Pahlavanpour Garden

Pahlavanpour Garden is one of the most beautiful historic gardens in Iran and one of the most representative examples of the Persian garden in Yazd Province. It is located in the city of Mehriz, in the Mazvirabad neighbourhood (Shahid Zarein Township). The garden was built in the late Qajar period and originally belonged to Hasan Molla Reza. It later passed to his son-in-law, Ali Pahlavanpour, a well-known merchant and champion wrestler of Mehriz, and has been known by his name ever since. Pahlavanpour Garden was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 7 Mehr 1381 (29 September 2002) under registration number 6334. In 1390 (2011) it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of nine gardens that make up the serial property "The Persian Garden". With its authentic Persian architecture, permanently flowing water and lush greenery, it is counted among the most important historical and natural attractions of Mehriz.

The garden's most remarkable feature is the constant flow of water from the Hasanabad Qanat through the middle of the garden and right through the main building, or pavilion (kushk). The qanat is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it keeps the garden fresh and green in the hot, dry climate of Yazd. Along both sides of the water channels, rows of ancient plane trees stand alongside pomegranate, almond and persimmon trees, creating an unrivalled landscape. The garden's architecture is also a valuable example of the transition from traditional Persian garden design to newer patterns. It includes a two-and-a-half-storey pavilion, a sharbat-khaneh (sherbet house), a winter residence (zemestan-khaneh), a tower, a stable, a straw store (kahdan), a bathhouse, a kitchen, a caretaker's quarters and an anthropology museum. The museum displays hundreds of valuable objects, including traditional craft tools, local clothing, old vessels and cultural artefacts of the region. Today, part of the complex has been turned into a traditional hotel, where travellers can stay in a historic setting with comfortable facilities.

Pahlavanpour Garden is on Motahhari Street in Mehriz, about 30 kilometres south of the city of Yazd, and is very easy to reach via the Yazd–Mehriz road. The complex welcomes visitors every day (except on some religious occasions) from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The best times to visit are spring and autumn, when the weather in Mehriz is milder and the garden is at its greenest and most beautiful. Visiting early in the morning or close to sunset also offers more pleasant temperatures, as well as a good opportunity to photograph the garden's scenery and the architecture of the pavilion. While visiting, please avoid damaging the vegetation, respect the historic buildings, keep the site clean and follow the rules of the complex. This plays an important part in preserving this valuable heritage for future generations.