Khanqoli Tower

Khanqoli Tower, also known in some local sources as "Tappeh-Pa", is a historic adobe and mud-brick structure about 700 years old, located in the city of Samen, Malayer County, Hamadan Province. The tower stands in the Chal-e Khanqoli neighbourhood on Farabi Street and is regarded as one of the defensive and watchtower structures built around Samen during the Ilkhanid period. Its location in the heart of the city's historic fabric has made it a local historical landmark. The tower was added to the Iran National Heritage List on 18 Esfand 1387 under registration number 25121.

The tower originally had four storeys. During World War I its upper part was destroyed in an attack by Russian forces, and today two storeys remain. The tower is built mainly of adobe, mud and rammed earth (chineh), and its foundations are estimated to be about 15 metres in diameter. The lattice-like openings in the walls of the third and fourth storeys show that the structure had a military purpose, serving for observation and for shooting at enemies. Khanqoli Tower is one of four defensive towers around Samen, built at various distances to improve the security of the town's surroundings, and it is considered an example of Ilkhanid military architecture in the region.

To visit Khanqoli Tower, head from the centre of Samen (about 15 kilometres from Malayer) towards the Chal-e Khanqoli neighbourhood on Farabi Street. The route is within the town and the tower is fairly easy to reach, so visitors can also experience Samen's historic and urban fabric during their visit. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and walking around the structure and through the surrounding streets is more comfortable. Visitors should follow the principles of responsible nature tourism, avoiding any damage to the tower or its surroundings and not leaving litter, so that the historical value of this monument is preserved for future generations.