Ghaleh Bala Village

Ghaleh Bala is one of the most attractive tourist villages in Semnan Province. It lies in Shahroud County, in Biarjmand District and Biarjmand Rural District, about 140 kilometres southeast of Shahroud. The village is small in population: according to official statistics it has more than 400 residents in about 176 households, who live from farming, animal husbandry and ecotourism activities. Its foothill setting and its proximity to Touran National Park and Protected Area give the village a naturally terraced architecture that blends desert and mountain landscapes.

Thanks to the traditional terraced architecture of its adobe houses, its stone-paved alleys and its unique desert scenery, Ghaleh Bala is known as one of the most distinctive villages in Iran. The village's traditional local fabric is still largely preserved and has real historical and cultural appeal. Local accounts trace settlement in this area back to the 4th century AH (Hijri lunar), and point to small historical sites such as the Malhado Cave in the surrounding heights. The village sits where the indigenous culture of Semnan, the desert way of life and the borderland nature of Touran National Park meet.

To reach Ghaleh Bala, continue from Shahroud towards Biarjmand District; after about 24 kilometres from the village of Biarjmand, you arrive at the destination. The whole route is by road, but some sections are winding and run through the foothills, so careful driving is needed. The best times to visit are spring, autumn and the milder part of winter, because summers in the desert areas are hot and dry, while in spring and autumn the desert and foothill scenery is at its most appealing. Visitors should follow the principles of responsible nature tourism, including respecting the historic fabric of the village, not damaging the traditional houses, taking their litter away, and respecting the privacy of the ecolodges and the Touran protected areas.