Gerdkuh Castle, Damghan

🕰️When was it built?

The castle was built in the early Islamic era or a little before, and from the late 5th century AH (late 11th century) it was tied to Ismaili rule. After a seventeen-year siege it surrendered to the Mongols in 669 AH (1271), and from around 800 AH (about 1398) it fell into ruin.

🏛️What was it built for?

Gerdkuh was a refuge and defensive base of the Ismailis in the Qumis region. Cisterns, pools and lookout buildings were used for water and for keeping watch, and the eastern route up was watched by the castle's lookouts.

👀What you will see

• Three covered cisterns on the south side, linked to each other, whose water came from the Pikhar spring.
• The remains of lookout buildings at different points on the mountain, with pools built beside them.
• Stone buildings with sarooj mortar, which made up the main defensive structures of the castle.
• The dome-shaped mountain beneath the castle, from whose shape the names Gerdkuh and Dezh-e Gonbadan probably come.

🎒Good to know before you go

• The castle is on a mountain and its historic route up is from the east; plan for a mountain path.