Babak Castle: Known to some as Bazz Galasi, the Babak castle has a unique emotional resonance for Azari people as the lair of their 9th-century AD national hero Babak Khorramdin. Beware of visiting Kaleybar during Babak’s controversial ‘birthday celebrations’ (last week of June).

Babak Castel, Kaleybar

Arasbaran Tribes: Arasbaran is a large mountainous area stretching from the Qusha Dagh massif, south of Ahar, to the Aras River in East Azerbaijan Province of Iran.

The region is confined to Aras River in the north, Meshgin Shahr County and Moghan in the east, Sarab County in the south, and Tabriz and Marand counties in the west. Since 1976, UNESCO has registered 72,460 hectares of the region, as biosphere reserve.

Arasbaran is home to 215 species of birds, 29 species of reptiles, 48 species of mammals and 17 species of fish. The local flora include hornbeam, sumac, and Berberis.

A unique characteristic of Arasbaran forests is the ubiquity of edible wild trees. The large walnut and Cornus mas trees, which grow wild alongside streams, provide an important income source for inhabitants. More exotic plant species, such as redcurrant, truffle and herbs with application in traditional medicine significantly add to the ecological importance of Arasbaran region.

Arasbaran, Kaleybar