14 February 2017

Impressions and Images of Iran: Bagh-e Dolat Abad in Yazd

In 2011, UNESCO listed "The Persian Gardens" as a World Heritage Site. There are actually several gardens that are included in the list, including the garden attached to the Chehel Sotun Palace in Isfahan. The Dolat Abad Garden in Yazd is also included in the list, as well as other gardens in Kashan and Shiraz which I didn't visit. The garden in Yazd however, was stunning, and I was definitely impressed.

See, I said before that Persian gardens are low-key affairs: water always goes down, so there are minimal fountains as they unnaturally make the water go up. There is emphasis in symmetry, and this garden is no exception.



As with other Persian gardens, there is a waterway in the middle of the garden, as well as symmetrical plots of land to the left and right. There is also a pavilion at the end, and the interior of this pavilion is superb, with amazing stained glass windows as well as Iran's tallest windcatcher, which is also of a different shape. Most windcatchers are square, but this one is octagonal in shape.



This garden was built around 1750, and was once the residence of a Persian regent. As you can see, the photos above show the natural and symmetrical layout of this garden.



The latticework found in the interior of the pavilion was definitely eye-catching. I love how the Persians perfected the geometric arts, as evidenced in their architecture. The bare room you can see above is actually where the windcatcher terminates: one can stand directly underneath the windcatcher and feel how the air from above is being diverted to go inside the house in order to cool it down.



Finally, here are some pictures of the stained glass, which again, together with the sunlight, creates very beautiful light images.