Bagh-e Dolat-Abad
Bagh-e Dolat-Abad, one of the ancient monuments of Yazd city, is a remnant of the Afsharid and Zand periods located in the heart of the desert city of Yazd. This garden was built in 1160 AH by a prominent figure named Mohammad Taqi Khan Bafghi, who belonged to the Khanid dynasty of Yazd. Initially, Mohammad Taqi Khan constructed a canal over 60 kilometers long to bring water from Mehriz to Yazd and the current location of Bagh-e Dolat-Abad. Subsequently, he built his governmental complex (Dar al-Hokoomah). This structure covers an area of approximately 70,000 square meters and includes various sections such as an octagonal building, the world’s largest windcatcher, the cold room mansion, the paradise mansion, the Tehrani mansion, the Hall of Mirrors, and the double-mouthed water reservoir, transforming this garden into one of the most beautiful ancient gardens of Iran.
The restoration and renovation of Bagh-e Dolat-Abad began in 1348 by the technical office of the National Organization for the Conservation of Historical Monuments and continued until 1361. The parts of the complex that underwent restoration included the Hall of Mirrors, the caretakers’ mansion (kitchen), the kitchen, the Tehrani mansion, the Sabat (covered passageway) section and water reservoir, the mosque, the windcatcher mansion, the forecourt mansion, and the paradise mansion. In 1361, this heritage site was handed over to one of the descendants of Mohammad Taqi Khan, named Haj Sheikh Mohammad Ali Khan Mozaffar al-Din, who undertook the necessary repairs and opened the complex to the public for visitation. Furthermore, major reconstruction of the complex began in 1379.
One of the buildings in this complex is the octagonal mansion and windcatcher, where the combination of air and water flow has been ingeniously employed. The windcatcher of this garden, with a height of 33 meters above ground level, is a symbol of architectural artistry and the epitome of Yazdi architects’ ingenuity. This structure consists of an octagonal building with a domed roof, a tall windcatcher, five marble pools inside, and three marble pools on three sides of it. The primary materials used in the construction include bricks, adobe, and on the exterior facade, decorative elements of gypsum stucco, rigging, and marble. Inside, except for the area beneath the windcatcher covered with marble, the rest of the floors are adorned with brick and tile. Some of the doors and lattices with beautiful antique wooden and stained glasswork are still preserved. The dome and domed roof of the octagon, as well as the doors, have recently been reconstructed and restored.
