These are pictures of Ghaleh Roodkhan in Fooman mountains in Gilan. This fort is the biggest ancient brick and stone castle in Iran, and is located 25 km southwest of the city of Fooman. It is comprised of an administrative and a military structure, which housed a garrison. People used to live in the military section, equipped with utility services such as a water reservoir
(Ab Anbar) which has stayed intact in over 800 years. It is believed to have been built during the Mogul rule over Iran in Saljuq era (1040-1220). Built on two tips of a mountain, it has an area of five hectares. After crossing a mountainous winding route and passing a dense and very beautiful forrest, the first thing the traveler discovers is the castle's grand entrance gate.
In my many trips to Gilan, I never knew this architectural marvel existed. I have seen pictures of it and recently, our friend Alef Shin wrote about it to me in a letter. It is going on my list of things to see before I live a long life!
Here's where the photos and some of the text came from: First picture is by a fabulous photographer, named Dr. Bavand Bikdeli. Check his photoblog. He is amazing. Second picture and some of the text is by Atoussa Taghavi. Third picture is by Maysam Sedaghat. Last picture has been taken by Alef Shin last Fall on a rainy day.
These are pictures of Ghaleh Roodkhan in Fooman mountains in Gilan. This fort is the biggest ancient brick and stone castle in Iran, and is located 25 km southwest of the city of Fooman. It is comprised of an administrative and a military structure, which housed a garrison. People used to live in the military section, equipped with utility services such as a water reservoir (Ab Anbar) which has stayed intact in over 800 years. It is believed to have been built during the Mogul rule over Iran in Saljuq era (1040-1220). Built on two tips of a mountain, it has an area of five hectares. After crossing a mountainous winding route and passing a dense and very beautiful forrest, the first thing the traveler discovers is the castle's grand entrance gate. In my many trips to Gilan, I never knew this architectural marvel existed. I have seen pictures of it and recently, our friend Alef Shin wrote about it to me in a letter. It is going on my list of things to see before I live a long life! Here's where the photos and some of the text came from: 
14 comments:
سلام !
قلعه ی رودخان...
بنظرم بهترین جیزی که میشه راجع بهش گفت جمله ای یه که ا.ش. در وبلاگ تراگویی راجع بهش گفتن ...
"نمایشی از درهم‌تنیدگی طبیعت با جلوه‌ای از آفرینش هندسی کهن ایرانی"
راستی یادم رفت بگم شاید یه سفر با بچه های دیالوگ به زودی بریم قلعه ی رودخان ...
جای همگی خالی ...
Universal Dimension Jan, Salam. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing it some day. Maybe when you go, you can learn the way,and when I come, you will lead me there. Yes, jaye ma ra ham khali konid, though we will be there in spirit. Thanks for coming my friend.
Just wanna say hellooooo :D
As F. (Universal Dimension) said: we may go on a short trip to this castel ( I guess after Ramedan). This is one of those places I want to see before dying. Actually I've a long list and if I live as long as my ancestors I'll have the time to see them all before dying! Let's forget the other limiting factors by now :D
And Hello to Shobeir! I am so envious of the two of you! I want to go there, too! You will have to tell stories after you come back, so I can see it in my mind reading your stories. Deal?
You know Shobeir, I never think about death, really. Though I am acutely aware of the fact that I am mortal (!), I think my death will happen when it will, and I will have no choice but to deal with it then! I deal so much better with life and here and now, trying to put the past behind me to the best of my ability, and not getting overly anxious for the future, which will come soon enough! (Omar Khayyam has a poignant robaee about that, too). Here and now and all that I can see and hold and taste and feel and see and hear now. I have had to go through major personal emotional and spiritual transformations to say what I just said to you! You will live a long life enshallah, and I hope it is full of wonderful experiences and love in whatever you do and whatever you accomplish, enjoying life as you go along.
Yes, I have a list, too, but it is not a very long list! I did most of the things I wanted to do in my life by the time I was 40. My life after that has been with a much shorter list, and "regret-free" as I continue to say.
Be good Shobeir.
Nazy aziz
sure ...
I'll bring for you a set of pictures that you can eseally imagine all the momments ...
:)
شبیر عزیز :
ما که در چندین ماه اخیر هر وقت تو رو دیدیم داشتی از لیست بلند بالات حرف میزدی ...
بابا جان اینقدر به مرگ فکر نکن ، یک کم هم زندگی کن آخه بالام جان !!!
WoW
چقدر غلط املائی داشتم تو نوشته ی قبلی واقعا عذر می خوام ...
Nazy Joonam, If you do go back one day soon, maybe I can stow away in your suitcase (permitting the wait restrictions!).
Sorry, I meant "weight restrictions". If I didn't correct myself, I would not be able to handle it all day long....!
Breathtaking pictures you got there. I never knew about this place. It is going on my list too.
Assal Jan. We'll wait until we can travel first class together, how about that! We will go to Yazd, Kerman, Mahallat, Boushehr, Fooman, Ilam, Lorestan, Abadan, Konarak, ... you name it and we will go! I so want to go and see the beautiful Iran again. What better companion than you my dear. We wil write a travelog and tell everyone about all the beauties and kindnesses we will see. Be good Azizam.
Yes, Daisy Jan. It is beautiful. the nice thing about looking at beautiful places in Iran is that we feel we "own" them, or they own us. How long is your list by now? If you haven't been to Moscow, I highly recommend it. It is a city unlike any other in the world. St. Petersburg is on my list, but Moscow has been crossed out by now! I want to go to Tajikistan and Armanistan, too. Keep up your beautiful dreams and your list. Enjoy every moment of life as a new beginning. Take care azizam.
قلعه رودخان خیره‌کننده‌ست، وقتی دروازه‌اش را ببینید از زمان بیرون می‌آیید و در زیبایی ِ درهم‌آمیختگی طبیعت و هنر ایرانی محو می‌شوید. برج‌هایش زبان تاریخ‌اند و برگ‌های سبز درختانش زبان آفرینش؛ هر دو در یک متن با زبانی مشترک.
to ا.ش.
:)
خوش گذشت ؟؟؟
Alef Shin Jan: I should like to report that in your absence, your class decided to go to Ghaleh Roodkhan! Is it true that it was the last fort to have been conquered in Iran as a result of the Arab invasion? I cannot tell you what mystery this monument is to me. I keep on dreaming of seeing it until I do see it myself. Thank you for providing the photo that inspired this post.
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