A fascinating trip to Burnik cave

The cave is located 135km east of Tehran, 23 km southwest of FiroozKuh, and 6 km from the lovely village of Harandeh. It lies on the heights of Burni or Burnik. To reach it, take the Damavand-Firoozkuh road. Before the Namrud tunnel, turn to the village of Harandeh and go on to the vicinity of the river of Hablerud and Burnik heights.
Burnik is also known as Purnik , according to some villagers, consisting of two words: Pur( a pit) and Nik( good or fine). In the past it meant a great pit or crypt. Burnik, too, is made up of two words: Bur ( modification of the word”Bar” meaning the shore or a safe place ) and Nik, which totally means a safe or fine place.
The name has been chosen appropriately as the cave has long been a haven for living and a shelter especially for people living in the caves in the old days. They also used them for hunting.
The main deep mouth of the cave is situated in a place beyond the river.
The cave’s features
According to measurements, the mouth is 10 by 15 meters with a height of 6 meters. It’s 1,950 meters above sea level. The entrance mouth is wide and takes you to a porch with a high ceiling.
In the end on the left, there used to be a stone path which entered the first corridor of the cave and has now developed to a suitable entrance way with stairs.
The cave has three large halls with anticlines on tops. On the anticlines there are faults or deep cracks which indicate its great age. The interior walls are covered in cauliflower-like stalactites in buff, white, and pink, creating a magnificent landscape.
Lighting will make it look even more beautiful.
It’s made up of three halls:
The first or exterior hall: the floor of it is steep in a stone pavement. It’s 40 by 50 meters with a hight of 8 meters. At the end of the hall there are two high porch-like depressions whose heights are 2 meters different.
The existing relic shows it’s quite old and was a place where cavemen lived. The broken potteries scattered around the hall confirm pre-historic settlements.
The second or main hall: it’s 30 by 60 meters with a height of 20 to 25 meters which has moved down with a sharp steep.
The third hall is about 12 meters high in a rectangular shape with sides of 20 by 55 meters. From the beginning to the end of the hall there is a slippery, steep stone floor. At the end there is a corridor, 8 meters long, connected to an impassable area with a precipice which is about 20 meters deep.
Things to do in the attractive place
You can take a walk in the gardens of the village, do caving, or watch the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Necessary equipment:
A torch, medications, identifications, sun block, walking shoes, tea flasks, extra clothing, bottle water, a backpack for a one-day trip, a mat, spoon, fork and glass, bottles, a light portable meal, caps and glasses