usually used to store drinkable water. Of course, the reservoirs in mountainous areas are fewer than hot and dry areas.
One of them whose file was sent over to the cultural heritage of the province to be recorded nationally is located in Khameneh.
It is known as Ghiri Ayakh, Chehel Pa, or Chehel Pelleh in Azeri.
The reservoir is located in Mir Panj neighborhood, near the historic mosque of Hussein Khan Mir Panjeh and dates from the early Ghajar era, according to the locals.
The reservoir is totally different with those in the desert areas and draws tourists partly due to the fact that it doesn't have a container or tank for holding water. In fact, thanks to the abundant precipitation in Khameneh their water usage has always been available there.
It lies on the path to the subterranean canal of Chenar Khameneh beside the 1,400-year-old plane trees.
Since water always exists in it, you can always have cool, crystal clear water.
The reservoir is situated at the end of one dead-end alley in Mir Panj neighborhood. After coming down 20 steps you'll get to the flowing water of the subterranean canal.
At the end of the reservoir there is a long stone corridor where water enters in one side and goes on to the subterranean canal of Chenar KHz,eneh. On either side of the corridor dug underground 2 stone walls are seen with a brick cresent-shaped ceiling.
Its water is changeable in different seasons and in rain seasons it's abundant as a result of absorbing much water while in summertime its amount decreases but the w!interesting point about it is that it is always there.
Proximity to the historic mosque of Hussein Mir Panj and old plane trees, it offers a suitable tourism hub which plays a great role in drawing sightseers in the city.