Shazdeh Garden of Mahan

Shazdeh Garden (Prince  Garden) is located 2 km away from Mahan, one of the major cities in Kerman province. The garden, dating back to the late Qajar period, was initially commissioned by Mohammad Hassan Khan Sardar Iravani, the ruler of Kerman at the time, and was built on the slopes of Tigran Mountains. But, the death of Mohammad Hassan Khan put a halt on the construction of the garden. However, years later, another governor of Kerman, Abdol-Hamid Mirza Naser al-Dowlah, undertook the completion of the edifice. Unfortunately, neither did Abdol-Hamid Mirza live long enough to see the building finished.   

If you look closely at the decorations of the portal, empty spaces meant to be filled with tiles will come to your attention. As the story goes, when the news of the death of Abdol-Hamid Mirza was spread, the architect of the building threw the plaster bowl he had in his hands to the wall and left his job. 

The peculiar thing about Shazdeh garden, is the contradiction between its lush and green environment, and the dry environment outside its walls. This garden looks like a magnificent oasis in the desert, and this is what intensifies its charm.

The Mahan Garden, with an area of about 5.5 hectares, includes two eastern and western complexes and is considered as one of the most beautiful Iranian gardens. In addition to the original architecture of the garden mansion, it is possible to identify other significant features which add grandeur and beauty to the garden, such as its fountains that operate only on the basis of laws of physics and altitude. The garden has a length of 407 meters and a width of 122 meters. At the front entrance, you will find the beautiful porch of the garden. It looks like a picture frame portraying mansions, pools, fountains and garden trees. The main building is at the end of the garden, comprised of the mansion, its courtyard and the baths of the garden.

The exterior section of the house is located in the garden entrance and occupies a two-storey building on the entrance to the garden. On the upper floor, there are residential rooms. The Shahneshin of the garden is now run as a restaurant by the private sector, which, of course, has resulted in protests from UNESCO. The structure of the bridges leading to the mansion, along with water fountains and terracotta trees create a variety of harmonies, giving the garden a beautiful view beyond words to be described.

The water needed for the garden comes from the Tigran aqueduct, which originates from the highlands of Jupar. The Prince Mahan Garden was restored in 1979, but unfortunately, in 1982, it suffered another severe damage due to an earthquake. However, the garden was rebuilt and it is well protected today. The garden was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as the thirteenth Iranian edition of the year 2011 in order to further its importance. This garden is also among the most sophisticated attractions in Iran.