Gerdab-e Sangi

Sassanid-era stone whirlpool carved by the river over millennia

A remarkable natural feature in the centre of Khorramabad: a series of stone pools carved by the Khorramabad River into the bedrock over centuries, exploited during the Sassanid period as a mill site. The circular erosion patterns in the rock give the feature its name — "stone whirlpool."

The site sits near Takhti Square in the city centre and is easily visited. It is an unusual combination of natural geology and ancient engineering, and relatively few visitors find their way here despite being right in town. The river beside it is pleasant to walk along in the cooler parts of the day.

things to do sight
A story
The Gerdab-e Sangi was a water mill from the Sassanid period — the natural stone bowl carved by the river's whirlpool was harnessed by Persian engineers to drive grinding wheels. The site was in use for over a thousand years before it was abandoned.