Dahan-e Shir Ab Anbar (Cistern), Lar

🕰️When was it built?

The Dahan-e Shir cistern of Lar dates back to the Safavid era. It was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 10 August 2005 as number 12703. It stands beside the entrance to the Qeysariyeh Bazaar of Lar and is also known as the Dahan-e Shir berkeh.

🏛️What was it built for?

A dahan-e shir was a way down built beside some of the large berkehs so that people could go down the steps to the lower part of the tank. The water there was usually cooler and was used in summer. This structure was the way to reach the water stored in the berkeh, and its long stairway took people underground.

👀What you will see

• The cistern's entrance is built as a small room that holds the top of the stairway.
• The stairway goes steeply down towards the underground part.
• The stairway is about 3.20 metres wide and 12.80 metres long.
• The entrance to the Qeysariyeh Bazaar of Lar lies west of the cistern, and the two historic buildings were built side by side.

💡Something interesting

The name Dahan-e Shir comes from the use of the word shir in the Achomi language. In Achomi, water piping and the tap fitted to it are simply called shir, and dahan-e shir is the name for the place where this water is reached.

🎒Good to know before you go

• The stairway is steep; go down slowly and watch your step.