“Alamut, where every stone tells a story,” a fascinating account by an eighty-four-year-old Ismaili Math professor of his climb to the Ismaili fortress, now inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

8 August 2026

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Alamut
Hasan-i-Sabbah led the Ismaili dawa from the castle of Alamut, which was built on top of an unassailable granite rock on one of the peaks of the Alburz range, 100km north of modern Tehran. It is located in the south of Caspian Sea in the province of Daylaman in the Rudbar region near the city of Qazwin. Photograph: (Late) Ali M. Rajput.

Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT

Just over a year after the launch of the Simerg website in 2009, Professor Ali M. Rajput, who has since passed away, provided an account of his climb to Alamut at the remarkable age of 84. His story generated many comments from our readers. We encourage our readers to explore Ali M. Rajput’s fascinating first encounter with Alamut in 2007, as well as his inspiring climb to the top of the mountain. This account is featured on Simerg and its sister website, Simergphotos, with a more appealing pictorial layout.

The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) had been planning since 2014 to submit the Alamut Castle for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the registration process encountered delays due to various factors. You can read more about the situation HERE.

Dr. Ali Rajput riding a horse, which took him only halfway up. Determined and encouraged by his son, Karim, Rajput then walked the remainder of the way to the peak, even at the age of 84. Photograph: Ali M. Rajput Collection

Finally, in July 2026, the Fortress of Alamut and its associated strongholds in Iran were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. With 30 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, including two natural sites, IRI is now among the top 10 countries in the world with the largest number of officially designated sites on the UNESCO list.

The Islamic Republic of Iran submits one nomination file annually for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and we hope that during Sunday’s session [July 26, 2026], the Alamut file will be approved so that its World Heritage certificate can be issued in Iran’s name” — Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.

The following is a brief description posted on the UNESCO World Heritage Convention website, which provides comprehensive details about the fortifications (please click on Alamūt Castle and Related Fortifications).

UNESCO: Alamūt Castle and Related Fortifications

Alamut Castle becomes Iran’s 30th UNESCO World Heritage site.

The serial property comprises of Alamūt Castle and six associated fortifications — Lambesar, Navizaršāh, Šams Kelāyeh, Qosṭinlār, Širkūh, and Ilān — strategically positioned within the rugged landscape of the Alborz Mountains in Qazvin Province, northern Iran. From the late 11th century CE, Alamūt served as the political, military, and intellectual centre of the Nezāri Ismaʿilis, an influential Islamic movement whose reach extended across Iran and the wider Islamic world. This fortified network functioned both as a refuge and as a scholarly and cultural hub, sustaining the Nezāri community until the fall of Alamūt in 1256 and continuing to shape regional religious and intellectual history long thereafter. Together, the fortifications illustrate the strategic organisation, resilience, and cultural significance of the Nezāri Ismaʿili state. (reproduced here under under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0).

We also have links to other stories in the world media about Alamut’s designation as a World Heritage Site. Please click

Date posted: August 8, 2026.

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