Mehmandoust Tower

Mehmandoust Tower is one of the valuable historical monuments of Semnan Province. It stands south of the village of Mehmandoust, near the city of Damghan. The tower, also known as the "Masoumzadeh Tower," is registered on Iran's National Heritage list. According to its inscription, it dates to 490 AH and the Seljuk era. Some local residents regard the building as the tomb of Imamzadeh Qasem, a descendant of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him). Architecturally, however, the tower bears no resemblance to imamzadeh shrines and is much closer to the Seljuk-era tomb towers. Because of its visual similarity to the Toghrol Tower in Rey, it is also known among locals as the Toghrol Tower of Damghan.

Architecturally, Mehmandoust Tower has a circular plan with a twelve-sided body, decorated with delicate brickwork and beautiful muqarnas. The interior diameter is about 7 meters and the surviving height is nearly 14 meters, although its original conical dome has collapsed over time. In the upper part of the tower there are two inscriptions in Kufic and banna'i script, which greatly add to the historical value of the building. The interior contains three graves: one of brick and two built of stonework. Its architectural style, type of decoration and overall form place it among the most distinctive brick towers of Iran from the Seljuk period.

To reach Mehmandoust Tower, you can take the Damghan–Mashhad road and then the side roads leading to the village of Mehmandoust; the best option is to travel by private car. Since the monument lies in a relatively arid region, spring and autumn are the best times to visit. During your visit, it is very important to practice responsible nature tourism and to protect the historical monument, including avoiding damage to the brick structure and keeping the surroundings clean. Besides its architectural value, this historic tower also reflects part of the historical identity of the Damghan region.