Dowlat Abad Garden

Where is Dowlat Abad Garden? Strategically located in the central city of Yazd, Dowlat Abad Garden is easily accessible to travelers. While it once lay just outside the city walls during the Qajar era, urban development during the Pahlavi period incorporated it into the heart of modern Yazd. You can find this captivating attraction in the Chahar Manar neighborhood, on Shahid Rajaee Street, easily accessible from Dowlat Abad Boulevard and nestled within the beautiful Ferdowsi Alley.

The history of Dowlat Abad Garden dates back to 1160 AH (around 1747 CE), during the Zand Dynasty. It was the ambitious creation of Mohammad Taqi Khan, known as the ‘Great Khan,’ a powerful figure in Yazd during the reign of Shahrokh Mirza and Karim Khan Zand. Mohammad Taqi Khan’s vision began not with the structures, but with water. He first established the vast Dowlat Abad Qanat—a vital subterranean aqueduct—and subsequently used its life-giving flow to bring the Garden of Dowlat Abad into existence. This approach highlights the fundamental principle of Persian gardening: water is the source of life and beauty. This historical context makes a cultural tour of Iran incomplete without a stop here.

What truly sets Dowlat Abad Garden apart is its iconic Windcatcher Mansion (Emarat-e Hasht-e Jannat), home to the tallest windcatcher in Iran, soaring to a height of over 33.8 meters (approximately 108 feet). The unique octagonal design of this bâdgir allows it to capture wind from any direction, guiding it downwards. Beneath it, a strategically placed pool of water creates a naturally cooled airflow, distributed throughout the living areas. This sophisticated natural air conditioning system makes the Summer Residence genuinely habitable and cool. The Hasht-e Jannat Mansion, situated at the end of the garden’s main axis, is the principal pavilion, featuring three large rooms and a central Howzkhaneh (pool room).

The historic and crucial Dowlat Abad Qanat is an engineering marvel that predates the garden by over two centuries. Composed of five separate aqueduct branches, this essential waterway stretches approximately 60 kilometers, making it one of the longest and most significant qanats in Yazd. Originating in the mountains of Mehriz, the qanat quenched the thirst of lands in Mehriz, powered several water mills, and finally reached Yazd, where it fully irrigated all of Dowlat Abad Garden before continuing to nourish the surrounding agricultural fields. The very existence and enduring beauty of the garden are owed to this phenomenal feat of subterranean water management.

Dowlat Abad Garden is a complex of interconnected structures, each serving a distinct function. To the west of the main Windcatcher Mansion is the grand Tanabi Mansion, also featuring a square-shaped windcatcher. The Sar-Dar Mansion (Entrance Portal) marks the transition between the Inner and Outer Gardens, serving as administrative offices and staff accommodation. Other supporting structures included Abdar-Khaneh (water storage), Sharbat-Khaneh (drink house), kitchen, stables, and a camel house, reflecting the self-sufficient nature of this grand estate. This blend of residential and utilitarian architecture highlights the comprehensive design of Dowlat Abad Garden.

Dowlat Abad Garden spans an impressive 6.4 hectares, ranking it among the largest and most beautiful Persian gardens. Its precise geometry is a hallmark of Persian garden design, divided into two perpendicular rectangular sections: the Outer Garden (Bagh-e Birooni) and the Inner Garden (Bagh-e Andarooni). The larger rectangle’s axis forms the main axis of the Inner Garden, aligned with the magnificent main water channel, measuring 194 by 12 meters. This axis visually connects the entrance building to the main Hasht-e Jannat pavilion. The symmetry is paramount, with trees planted on either side of the main axis, directing the eye toward the main buildings while maintaining an unrestricted view. A peculiar note is the non-alignment of the main axis of the Inner Garden with that of the Outer Garden, an intriguing architectural mystery.

In a region where water is a scarce commodity, the water display in Dowlat Abad Garden is nothing short of an artistic performance. The architect masterfully brings qanat water to the surface repeatedly to quench the soul of the desert dweller. The water journey is visible: it surfaces beneath the main windcatcher in the Hasht-e Jannat, flows into central pools, and cascades into three elongated pools. Notably, three Sīneh Kabk (partridge breast) marble pieces are used at the water’s edge, carved to create rippling waves, visually amplifying the water’s volume. The landscape features fruit trees like grapes, as well as Cypress and Pine trees, complemented by beautiful rose and Muhammadī flowers, creating a truly refreshing environment at Dowlat Abad Garden.

Dowlat Abad Garden was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011 as part of “The Persian Garden” serial nomination. Its inscription confirms its Outstanding Universal Value for its unique architecture, unparalleled hydraulic system, and the world’s tallest windcatcher. It represents the genius of Persian design in creating a complex ecosystem in a desert environment and preserves an authentic example of a governmental-residential garden from the Zand era, further solidifying the importance of Dowlat Abad Garden in Iran's cultural landscape. A visit here is as vital as exploring Fin Garden in Kashan to understand Persian garden heritage.