dowlat abad garden

Although the city of Yazd is in the middle of central Iranian deserts, there are vast, beautiful gardens inside the city. One of the most important gardens is Dowlat Abad Garden (Bagh-e Dolat Abad) with an area of 70,000 square meters.

The garden is a UNESCO world heritage site. It dates back to the late Afsharid period in the 18th century. Dowlat Abad Garden features a long pool and a beautiful fountain with tall cypress trees on both sides. There are also two mansions in the garden: summer and winter mansions.

The summer mansion, also called Shah Neshin, served as a residence of Karim Khan Zand, the founder of Zand dynasty. The building is a perfect example of Persian architecture. It has been constructed on two floors and has an octagonal pavilion. It is well-known for its wind tower, which is the tallest in Iran. The 33-meter tower functions as an ancient air conditioning system, blowing fresh air inside the building. The mansion features artistic colored-glass windows and delicate latticework. The ceiling boasts muqarnas decorations. In the center of the mansion, there is a pool which refreshes the air inside the building. The rooftop of the mansion has a spectacular view of the garden.

There are pomegranate, grapevine and cypress trees in the garden. Visitors can enjoy tea served with local sweets. They can also have a bowl of traditional Iranian soup, Ash, at the garden’s restaurant.