They say that you don't understand someone's mood until you hear from their heart. Today I want to hear from the heart of a mountain to see what has happened to it and what days it has seen. This mountain is located in the south of the country and is one of the sights of Qeshm. We all know it as Kharbas Cave (pronounced: Kharbas).
In this article, I will try to tell you everything there is about Khorbes Cave and introduce you to it as much as possible. From the pair of loving eagles that live on top of the peak, to the mouse-tailed bats, we get to know each other in the darkest parts of the cave. Of course, we do not neglect the essence of the matter, which is the charm of walking in different parts of Khorbes Cave.
If you are planning to travel to Qeshm and get to know its attractions, if you are a fan of natural monuments, or if none of these apply to you and you just enjoy getting to know mysterious and ambiguous places, stay with ozhan agency tourism magazine.
Getting to know Khorbes Cave is one of the attractions of Qeshm
Most people know this coastal city with Qeshm water sports or its shopping centers. Perhaps, despite the harsh and troublesome weather of Qeshm, few people are willing to go to such places and pass the many steps of Khorbes Cave, but if you know more about this cave, you might climb the stairs and reach its entrance.
When you leave this coastal city and go towards the mysterious villages of Kharbas and Ramchah, on the right side of the road, you will see a sign that directs you to Kharbas Cave.
This beautiful stone cave, which is one of the geological phenomena, was formed 11 kilometers south of Qeshm and in a rock with a height of 20 to 30 meters (equivalent to a 7 to 10-story building). When you reach Kharbas Cave, you will see a big sign that briefly introduces this beautiful natural work.
The name of Khorbas Cave (Kharbas) can be seen on the top of the panel. In the following, you will find that this area and scenic attraction is under the supervision of cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism. Also, by looking at the date of 27th December 1377, you will realize that the cultural heritage authorities did not give up and on this date (that is, about 23 years ago) and with the number 2197, they registered the Khorbes cave as a national monument.
How old is Khorbes Cave?
Khorbes Cave is located on the mountain forehead overlooking the south coast of Qeshm Island, in the heart of the heights of Khorbes village. This beautiful cave with its strange and mysterious architecture is a continuation of the folds of the Zagros mountains. Although it has a lower height compared to them; But it can definitely be considered part of the Zagros mountain range.
About the age of this cave, if you look up and down some historical websites, you will see that Khorbes cave dates back to the time of the Medes, about 600 years before Christ. When inscriptions and petroglyphs were used for writing.
But the Heritage and Cultural Department says something else and thinks that this cave belongs to the Sassanid-Parthian period, that is, about 800 years after the rule of the Medes. Therefore, it can be said that Khorbes cave is at least 1500 years old.
Although different dates have been proposed for the age of this natural cave, it does not affect the essence of the matter and this cave is considered the oldest attraction of Qeshm region.
Harbes Cave, a party from the underwater world
Over time, with the subsidence of the sea water in the heart of the mountain, nesting holes have been formed in it, which have become deeper and bigger with the art of people and the carvings that have been done on them over time. Of course, there is another hypothesis which says that these holes were created due to the proximity of the mountain to the sea, the effect of the vortex or the impact of the waves in the heart of the rocks and the discharge of sand.
Of course, the presence of shells on the walls of the cave shows that these areas were previously under water, and this strengthens the first hypothesis about how the cave was formed, that is, the subsidence of the sea water and the entry of this mountain into the land.
With all this, it can be said that Harbes is on the breast of a mountain overlooking the sea, which has been gradually eroded from the sea side, and the cavities and holes in it have become bigger over time, and a cave-like network has been created.
Of course, what you see today as the structure of Khorbes cave is not the art of sea waves, and the artistry of stone carving artists also plays an important role in it; Because the holes created by the waves have been made deeper and bigger by these people.
What seems to be that due to the soft material of the walls, in addition to the fact that erosion has had a great effect on them, it has made it easy to dig and draw on their walls.
If you want to see human intervention in the architecture and structure of this cave, just pay attention to the walls. To the right of the entrance, in addition to the new vestibule and corridors, the marks of masons' ax work can still be seen on the walls. The designs that are similar to the ancient designs have been removed so as not to harm the authenticity of this geological phenomenon.
Khorbs Cave, a two-story cave
We said that Khorbs Cave is an important work with rock architecture that is located on a mountain forehead overlooking the southern coast of Qeshm Island, facing a vast plain where the Islamic cemetery is located.
When you get in front of it, you will see a two-story cave. Go up the stairs. You can see that the first floor is the natural part of the cave and consists of an entrance hall with three holes, but to see the hall and the part that has all the stories, you have to go to the second floor.
