The Kal-e Jeni Valley is one of the attractions of Southern Khurasan Province, in the east of Iran, located 32 kilometers away from Tabas city, close to Azmighan Village. This valley is a masterpiece of nature, created as a result of water and wind erosion in thousand years, that has made this place one of the top mysterious places in Iran, where you can enjoy a unique desert adventure. Kal- Jeni is an adventurous and less tourist place for the ones who love exploring mysterious and exotic places.
Why is it called Kal-e Jeni?
The name Kal-e Jeni is made of two words including Jen, which means Jinn or demon, and Kal, which means canyon or a route created by water flow. Locals of neighbouring areas call this place Kal-e Jeni because of its spooky atmosphere and their legendary belief that this is where Jinns live and its fascinating beauty is originally the masterpiece of Jinns! Since this valley has a U or V shaped construction, a strange wind sound is heard inside the valley and made the area even more frightening. It is also believed that this place was a temple or place of worship for followers of Mithraism religion, and they spread this rumour to keep their house of worship a private place.
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Kal-e Jeni Canyon - Iran
The history of Kal-e Jeni
The wonderful natural patterns of Kal-e Jeni are created as a result of thousand years of erosion, and the unique construction of the valley along with the odd sound of wind, causes this idea that some unknown creatures built this area! Apart from this myth, some small tunnels and rooms of the walls are believed to be dug by Zoroastrians during the Sassanid Era (224 to 651 CE), and the small caves were used for Chilla- Neshini or Chilla, which is a moral practice of solitude and virtue for 40 days with no food.
The construction of Kal-e Jeni
Kal-e Jeni consists of one main canyon and subsidiary canyons. The main canyon (river) starts from a Nakhlestan (Palm tree garden) and reaches the Azmighan Village, and the flowing water is from Azmighan Water Spring. The flowing water later pours into a water canal and it later reaches a Qanat. There are many crypts, holes and waterfalls through the route of Kal-e Jeni that amaze every visitor. Most of the tunnels have been dug by people thousands of years ago, however the beauty of rock formations is the art of nature. The Kal-e Jeni is 8 kilometers long and has very high walls. The first 3-kilometers of the valley is covered with lime stones. What makes Kal-e Jeni more amazing is the fact is that despite of being located in the heart of a dry desert, there is so much water in the center of the canyon, from small waterfalls to small ponds some of which are 1.5 meters deep. People who lived in this region thousands of years ago, invented systems to lead this water to Qanats, for agriculture and gardening. This has caused intense water erosion and eye-catching porosities on the rocks and river’s base. Passing 2 kilometers, which is the central part of the valley, you’ll find out that other parts of the canyon do not have the same amount of water on the last 3 kilometers of the route.
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Kal-e Jeni Canyon - Iran
The mysterious tunnel and holes
There is a tunnel located 2 meters high on the walls of the Kal-e Jeni Canyon. This vertical tunnel is 7-8 meters deep and by ascending to the top of the tunnel, you’ll reach a big space with two corridors. In each corridor there are some small crypts (caves) which are dug by the hand of humans, as the track of the axes still can be seen on the walls. Also there are some holes on the walls that were dug by people thousands of years ago. But what remains uncovered is the main use of these tiny caves that seem unreachable at first.
The chimneys and ovens of Jinn
Apart from the hand-carved tunnels, the natural erosions of caves and rock formations are wonders of Kal-e Jeni. The chimney shaped rocks are among the most significant samples of erosion, that have doubled they oddness of this valley. The chimneys of Jinn are columns that have created by wind and water flow, and ovens are cylinder shaped formations that have been shaped by intense erosion of the walls of the valley. Since in ancient times people didn’t know the scientific reason behind these shapes, they were attributed to Jinns and imaginary creatures.
Visiting Kal-e Jeni
Visiting Kal-e Jeni can be counted as an adventurous activity in Iran. If you want to explore all of the wonders of Kal-e Jeni and get amazed by its attractions, you should take a 4 to 5-hour trekking through the valley. You can also enjoy some water play on the route of valley during the seasons of year when water flows through the valley. Right beside the Kal-e Jeni Canyon there is a vast and dense palm tree garden which has grown naturally, and creates a wonderful landscape.
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Kal-e Jeni Canyon - Iran
If you want to spend a night by Kal-e Jeni you should be prepared for a camping night as there is no hotel or ecolodhe at this spot. And if you are not a fan of camping in tent, you can stay at a hotel in Tabas city or at a village house or ecolodge in Azmighan Village.
If you are interested in exploring the mysterious Kal-e Jeni Canyon and other attractions of Southern Khurasan Province, you can contact PackToIran team, and ask for the tour that you have in mind.
