The Persian Garden: Dowlat Abad Garden
The historical garden of Dowlat Abad in Yazd province of Iran (which is known as the “City of Windcatchers”) is among the 9 Iranian gardens inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list (in 2017). The tallest adobe-made windcatcher (windward) in the world (33.8 meters) is built right in the middle of this garden and has made it an attractive touristic spot. Watch this video to see how magnificent this garden is.
The heavenly garden includes several buildings and mansions, such as Talar-e Ayeneh (Hall of the mirrors), frontispiece house, Behesht-Aeen building, Windward building, Haramsara (women quarters), Tehrani building, servants quarters, courthouse, kitchen (cook house), archway, cistern, Shotorkhane, summer and winter stables, Qanat and a big, rectangular pool.
Where is the Persian Garden of Dowlat Abad?
The garden is located in Chahar Menar (four Minarets) quarter in Yazd; its main door opening to Shahid Rajaei Street and the other door opening to Dowlat Abad Boulevard. One can visit other nearby attractions in Yazd while Dowlat Abad garden’s visit is over. LariHa House, Alexander’s Prison, Amir Chakhmaq Complex, Zoroastrians’ Dakhmeh, Rokn Addin’s mausoleum, Markar clock tower, and Zoroastrians’ fire temple are some of these attractions.
Construction History of Dowlat Abad Persian Garden
The garden was constructed at the end of the Afsharid dynasty (1160 AH) by the founder of the Khans Of Yazd, Mohammad Taghi Khan Bafghi, known as the Grand Khan (khan is a title of for a ruler). Back then, there were so many trees in the garden that could shade it from the outer world. The garden was situated in the suburban area of Yazd back then but in the process of expanding the city in Qajar dynasty, it became a part of the urban context. With further developments in the Pahlavi era, it became centered in the city, the same spot it has today.
Unfortunately, Dowlat Abad Garden turned into ruins for a while. So many Renovations and reconstructions were applied to the garden by the Ministry of culture and Arts with the hope of preserving national heritage but it never reclaimed its former beauty and prosperity.
Structure & Architecture of Dowlat Abad Garden
Dowlat Abad Garden is an excellent example of Persian architecture with its collection of buildings, ponds, and fountains inside an area full of flowers and different plants and trees. In the past, the garden was used for residential and governmental purposes. It used to include four main buildings inside that only three of them made it through the years. It consists of two sections of Andarooni (inner part) and Birooni (outer part). State gatherings, sports events, and governmental reunions were all held in the external garden while the internal garden was exclusively home to kings and other important figures. The two external and internal sections were built completely separately and sometimes there were even a few guards defending the internal section for safety reasons.
From a structural point of view, Dowlat Abad Garden can be considered a garden-yard type and is often compared with two famous gardens in Shiraz: Narenjestan Ghavam Garden, and Haft Tanan Garden. This association is due to their similar architecture (a garden designed in the center surrounded by buildings).One of the prettiest buildings of Dowlat Abad garden is Talar-e Ayeneh (Hall of the mirrors) in which doors and windows are designed in the famous Persian style, shishe Orsi, which are colorful glasses through which the sunlight passes and fills the room with colorful lights and gives a warm, cosy and heavenly feeling to the room.
Tripadvisor Comments
A traveller has posted his opinion about Dowlat Abad garden in the following words:
“A garden of water & trees in a desert city, Dowlat Abad garden has both historical significance and aesthetic beauty”
And another traveller has commented:
“Yet another example of how Persians used a combination of clever plumbing and harnessing the wind to create natural air conditioning in a harsh climate.”