Subatan

Subatan, Iran’s paradise

Subatan is a marvelous destination where it seems as a remnant of paradise on the Earth. The lush meadows, full of water springs, torrential rivers, large and small waterfalls, dreamy and pleasant landscapes and favorable weather are the least you can expect in Subatan. There is a lush and beautiful countryside with unique landscapes that can undoubtedly be Iran’s most beautiful natural attraction. There are sizeable amounts of tourists who visit the place yearly. The weather is really cool, best way to run away from traffic, pollution and hot weather of cities.

In this article of Chiyakotravel blog we visit one of the sights of northern Iran. Subatan in Talesh that is summer residence of locals which is a beautiful area in Gilan province and with its foggy nature and excellent climate, can take you away from your worries. In this article, we will tell you about the sights and facilities of this area and how to stay in this village.

Why Subatan?

• It is one of the most beautiful and green summer residences in Iran.
• It is an ideal destination for activities such as hiking and camping and even horseback riding.
• Subatan anemone flower plain appears at the beginning of spring and attracts many tourists to watch and photo shooting.
• Existence of water springs, small and large waterfalls and summer air conditioning has made this village one of the most popular destinations for travel in hot seasons.
• The famous and mountainous Lake Neor is on the way of the village of Subatan.
• In addition to its beautiful and unique nature, this village has attractions such as the Museum of Nomadic Anthropology, traditional bazaar, etc.

Location

Subatan is a countryside located in 22 kilometers from the town of Lissar of Talesh suburbs in green Gilan province. In other words, the location of this beautiful village is 36 kilometers from North-west of Talesh town, and 21 kilometers far from south-east of Neor Lake. This beautiful landscape is connected from East to Talesh rainforests (Lisar), from West to Ardebil country sides, from North to Lisar torrential river, and from South to Jokandan countryside. Traveling to this village you will find many attractions such as Ganjkhaneh Cave area, Varzan waterfall, Bateman Bolaq spring, Mahar waterfall, rock pit, Anaghi plain, beautiful and lush valleys and many other beautiful landscapes.

History

This beautiful countryside is the residential area of hundreds of Lissar families who spend their life in this area in spring, summer and early autumn. As there are many springs full of water, really cool and great weather in this area, life is so fun here, but is excruciating in winter. There are various cemeteries from thousands of years ago inside the countryside and in suburb of the area which indicates the ancient history of Subatan. Discovery of two tombs in Ghori dareh (a valley in locality) and Nomandiha neighborhood proves the claims that how old the area is. Jewelries from gold, silver, potteries and a bronze vase from Achaemenian era shows the antiquity of this area.

Familiarity with the village

Subatan or in Taleshi (Sovaton) is one of the most popular and famous summer residences in Gilan province which is located in Talesh city. This village hosts families in the surrounding areas in the warm seasons of the year like other summer residences in Iran, and in the cold seasons, due to severe cold weather and snowfall, it becomes almost uninhabited. This is not only a summer residence with beautiful nature, but also has fascinating sights such as Varzan waterfall, Mahar waterfall, abundant mineral springs, the ancient area of ​​Ganjkhaneh cave, nomadic anthropological museum, traditional bazaar, etc. In addition to having attractive natural beauty, interestingly, this village is the place of discovering historical objects such as necklaces, rings, pottery, bronze jars of the Achaemenid period, etc., which indicates the antiquity of human presence in this area.

This unique summer residence is located at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea level and leads from the north to the forests and the protected area of ​​Lisar, from the west to Ardabil and Lake Neor and from the south to the Asbomar Jokandan summer area. This village consists of several neighborhoods each of which has one or more villages, and some of them are: Bazaar, Bin Yordi Castle, Kalmar, etc.

Sights and entertainments

Off-road and Nissan riding to Subatan: Undoubtedly, this type of transfer to the village can be one of your most exciting experiences. Since the road to the village is winding and sometimes dirt and uneven, you either have to have a good and strong car or use the local Nissans to reach the village. Along the way to the village, seeing the pristine and beautiful summer scenery, cool breeze and sometimes very cold mountain air and this rugged route, is one of the most fascinating experiences you can get on this trip.