The second floor, which is the main part, consists of a central space or hall. This is the same space that can be said to have been a place of praise for sun worshipers or a gathering of people. Around this hall, there are corridors and small spaces similar to rooms, and it is as if they are hugging the hall and they all connect to each other.
From the outside of the cave that you look at, there are several openings facing the plain in the body of the rocks, which act as windows to the cave and provide light inside.
Well, now that you are familiar with the general structure of the cave, let's move on to the dimensions. As I said, on the second floor of Khorbes cave, you can see rooms that are connected by corridors, the dimensions of these rooms are 4 x 5.5 meters, which surround the central hall with an area of approximately 25 square meters; This means that the hall can be carpeted with two 12-meter carpets.
It goes without saying that there are two niches in this hall that were probably used as lamps.
Animal species from the top to the bottom of Kharbes Cave
Can you imagine what special species of animals live in the heart of this rocky cave? A pair of fishing eagles live on the rocky heights of Khorbes Cave. It is not possible to see these eagles in love who have been together for years. If you are lucky, you can see them in flight. It is not bad to know that these eagles are rare species whose lives are very valuable to protect.
But the wildlife of this cave is not limited to the existence of this pair of eagles, and species of mouse-tailed bats live in the lower cavities and dark corners of the cave. Since these bats are rare and endangered species, it is very important to preserve the wildlife of Khorbes Cave.
Use of Khorbes Cave over time
The appearance of a dignified rock, light openings, halls, corridors and numerous corridors in addition to the special architecture of this amazing cave is the narrator of its stories and glorious days, which is worth getting to know.
Kharbas Cave is also known as Khorbas Cave or the gathering place of sun worshippers. It is said that in the past, this cave was a sacred place and it was used as a Mehri temple or a place of worship for the goddess Mitra or a memorial ceremony for the dead. They used the bones of the dead, which is called "Studan" in the local language.
After the place of worship and the place where the dead are kept, it is time to protect the living. Perhaps the beginning of the lively and mysterious stories of Khorbes Cave lies in the heart of this section, because it is said that this cave was a refuge for defenseless people who were attacked by pirates.
In fact, the holes and chambers inside the cave were built to store water, food and stones for defense so that children, women and the elderly could take shelter there during the attack and the young people could go to the heart of the field more safely. Perhaps, in the corners of this cave, you can feel the stories of empathy, companionship and affection.
The current amenities of Kharbes cave
Now I said that this is a cave and the heart of the mountain, but don't think that there is a dry barren land in front of you. By the way, the amenities of Gharbs Cave are very suitable for a two or three hour visit. There is an open space in front of the cave, which is used as a car park. Its restrooms are also clean and have complete facilities.
If you are interested in shopping, there are several stalls built near Gharbs Cave where you can buy traditional foods, souvenirs and handicrafts of Qeshm Island.
The only thing to consider when visiting this cave is that there are many stairs. Therefore, I suggest that people with knee problems, wheelchair users, and anyone who is unable to climb many stairs should avoid the wonder of this cave for the sake of their health.
What are the visiting hours of Khorbs Cave?
It is possible to visit this cave all year round; But due to the heat of the air and the harshness of the area, it is recommended to visit Kharbes Cave often in the cool seasons. The visiting hours are every day from 6 am to 5 pm, which lasts about one to two hours.
Of course, I suggest that even if you travel in the right season, you should include the visit of this cave in the morning schedule when the weather is cooler, so that you can enjoy the Kharbes cave visit program more.
Don't miss the sights around Khorbes Cave!
Hit multiple marks with an arrow. If you have come to Khorbs Cave, if you have enough time, visit the sights of Qeshm that are near this place.
Setargan Valley, which is 9 km away from Khorbes Cave, is one of the unique masterpieces of nature in Qeshm Island. In this valley, you can see strange and different shapes that are made of soil, stone and sand, and the people of the area believe that once upon a time a star fell on the heart of the island and created these beautiful shapes.
Naz Islands, which are about 16 kilometers away from Khorbes Cave, are one of the seven wonders of Qeshm. These islands are different from all the beaches you have ever seen because you can have the experience of walking in the sea only here. It is enough to be in this place during low tide to see the narrow sandy path and the rocks that come out from under it and cross this path on foot.
Hengama Island is located near Khorbs. If you want to see a traditional native island with playful dolphins, spectacular wildlife, spectacular groves, limestone mountains and a charming market, this island can be the best choice.
What I said about Kharbes Cave
In this article, we talked about one of the famous places in Qeshm, Khorbs Cave. After a brief introduction about its geographical location, we went to the hypotheses about how it was formed and its age.
After introducing the different parts of this two-story cave, we talked about the art and the changes made by old artists in its architecture. In the following, we introduced the facilities, visiting time, the best time to travel to Khorbes Cave, the address and tourist attractions close to it.
