Tabas is known by deserts mostly. Maybe the famous sand storms which stopped the Operation Eagle Claw, made us imagine Tabas is completely desert. Although it’s not a completely wrong imagination but it’s not also the truth. Tabas city and its outskirts have many natural attractions which are not the same as desert landscapes typically. Kal-e Jenni is one of them.
Kal-e Jenni is a beautiful valley, 35 kilometers far from Tabas city in Sout Khorasan Province. By entering this area, the desert landscapes completely fade. Kal means valley which is formed by seasonal floods. Jenn means jinn; So the meaning of Kal-e Jenni is the valley of jinn. The appellation of the valley must be related to the strange rocks and tall stone walls. Natural erosion process had a significant role to form this valley. Most of the landforms are the results of a thousand years old erosion. In Kal-e Jenni many landforms are observable, especially the landforms which are called Doodkeshe Jenn (Jinn’s Chimney), and Tanure Jenn (Jinn’s Furnace).
There is a permanent shallow water flowing in the depth of valley. Even in somewhere there are tiny waterfalls and tiny natural pools. There is a main route into the valley and some branches. The main route begins from a natural date-palm plantation and ends in Azmiqan village.
Some holes have been dug in the rocks which belong to the Sassanid era. Although entering to them is not easy because they have been carved into the walls of valley. Probably they have been carved to hold secret rituals. These holes are known as Khaneye Gabr, Zoroastrian Houses.
Kal-e Jenni is located near Azmiqan village. In order to access the valley, you ought to proceed a by-way before arriving Azmiqan. The physical readiness is necessary to proceed the valley you should be able to proceed rough routes. The best time to travel is early autumn till early spring.
Tabas also has many natural attractions, Morteza Ali hot spring, Halvan desert, Golshan garden and rice fields of Azmiqan.
Kal-e Jenni was registered as a national natural heritage in 2017.