Staying and camping in Subatan: An overnight stay in Subatan is a memory you will never forget. Imagining staying in oak and thatched huts in the middle of nature, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, or camping in the unique nature with spectacular views, is something that can tempt you to go to this village. Staying there is the most exciting activity you can do to relax.

Visiting Varzan waterfall: Varzan waterfall is a spectacular attraction about 4 km from this summer residence. It is in Varzan village which is in its most precipitation state in spring. Visiting this 30-meter waterfall requires 3 hours of walking in nature. Near Varzan waterfall, there are several large plains in which local and indigenous games such as horseback riding, tug of war, etc. are performed with the presence of locals. “Var” in Talysh language means a lot and “Vazan” means waterfall.

Subatan anemone plains: Anemones are the guests of the region in late May and early June and give amazing beauty to this region. The anemone plains around Varzan waterfall, Lorahoni anemone plain and Batman Bolagh area are some of the places where you can see the appearance of these flowers. In the opposite parts of the village which are located at higher altitudes, such as Sari Bolagh and Cham Chami, they see the growth of these flowers later, and in the lower neighborhoods, you can see these flowers earlier. Apart from anemones, other wild flowers in yellow and blue colors are also seen in the area.

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Hiking in nature: The region with countless natural sights and different and special routes, has everything for a memorable tour in your travel to Iran. You can choose different routes with the help of our local guides and professional nature lovers and see different sights depending on the route, including waterfalls, caves, springs, etc.

Watching the cloud ocean phenomenon: The location of the village at a high altitude and its proximity to the sea and the forests of Talesh, causes the formation of the phenomenon known as the cloud ocean in this region. At the right time and in the right weather, by being at the heights, you can see and enjoy an ocean of thick clouds and fog under your feet. Whether or not you see this phenomenon depends entirely on the weather conditions and it is not possible to say the exact time for it.

Shopping at the local market: In the local market of this area, you can buy a variety of local products and delicious Subatani food. This market also gives you the opportunity to talk to the locals and is one of the attractions of Subatan.

Subatan Nomadic Anthropology Museum: The Nomadic Anthropology Museum contains a collection of 200 tools and supplies for livestock and nomadic life. heritages that were used in the last 150 years, but now are obsolete and forgotten. The museum chronicles a 3,500-year-old nomadic life and houses works ranging from 50 to 150 years old.

Hachadash| Subatan Roof: Hachadash is a large bifurcated rock located at the top of a peak on the south side of Subatan. The reason for calling this attraction is that “Hacha” in Turkish means fork and “dash” means stone. Hachadash region is the highest point in this summer region and is known as Bam-e Subatan or roof. Here you will see a view of the nature of the region and you can watch the most beautiful sunrise and sunset in your lifetime.

Visit Alchalaq Natural Forest Park: Alchaq Forest Park is an area full of low, grassy hills located in east of the village. “Alchaq” in Turkish means plum trees, and the growth of plum trees in this forest area has led to its naming. Plum trees are low and thick here and apple and pear trees can be seen in this area. In late September, many locals come to this forest park to collect edible mushrooms. The shade of the trees of this forest and its good climate have made tourists choose it for lunch and picnic.

Play and have fun in Bidah Pesht meadow: This vast meadow is located at a high altitude and offers a beautiful view. This meadow is used for holding local and indigenous sports festivals including equestrian competitions, and in summer, residents and travelers have fun and play here. With the accumulation of surface water, a pond is formed in this meadow which adds to its beauty. Another beauty of this place is the presence of sheeps and wild horses in it.

Excursion in Sari Dash and Majme Dash: Sari Dash promenade is located in the north of Subatan and is known for its yellow rocks because of its large yellow rocks. Here you can see the view of Lisar river, Varzan waterfall, Ghori Darreh plains, etc. Dash Majme is an area covered with wide white rocks which is located in the north of the village. The rocks of this area are very wide and like a tray. They form a paving stone together. The reason for naming the area is because of these stones, because the “Majme” means tray and the “Dash” means stone.

