Dowlat Abad Garden — Attraction in دهستان فجر

Discover the Ingenious Beauty of Ancient Persian Engineering: Imagine stepping into a serene garden oasis in the heart of the desert, where the air is cool, the sound of flowing water soothes your senses, and colorful fish swim gracefully in crystal-clear pools. Welcome to the Dolat Abad Garden in Yazd, Iran, where ancient Persian engineering comes to life in the most enchanting way.

The Majestic Wind Catcher ~ Towering above the garden is the tallest wind catcher in Iran, standing at an impressive 33.8 meters (about 111 feet). This architectural marvel, known as a bâdgir, captures the gentle desert breezes and channels them down into the garden. As the air flows through the wind catcher, it passes over water fountains, cooling the air through a natural process called evaporative cooling. This ingenious design keeps the garden refreshingly cool, even on the hottest days. Beneath the garden lies a hidden network of tunnels known as a qanat system. This ancient irrigation method channels water from underground aquifers to the surface, providing a continuous supply of fresh water. The qanat system not only sustains the lush greenery of the garden but also powers the beautiful fountains that dot the landscape. As you wander through the garden, you’ll notice the gentle sound of water flowing and the sight of fish swimming in the pools. These fish thrive in the cool, oxygen-rich water provided by the qanat system. The combination of the wind catcher and qanat creates a harmonious environment where nature and engineering work together seamlessly.

Eco-Friendly and Timeless ~ What makes this ancient 1747 built engineering so remarkable is its eco-friendly nature. The entire system operates without any external energy sources, relying solely on natural forces like gravity, wind, and water. This sustainable design is a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Persian engineers, who created solutions that were both effective and environmentally conscious.

Visiting the Dolat Abad Garden is like stepping back in time to witness the brilliance of ancient Persian innovation. It’s a place where history, nature, and engineering converge to create a truly magical experience. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful design, the Dolat Abad Garden offers something for everyone.

Come and explore this hidden gem in Yazd, and let the wonders of ancient Persian engineering captivate your...

For 3 days I was in Yazd and due to lack of time, honestly, the Dolat Abad Garden wasn’t on my list but on the last day I was somehow near the Garden so I told myself maybe I’m destined to pay a visit! :) When I walked into the Garden, I felt the greatness of a magnificent example of the Persian/Iranian Gardens. (Moreover I have to say that the Dolat Abad Garden is one of the 9 Iranian gardens included on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.) Also the main building which includes the tallest wind-catcher in the world was breathtaking (known as the wind-tower). As I read from the information board, the whole site was built during the Afsharid Era of Iran in 1746. But what shocked me more than anything else wasn’t the Garden, nor the architecture of the wind-catcher!: Inside the main building, around the wind-catcher, there are 3 rooms; 3 rooms that I suggest you before entering them, start taking a video! You know why?! Because later you can watch your own reaction after you’ve entered those rooms! If you and me have the same taste, you would be like: “Wooooaaaah!!!” Yes! Exactly like that :) The 3 rooms contains 3 tall stained-glass windows which one is different in colors from the other! I will post some of the pictures I took from the windows but believe me you have to be there to get in the mood! Also my suggestion is to pay a visit during the morning hours as the sun’s rays of light are somehow not that sharp as they are at noon! About the wind tower there are several interesting things! One is the intelligence of doing such engineering and architecture nearly 280 years ago! Forexample right under the wind-catcher there is a small pond of water. You know why?! Because when the wind is blown to the room by the wind tower, the water can make it much cooler!...

Dowlatabad Garden (Persian: باغ دولت آباد) is a historical garden in Yazd, Iran. Its 33.8 meters tall windcatcher is the tallest adobe-made windcatcher in the world. It was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2011, as part of the Persian gardens. It is also listed in UNESCO as a part of the historical city of Yazd in 2017. The garden contains several buildings, such as Talar-e Ayeneh (mirror hall building), frontispiece house, Behesht-Aeen building, Badgir building, Haremsara (women quarters), Tehrani building, servants quarters, courthouse, kitchen (cook house), archway, cistern, Shotorkhane, summer and winter stables and a Qanat. The garden was created in 1747 by Mohammad Taghi Khan Bafqi who was in charge of Yazd after Nader Shah's death. He began the construction by ordering a 65 kilometers long Qanat with 5 root branches to be made to transfer water from Mehriz to the site.] Then he constructed his residence and the seat of his government in the garden. The garden fell into ruins after the death of its original owner in 1793. Currently the garden is irrigated using a semi deep well as the Qanat no longer provides water for the garden.

The garden and the structures in it were repaired by Fathali Shah Qajar's third son Mohammad Vali Mirza who was in 1811 the governor of Yazd, and another time by Sultan Hossein Mirza the eldest son of Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan who was serving as the governor of Yazd. For the last time, it was repaired between 1975 and 1983 which restored the half collapsed windcatcher in some parts. The walls containing the garden once had 6 towers, of which only 1 remains today.

It was listed in the national heritage sites of Iran with the number 774 on March 13,...