Mohammad Ali Khan Fortress

The natural Mohammad Ali Khan Fortress and the scenic road leading to it are among the most spectacular sights in Dezful. Also known as the Ali Mardan Khan Fortress, it is one of the most magnificent and oldest places you can visit on a trip to Dezful. The fortress is set into the mountain walls at an altitude of 1,550 metres, shoulder to shoulder with the Haft Tanan Mountain in Khuzestan, and its beauty will amaze you. Interestingly, the fortress has only one entrance and exit. It is called a fortress because the natural structure of the mountain resembles a castle that protects those inside it. It is also said that a building once stood in this area, which has since been destroyed. It can be said that this mountain and refuge have been used since ancient times as a base for fighting against the rulers of the day.

In 1232 (Solar Hijri), the Mohammad Ali Khan Fortress, also known as the Sardasht Fortress, was the base of the struggle of Mohammad Ali Khan I and Mahmud Saleh Chahar Lang Bakhtiari against the oppression of Khanlar Mirza Ehtesham od-Dowleh, the then governor of Lorestan and Khuzestan under the Qajar government, and his son Ebrahim Mirza. Some historians believe the fortress was named Mohammad Ali Khan Fortress for this reason. In historical books it is referred to as Dez-e Ostovar, Dez, Mandezun or Mohammad Ali Khan Fortress. The history of the fortress continues: in 1307, Sardar Ali Mardan Khan, the brother of Mohammad Ali Khan and the owner of the fortress, founded a group called the Bakhtiari Social Council (Hey'at-e Ejtema'iyeh-ye Bakhtiari). After a large number of Bakhtiari tribes joined it, he rose up against Reza Shah. Reza Shah sent his forces to the region to suppress the rebels. After a year of conflict and guerrilla warfare, Ali Mardan Khan and his companions surrendered through the mediation of some of the khans and went to Tehran. Some time later he was arrested in Tehran and taken to Qasr Prison, and was finally executed on one of the days of Esfand 1313.

The twin waterfalls of the Mohammad Ali Khan Fortress lie at the foot of the fortress. The waterfall on the right, with a weaker flow, is hidden behind a myrtle tree, while the waterfall on the left is fully visible. The fortress is earth-coloured and in some parts black and dark, which multiplies the grandeur of this huge wall in the eyes of the viewer. The vegetation around the fortress and the waterfalls adds to the beauty of the area's natural scenery. The campsite in front of these twin waterfalls is one of the best places to stay and is recommended for nature lovers.

As you may know, Khuzestan Province has a hot climate, and we do not particularly recommend travelling to this region in the hot seasons, that is, late spring and summer. However, from Azar to mid-Khordad is an excellent time to enjoy the mild, pleasant weather and to make the most of the nature of the province and the surroundings of the Mohammad Ali Khan Fortress. In addition, more rain falls in these seasons, making the landscape lusher and greener, with more water.