Subatan springs: Springs and their cool and refreshing water are a reason to attract tourists. There are many springs and we can name the following:

• Batman Bolagh which is the largest and most watery spring in the region.
• Kolyeh Sooei that is at the entrance to the village and its water is very useful for kidney diseases.
• Qara Balagh and Sardaba Honi which supply drinking water of the region.
• Other springs such as Yad Bolaghi, Mile Bolaghi, Naziri Bolaghi, Gazaneh Honi, Nomandan Bolaghi, Varzan Bolaghi, Sari Bolagh, Honi Yesh Bolaghi, Gosha Bolagh, Ganj Khaneh Bolaghi, etc.

Participation in various festivals: The village has hosted interesting festivals so far one of which has been the festival of local and indigenous games to revive the traditional games of the region such as wrestling, game belt, aghaji challenge, kite game and … . The Snowman Festival also attracts many people to the area in the winter, and the time varies depending on the amount of snowfall and the weather.

Ganjkhane cave: It is located in northeast of the village in the lowest point of vast Ganjkhaneh rock on a wide plain and above the village of Ganjkhaneh. The locals believe that there is a big treasure hidden in this cave; But because it has magic, no one has been able to discover it yet. However, groups have explored and visited the cave, and it is hoped that more people will visit the attraction in the future.

Other sights of Subatan

• Equestrian land near Bideh Posht
• Black nomadic tents around the village
• Mahar waterfall in Mahar village
• Kandi Ket area and surrounding stone pits in Sari Bolagh

 facilities

• mosque
• local market
• Residential cottages
• Local restaurant

 Concerns and problems about facilities

• Lack of electricity and operation of more than 150 high-cost electric motors
• Problems with drinking water because the area lacks proper plumbing.
• Lack of cell phone antennas due to lack of electricity and no signal booster.
• Lack of a health house or hospital which causes problems for travelers and residents.

How to stay

A trip to the village is not complete without staying there. To stay, you can open an account on the following options:

• Camping
• Wooden cottages
• Local houses

Best time to visit

If you like to step up in a part of the heaven, enjoying off-the-beaten track and running away from busy and polluted urban life style, we strongly recommend you to come to this summer residence. The weather here is great in middle of the spring and summer. Most of residents leave the area in autumn and winter because the weather is freezing cold in these seasons. Heavy snow and lack of enough fuel to make local cottages warm is the main reasons that this place is not a good option to live in winter.

In general, the best time to visit this village is from mid-April to mid-September.

Spring: One of the best times to visit this beautiful summer residence is spring, especially in April, because at this time the area is full of wild red anemones and gives it a beautiful beauty. Of course, it is better to think about traveling to this region from the middle of April, because the cold weather can be annoying and spring rains can create problems for the route.

Summer: Cool and pleasant climate and lush nature is what you get from this summer residence.

Autumn and winter: In these two seasons, the weather in this village is very cold and there will be problems both the way to reach it and the stay and sightseeing in the area.

Souvenirs

The most reputation of the region is because of its livestock farming, producing some of Iran’s meats and dairy products with the best quality.
Local food in this area is really well-known. Food in this zone is like other nomads such as Pandire Visoug, Sujadile, Ghoorma, Ghortmaj, Sirjineh, Kale Polo, Pateh, Ghoozli beryan.
Famous souvenir of the village is its cheese, butter and local yogurt. There also some unique woolen clothes that are really useful in cold weather. Totally the most famous souvenirs are as follows:

• Dairy and local products
• Medicinal Plants
• Mushrooms
• Fruit
• Local bread
• Wool socks and gloves and scarves
• woolen hat
• Local woolen clothes

Etymology (the story behind name)

There are two reasons for calling the region as Subatan. First and foremost, Subatan in Turkish dialect means the place where water descends and dives in holes. The other story behind its name is that “Su” the first part of the word means Damask Rose and the last part of the word “Tan” means growth and as all around the place these roses grow, locals calls the place Subatan. Most of locals claim that the second story is more believable, and Sutun changed to Subatan after passing time.