Valangan Village

Valangan Village is located in Janat-Rudbar Rural District, Ramsar County, Mazandaran Province, and is regarded as one of the unspoiled summer pastures (yeilaq) of this region. The village lies at the end of the Janat-Rudbar road, and the route to it passes through the Dalkhani Forest, a beautiful and well-known road that is especially popular with travellers. Because it is not easy to reach and has kept its traditional character, Valangan is one of the villages that still preserves an authentic, natural way of life.

Only a few families live in the village, and most of them migrate to lower-lying areas during the winter season. The farmland and orchards are covered with crops such as borage (known locally as valik), walnuts, hazelnuts and potatoes, and orchard farming and livestock herding are the main sources of local income. The area around Valangan holds Hyrcanian forests, mountain pastures and natural springs, and its cool air and scenic landscapes have made it an ideal destination for summer visitors and nature photographers.

Historically, remains of Zoroastrian (Gabr) graves have been found around the village, which date settlement in this area to before the arrival of Islam and bear witness to its ancient history. To reach Valangan Village, first take the Ramsar–Tonekabon road from Ramsar, then continue past the Janat-Rudbar junction; the road is winding and reminiscent of the summer-pasture roads of northern Iran. The best time to visit Valangan is early summer (Khordad and Tir, roughly late May to mid-July), when borage is harvested and the landscape is at its greenest and freshest. Travellers are also encouraged to practise responsible tourism, such as keeping the area clean, respecting the local way of life and using marked trails, to help preserve this valuable natural environment.