Dolat Abad Garden

Dolat Abad Garden is one of the most beautiful and largest historic gardens in Iran, located in the city of Yazd, Yazd Province. Dating back to the Qajar era, the garden is an outstanding example of Persian garden architecture and traditional design in desert regions. Dolat Abad Garden is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is regarded as a symbol of the art of garden making and of sustainable architecture in a hot, dry climate.

The garden includes several parts, among them the central mansion, a unique and very tall windcatcher, pools and extensive green spaces, which together create a pleasant, cool environment in the heart of the desert. The garden's 33-metre windcatcher, the tallest adobe windcatcher in the world, plays an important role in the natural ventilation of the garden and is one of the complex's most distinctive attractions. Dolat Abad Garden is also a clear example of the Persian garden style, designed with a combination of architecture, water and plants that displays both beauty and function.

The garden was built in 1125 AH (lunar Hijri), at the end of the Afsharid period. Mohammad Taqi Khan Bafqi, known as Khan-e Bozorg (the Great Khan) and the founder of the dynasty of the khans of Yazd, first built a 65-kilometre qanat from Mehriz to Yazd to bring water to the site of the garden, and then built his governing complex there. In the past the garden had pools, fountains and a variety of mansions, and its grounds were adorned with pomegranate and grape trees and colourful flowers.

To reach Dolat Abad Garden, visitors can head from the centre of Yazd toward Dolat Abad Square; the garden lies close to this square. The best times to visit are spring and autumn, when the weather is milder and the garden is at its peak of bloom. Visiting Dolat Abad Garden is a good opportunity to experience responsible nature tourism in a historic and cultural setting, where respect for and preservation of both cultural heritage and nature are kept in mind.