Mahan: an oasis in the Iranian desert

Written by Tim Blight

Writer, traveller, amateur photographer, teacher. Based in Melbourne and Lahore.

July 30, 2016

Mahan, Iran

Mahan is a simple oasis town in southeastern Iran; I visited in late 2005 just as the winter was setting in. Just outside of the town of Mahan are the stunning Bagh-e Shahzade gardens.

Walking to the garden through the car-park, dust swirled around me just as a winter storm was closing in. Stepping through the entrance way, a grand arch, I caught sight of the lush interior. Fountains cascade down the length of the main tree-lined boulevard.

Shahzade Gardens, Mahan

Shahzade Gardens, Mahan

On each stepped ‘level’ of the boulevard, fountains rise out of the reflective pools. At the top is a grand archway which houses a tea shop. The backdrop to all of this is a stunning snow-capped mountain, which looms above the arch at the top of the boulevard.

Shahzade Gardens, Mahan (Image: Alireza Parsi, Wikimedia Commons)

Shahzade Gardens, Mahan (Image: Alireza Parsi, Wikimedia Commons)

Being inside the garden was like being transported to another world for a while. After the quiet retreat, it was time to step back out into the cold, harsh, wintry desert… just in time for it to start snowing.

Desert and mountains on the road between Bam and Kerman

Desert and mountains by the road between Bam and Kerman

Have you ever visited an oasis before? What was it like? Comment below!

You May Also Like…

Jeddah and the good life

Jeddah and the good life

Jeddah and the good life It has been talked about for years, but it's finally happened; Saudi Arabia has announced...

Nothing compares to Makkah

Nothing compares to Makkah

Nothing compares to Makkah What do I write about a city that has had its story told a thousand times over? How can I...

4 Comments

  1. Andrew Boland

    Iran is amazing how these towns just appear out of nowhere!

    Reply
    • Tim Blight

      It’s true – they’re just sitting out there in the middle of nowhere, and they’re stunning!

      Reply
  2. Królowa Karo

    During the summer these gardens must look beautiful.

    Reply
    • Tim Blight

      I wish I had gone in the summer, but I also guess it would be stiflingly hot!!! Thanks for reading 🙂 Have you been to Iran?

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *