Malek Bahman Castle

Malek Bahman Castle, also known as Malek Ghala, Malakeh Ghala (the Queen of Castles) and Shahandasht Castle, is located in Mazandaran Province, near the village of Shahandasht. The historic castle lies about 75 kilometres south of Amol and 113 kilometres from Tehran. It is built on a solid rock at a height of 220 metres above the ground, and it offers a spectacular view of the Shahandasht Waterfall. According to some historical sources, the fortress dates back more than 3,000 years to the Sasanian era, and it was probably the seat of the Padusbanid rulers, who governed Ruyan, Nur, Kojur and Rostamdar.

The castle consists of various rooms and sections built with large and small rubble stones and a mortar of gypsum and sarooj (a traditional waterproof lime mortar). The fortress was designed in tiers, and because of its strategic position it was once used as an important military and defensive base. One interesting feature of the castle is that it has no entrance door, which has also earned it the name "Castle of the Angels". Among local people in particular, this unusual feature is regarded as one of the castle's unique characteristics. The monument was registered on Iran's National Heritage list on 19 Mordad 1379 (10 August 2000) under number 2778, and today it is considered one of the important tourist and historical attractions of northern Iran.

To reach Malek Bahman Castle, first go to the village of Shahandasht on the Haraz Road. From there, a steep dirt trail leads up to the castle, and walking it requires good physical fitness and mountaineering equipment. The best time to visit is spring and summer, when the weather is mild and the surrounding nature is at its most beautiful. To protect the environment and prevent damage to the historic remains, we recommend following the principles of responsible nature tourism and avoiding any harm to the historic structures.