Tonka Castle

Tonka Castle is one of the most important historical monuments in Tonekabon County, in Mazandaran Province. It stands on the heights south of Qaleh Gardan village, within Baldeh Rural District. Regarded as one of Tonekabon's historic landmarks, the fortress overlooks the Dohezar Gorge, the Tonekabon plain and a large part of the surrounding area, which gave it a special strategic position in the past. According to some historical accounts, the name Tonekabon means "at the foot of Tonka Castle", which shows how important these fortifications were in shaping the historical identity of the region. Tonka Castle dates to the 5th century AH (lunar Hijri) and was inscribed on Iran's National Heritage List on 26 Esfand 1386 under registration number 21962.

This mountain castle covers about 350 square metres and was built on a hill roughly 50 metres high. Its natural position was chosen so that the slope is very steep on the south side and gentler on the other sides, a feature that increased its security and defensive strength. The book Tarikh-e Ruyan traces the fortress back to at least the middle of the 5th century AH, and historical evidence shows that the castle was used, destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. During the Constitutional Revolution era, it also served for a time as a refuge for Mirza Kuchak Khan Jangali and his companions. Today only parts of the castle's stone ramparts, reinforced with sarooj mortar, remain, but even these remains give a picture of the grandeur and military importance of this historic fortress.

To visit Tonka Castle, head from Tonekabon towards the Qaleh Gardan area and the scenic Dohezar and Sehezar roads. The route to the village is suitable for cars, and the rest of the way is a short walk along natural paths. The best time to visit this historic site is spring and early autumn, when the nature around the castle is at its most beautiful and the views of the region's forests and plains are especially striking. When visiting, practising responsible nature tourism, avoiding damage to the historical remains and not leaving litter all play an important part in preserving this valuable heritage for future generations.