“Hasht Behesht Palace”
Hasht Behesht Palace is considered one of the most important attractions in Isfahan. The decorations of the palace during the Safavid era were so magnificent and artistic that no traveler has refrained from marveling and admiring them. Today, this complex is located on Bagh Goldaste Street and is known as one of the most beautiful palaces in Iran with its own beauties.
This palace is also known by other names such as Hasht-be-Hasht and Hasht Dar Behesht. In 1934, with the number 227, Hasht Behesht Palace was registered in the list of National Monuments of Iran. Today, Shahid Rajai Park, one of the famous parks of Isfahan, surrounds the palace and is a popular recreational spot for the residents of Isfahan.
The construction of the Hasht Behesht Palace in Isfahan was completed in the year 1080 AH, coinciding with the third year of Shah Suleiman Safavid’s reign, and is an example of the finest residential palaces of the Safavid era. Mirza Mohammad Taher Nasrabadi, the author of Tazkerat Nasrabadi, revived the names of over a thousand poets of the Safavid era in his memoir, and was himself a poet. He composed poems about the construction of the Hasht Behesht royal palace in Isfahan, most of which provide historical material about the building of this royal palace.
During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and the governance of Zell-e Soltan over Isfahan, the Hasht Behesht building was transformed into the Homayouni School. Mir Sayyed Ali, the author of the book “Tarikh-e Esfahan” (The History of Isfahan), describes this in page 64 of the book. The first volume of this book was published in 1342 AH in the Farhang Printing House in Isfahan:
Zell-e Soltan established the Homayouni School in Hasht Behesht under the leadership of Ali Khan Nazem al-Uloom. Although it lasted for only two years, it left a positive impact.
Dieulafoy, in the description he provides in his travelogue about the Hasht Behesht garden and building, also refers to the Homayouni School in Hasht Behesht:
“Iranians, young and old, skilled or unskilled in calligraphy, student or teacher, all write with paper placed in the palm of their hand or on their knee. If a carpet is laid on the ground and a cane is seen nearby, one can understand that this place is a divan-khaneh (court) or a school.”
The Hasht Behesht garden and palace were granted by Naser al-Din Shah Qajar to Lady Azami Iftikhar al-Dawla, with the condition that she should not alter its appearance and must maintain its precincts, especially along Chaharbagh Street, in utmost cleanliness and precision. After the lady’s death, the garden and palace remained in the possession of her heirs; however, during this period, significant changes were made to the garden and palace by the occupants. Like the Ali Qapu and Chehel Sotoun, its painting, gilding, and mirror work were covered with a layer of plaster and plaster decorations. From September 6, 1964, the remaining part of the Hasht Behesht garden and palace was officially transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Arts. Hasht Behesht, like other historical sites in the country, continues its existence under the supervision of the Cultural Heritage Organization.
This building is 30 meters long and 26.35 meters wide, standing two meters higher than the adjacent garden level. It is accessed via two 10-step staircases (connected to the eastern and western facades of the palace). Beyond these, there is a veranda supported by two tall wooden columns, leading to the main central hall. The ceiling of this hall culminates in a dome-shaped skylight with eight wooden windows. In the center of the hall is an octagonal pool with a diameter of 3.30 meters, featuring a fountain. The doors around this hall lead to octagonal rooms, which were designated for the reception of women.
The main veranda faces north and is octagonal, featuring two tall cypress wood columns. In the center of this veranda, there is a pool measuring 2.80 meters in length and 2.30 meters in width, with a fountain in the middle. The ceiling of the veranda is elaborately decorated, and the interior walls of the palace are adorned with paintings, gold works, various bird figures, colorful flowers, glasswork, and mirror work. In this hall, two large paintings are visible, depicting Fath-Ali Shah seated on a throne
The rooms on the first floor, located at the four corners of the building, are adorned with plasterwork and paintings. The second floor adds to the palace’s beauty with a collection of arcades, rooms, vaults, and windows. This floor is divided into numerous corridors and rooms, each with its own unique decorations. Some feature water basins, while others have wall-mounted heaters. The walls are extensively covered with numerous mirrors.
The ceilings of the palace are covered with exquisite mosaics, and the corridors and servant passages are beautifully and harmoniously surrounded. A significant aspect of this building is the connection between its spaces and different sections. This interconnectedness ensures that despite the diversity and variety of spaces, the Hasht Behesht palace in Isfahan maintains unity, coherence, and remarkable decorations.
The external area around the building is covered with hard stones, and in the middle of this section, a small stone-lined channel is built to drain excess water from the indoor and outdoor pools. This channel leads the water into two large fountains, each eight meters wide and fifty meters long, situated in front of the building’s western and eastern verandas. The palace grounds are enclosed by tall plane trees and adorned with flower beds, predominantly consisting of roses and jasmine. The northern street of the palace leads to the Chehel Sotoun Palace, and the western street connects to Chaharbagh Avenue through a large entrance gate.
