Shahzadeh Mahan Garden, Kerman
Terraced pools and a qanat-fed watercourse near Kerman
At Shahzadeh Mahan Garden, water descends through a series of terraces from the upper pavilion to the entrance. The sound and movement of the cascades make it easy to follow the garden’s central axis.
The garden lies outside Mahan in Kerman Province, southeast of Kerman city.
UNESCO inscribed Shahzadeh Mahan in 2011 as one of the nine gardens that make up the Persian Garden World Heritage property.
The walled garden took shape in the Qajar period. Its location on a slope allowed the designers to use gravity to move water through planted beds, pools and cascades.
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Contents
Architecture and Plan
The terraces give you a different view at each level. From the entrance, look uphill along the watercourse; near the upper pavilion, turn back to see how the paths and planting frame the same line.
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The rectangular enclosure contains a lower gatehouse, an upper pavilion, service buildings, planting beds and channels. The walls give the planted interior a clear boundary against the dry land outside.
The two-story gatehouse frames the first view of the garden. Pause near the lower pool to see the sequence of terraces before starting uphill.
Water enters at the upper end. Pools at the two ends of the main axis anchor a series of cascades and jets between them.
The garden’s water comes from the Tigran qanat at the foot of the Jupar Mountains. The channel feeds the planting and the central watercourse. Beyond the garden, the water continues toward farmland around Mahan.
The upper pavilion faces downhill. Its position at the head of the terraces gives a clear view of the main channel and the gatehouse below.
A smaller planted area lies behind the pavilion. The water enters on this upper side before reaching the main terraces.
The historic bathhouse and other service buildings occupy the edge of the enclosure, away from the main view between gatehouse and pavilion.
Planning a Visit
The main walk rises through the garden. If steps are difficult, the lower pool gives you a view up the entire axis from near the entrance.
Allow time for the return journey to Mahan or Kerman. Plan your meal and transport independently of any services inside the garden.
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