The Bam Earthquake Did Not Spare the Shazdeh Garden in Mahan Either

In recent days, while the news of the deadly earthquake in Bam and the extensive destruction of the historical citadel of this city surprised everyone, perhaps no one thought that the ruthless tremors of the earth would also wound another historical and valuable monument of Iran; the earthquake did not spare the Shazdeh Garden in Mahan! Ahmad Mohit Tabatabai, the Deputy for Introduction and Education of Iran's Cultural Heritage, announced on January 1st at a gathering of members of the National Museum Committee of the country that parts of the Shazdeh Garden in Kerman had been damaged, stating: 'Unfortunately, along with the Bam disaster, parts of the Shazdeh Garden in Kerman have also been affected.' According to the Mehr News Agency, he also provided the good news that: 'Fortunately, there has been no problem for the tomb of Shah Nematollah Vali, which is also located in Mahan.' The Shazdeh Garden, also known as the Prince Garden, is located 35 kilometers southeast of Kerman city and 6 kilometers from Mahan city along the Kerman-Bam road, near the Joupaar heights. This garden is one of the examples of Iranian garden designs that has made the best use of favorable natural conditions. It was constructed during the Qajar era under the eleven-year rule of Abdolhamid Mirza Nasir al-Dawlah (1298 AH to 1309 AH), and its construction remained unfinished upon his death. The location of the Shazdeh Garden is near the tomb of Shah Nematollah Vali at the foothills of the Joupaar heights. The structures of the garden include the main pavilion, which serves as the permanent or seasonal residence of the owner, located at the upper end of the garden. The entrance gate occupies a linear structure at the entrance of the garden and is built in two stories. The upper floor contains rooms intended for living and hosting. Other service buildings of the garden utilize the main enclosure and are arranged in a compound wall at suitable points. Experts believe that the presence of fertile soil, necessary sunlight, gentle winds, and access to water (Tigaran qanat) has miraculously made it possible to create a garden of this scale in a dry and barren expanse. The Shazdeh Garden, located at the foothills of the Joupaar heights, spans 5.5 hectares with a rectangular shape and a slope of about 4.6%, and its tall enclosure separates it from the adverse surrounding environment. At the same time, the order of tree planting, the appropriate selection of plants for shading, and suitable coloring in different seasons define exceptional values for it.