Shazdeh Mahan Garden — the marvel of Persian garden design in the heart of an arid land

The construction of this beautiful garden dates back to the late Qajar period (late 19th century CE). It was commissioned by Mohammad Hassan Khan, the then-governor of Kerman, who sought to create a pleasant and refreshing retreat in the midst of Kerman’s hot and arid desert landscape. However, he passed away before the project was completed and never witnessed the final outcome of his vision.
History and Features of Shazdeh Garden
The creation of this beautiful garden dates back to the late Qajar period (late 19th century). A man named Mohammad Hasan Khan, then governor of Kerman, ordered its construction. He wished to create a pleasant and refreshing retreat amid the hot, arid deserts of Kerman. However, he did not live long enough to see the results of his efforts. After his death, Abdolhamid Mirza Naser al-Doleh, a grandson of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (who reigned from 1831 to 1896), became the governor of Kerman and continued the project. He devoted eleven years to building the garden but, like his predecessor, passed away before its completion. After his death, construction was abandoned, but the people named the garden “Shahzadeh” (meaning ‘Prince’) in his memory. The unfinished decorations can still be seen on the garden’s walls. The construction is believed to have been completed around 1897 CE (1276 AH).
The construction of this beautiful garden dates back to the late Qajar period (late 19th century CE). It was commissioned by Mohammad Hassan Khan, the then-governor of Kerman, who sought to create a pleasant and refreshing retreat in the midst of Kerman’s hot and arid desert landscape. However, he passed away before the project was completed and never witnessed the final outcome of his vision.
History and Features of Shazdeh Garden
The creation of this beautiful garden dates back to the late Qajar period (late 19th century). A man named Mohammad Hasan Khan, then governor of Kerman, ordered its construction. He wished to create a pleasant and refreshing retreat amid the hot, arid deserts of Kerman. However, he did not live long enough to see the results of his efforts. After his death, Abdolhamid Mirza Naser al-Doleh, a grandson of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (who reigned from 1831 to 1896), became the governor of Kerman and continued the project. He devoted eleven years to building the garden but, like his predecessor, passed away before its completion. After his death, construction was abandoned, but the people named the garden “Shahzadeh” (meaning ‘Prince’) in his memory. The unfinished decorations can still be seen on the garden’s walls. The construction is believed to have been completed around 1897 CE (1276 AH).

The Shazdeh Mahan Garden was created in a desert region.

Throughout the Shazdeh Garden, tall pine, cypress, and plane trees line the pathways. Several varieties of fruit trees are also planted within the garden, mainly located behind the main mansion. This layout lends a more private character to that section of the garden, keeping it out of public access. A traditional bathhouse (hammam) was also built in this area, along with a guardhouse nearby for security. The structures within the garden are primarily made of brick, covered with a layer of mud plaster (kāhgel) for both insulation and aesthetic purposes. In several parts of the garden—especially around the main entrance gate (sardar)—there are beautiful examples of tilework that add a decorative and colorful touch to the architecture.

Irrigating a garden of this size in a desert region, where water is the most precious and scarce resource, was undoubtedly a great challenge. To supply water to this vast garden, engineers drew from the Tigran Qanat, an underground aqueduct that channels water from the Joupar Mountains, south of Kerman, to the garden. The water is crystal clear and remains pleasantly cool even during the heat of summer. The garden’s design allows this water to flow through a series of cascading terraces, forming a sequence of connected waterfalls before exiting the garden — a brilliant example of traditional Persian hydraulic engineering.

Location of Shazdeh Mahan Garden

The garden is located 6 kilometers from the town of Mahan and 35 kilometers from the city of Kerman, in the heart of a desert region. Owing to this remarkable contrast between lush greenery and arid surroundings, it is often referred to as a “paradise in the desert.”

National and World Heritage Registration

Shazdeh Garden was inscribed on the National Heritage List of Iran in 1974 (1353 SH). It was later recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, when UNESCO inscribed it—alongside eight other historic Persian gardens—under the collective title “The Persian Garden.”