INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
which belonged to the Ismaili leader, Hasan ibn Sabbah, in the 11th century.The minister closely visited the maintenance and restoration
process of this treasured historical site, which is also a significant tourist destination in the Alamut region of Qazvin province.During
the visit, Zarghami walked an ascending path toward the fort, which is perched atop a steep hill, IRNA reported.Moreover, the minister
talked to several local people and was informed about their issues, problems, and demands, the report said.According to a local official,
the Alamut region has a great capacity for sightseeing and tourism
much-feared mercenary organization whose members were dispatched to murder or kidnap leading political and religious figures of the
landing amid its rugged lofty crags and was inspired to build an impregnable fortress.The valleys of Assassins were once the spine of Sabbah
cherry and pomegranate orchards until a mass of gray-brown rock looms from the distance with fortifications perched atop a summit.Assassins
believed their actions would transport them to paradise
Supposedly, Sabbah cunningly cultivated such beliefs by getting his followers stoned on hashish (unbeknown to them) and then showing them
beautiful secret gardens.The castle was captured by Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan in 1256 using diplomatic trickery, having earlier forced the
shrouded in mystery and enigma
This is partly because most Ismaili records of the era were destroyed by the invading Mongols while the writings of their detractors
travel diary, Valleys of the Assassins
A copy of that recently reprinted volume makes a great companion for the trip.Sandwiched between the dry and barren plain of Qazvin in the
south and the densely forested slopes of the Mazandaran province in the north, Alamut, draws many travelers with particular objectives in
mind: to find the past in the present, to learn about other cultures, to have a breath of fresh air, or simply to get some distance from
