Alamout castle is in the North of Gazorkhan village, Roudbaar-e-Alamout area, Moallem-Kalayeh part of Qazvin province, about 104 Km away in the North-East of Qazvin and the South of the Alborz Mountain ranges. It is located at E50, 34.905 & N36, 26.800 and about 2160 meters above the sea level.

To reach the castle from Tehran, about 4 Km to Qazvin, you will see the sign of Alamout which shows an asphalt winding and mountainous road on the right side. Passing by some villages, Moallem-Kalayeh and about 2400 meters high, you will reach Alamout valley, which passes 8 Km away from the South of Ovaan Lake and it’s about a 2.5 hour drive; then you will reach Alamout area.

The castle is located on the top of a huge cliff located in the North of Gazorkhan village. The cliff is about 200 meters high and it is about a thirty-minute trekking to reach the castle from the parking space.

Thecastle is surrounded by the defending wallsthere which is on the cliff and the watchtowers which overlooking the valley. There is a ditch in the east side of the fort, which makes it stronger. There are several small and big water reservoirs in the cliff. The most wonderful one is the one on the North-West of the ramp which is always full of water and when the whole water is obtained, it will be full of water again.

Hasan Sabbah’s fort is about 10000 square meters and consists of the two parts which one of them is located upper than the other. The entrance is in the lower castle between the two towers in the South-east corner that reaches the upper castle by the ramp and the stairs.

There are about 20 wonderful forts still remained at the high altitudes of Alamout around the valley that are the signs of the commander’s power in their times.

This castle became famous during Saljouqs era by Hasan Sabbah, who was a promoter of Esmailieh religion. He was born in Qom and he educated at Nezamieh School in Neyshabour. When he was fired from Malek-Shah of Saljouqs court, he went to Egypt to study about Esmailieh religion and in a short time he became a Daie-Azam. He searched about all around Iran to find a place for his movements and finally he selected Alamout area. The castle has been built after Islam. It was seized by Hasan Sabbah in the 482 Lunar year (1103 A.D.). He paid 1000 or 3000 Dinar gold coins to the former commander to buy the castle.

He was living there for the rest of his life for 35 years up to the 518 Lunar year (1138 A.D.) and owning several castles all around Iran, formed an Esmailieh government, inviting the people to his religion and fighting against the Saljouqs Shahs and Bagdad Caliphs.

Hasan Sabbah was a wonderful scientist, politician, manager, strong organizer and faithful. He has been called Seyedena (My majesty). He had a great library in Alamout and he was interested in medicine and astronomy. His Fadaee followers and he had perfect historical, political and military rules all around the Islamic territories of their times.

Esmailieh government was founded by Hasan Sabbah and continued by the other seven successors who were called Khodavandan-e-Alamout (The Alamout gods). The castle strongly has resisted when it had been attacked and surrounded by the enemies for years, but finally it was seized by Holakou-Khan of Ilkhanids in the 654 Lunar year (1275 A.D.). Being seized and setting the fire to the castle and its valuable library made it as the ruins and it has been used as a prison since then. There are a few remaining parts of the castle because of the natural and human damage.

It is advised to study about the history and Hasan Sabbah’s unique management, before visiting the Alamout castle.

 

 

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