Delgosha is the kind of garden that makes you stop — its long water channels, octagonal pavilion and sky-high palms turn a walk into a small, fragrant celebration.
There are a thousand ways to measure a city’s comfort. One of them is parks and, historically, gardens. With that measure Shiraz has almost always ranked among Iran’s more prosperous cities. From distinctive garden architecture to excellent climate, Shiraz’s gardens keep the city near the top of any must-see list. After a quick Google search I found Delgosha Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens in the city, but detailed information was limited.
So I went looking and mapped every corner. Join me at Alibaba Travel Magazine to discover Delgosha’s every beauty.
When you arrive at Delgosha you immediately understand why it’s called “heart-pleasing.” I don’t know who first named it, but whoever did chose well. Delgosha is a meaningful name for this beloved garden: a place full of attractions and a very pleasant mood.
When people expect a historic garden they often picture a dusty, earthen space smelling of age. Delgosha is not that. If you want a place like that, skip this garden.
Delgosha is simple but lively. Busy in variety, calm in its green backdrop. Laid out with regular order, the garden contains thousands of trees. The pavilion at its center is the focal point, yet those trees give Delgosha its true charm.
In terms of climate there’s nothing to complain about — a delightful, dreamy place where you can enjoy being. One of Delgosha’s notable features, which I return to below, is its placement on the slope of a Shiraz hill.
Delgosha has risen and fallen through history. It has been private, then government-run. Its peak development began when it was created in the Sassanian era. If you believe in continual evolution, Delgosha proves that a created thing keeps evolving unless it spoils. The garden never decayed or lost popularity; even during the Afsharid period it continued to be used.
I recommend visiting Delgosha to make happy memories. Good things belong to everyone. Delgosha breathed long before Islam and has always served people’s delight. Various owners held it at times, but none could hide such a treasure from the public.
Delgosha is now well maintained by the municipality and receives constant care. Fifty years ago, when it was private, it wasn’t a museum or a public place — but that has changed. The fact that a family once owned the garden and later opened it to all shows a generous spirit and is a precious legacy.
Several rulers and notable figures expanded the garden. Ali Akbar Ghavam-ol-Molk built the pavilion’s verandahs and added baths and other buildings. Karim Khan Zand also left clear traces of positive development here.
Karim Khan’s presence greatly fostered Shiraz’s growth. During the Zand era, Delgosha especially prospered after a quieter period under Nader Shah.
When you step onto Delgosha Street and walk through the gate, a straight, scented path opens before you — scent of water mingled with bitter orange leaves. The garden gate is always open to visitors. The straight avenue beside the water channel leads to the central Kolah-Farangi pavilion.
Iranian architects showed how foreign elements can be blended to create something remarkable. Delgosha’s Kolah-Farangi — a building with European influence — is set within a Persian garden. A classic Persian garden often begins with a walled enclosure, a central building, and greenery between wall and pavilion. Here the European-style Kolah-Farangi gives the garden a distinctive look.
Walk slowly from the entrance toward the pavilion; the route is full of scent and calm. The water channel runs to the pool in front of the building — a large basin with a tall fountain. The design is truly striking when you view it from the pavilion’s front balcony.
The garden’s layout follows a square-centered plan. A large hall with a central pool cools the air inside the pavilion; four iwans surround that pool. I’ll spare the poetic catalogue of architectural details — see them with your own eyes.
Suffice to say: quality wood, delicate stucco, arabesque patterns, mirror work and oval windows have been used throughout.
Delgosha will enchant you so fully you may not notice other sights for days. Every moment here creates a unique mood formed of leaf, brick and stone — a combination that only Iranian architecture can make so noble.
From the gate, follow the water channel — it ends at the Kolah-Farangi pavilion, but the route itself feels like a small paradise. Walk toward that paradise and take in the garden’s trees: the view from above is nearly all green, except for the pavilion.
The ground floor of the Kolah-Farangi houses Delgosha’s garden museum. The Cultural Heritage Organization has filled the building with historic objects. The ground floor differs from the upper floor: it displays coins, banknotes and artifacts from past rulers — culturally valuable items. Stained glass, muqarnas and other decorations further enhance the building.
Climb to the upper floor and you’ll find later but nostalgic exhibits: radios, gramophones and other vintage media devices are kept in the second floor museum.
I urge you to let the garden renew your spirits: if you can step into an old building and enjoy antiquities, don’t hesitate.
Words fall short describing Delgosha’s charm. It would not be hyperbole to call Delgosha the finest koushk in Iran. Its hillside site near the Kohandezh slope, authentic architecture, orderly tree planting and elegant Kolah-Farangi all argue for that. Its simplicity, used with artistry, is a standout trait.
Some visitors expecting palaces like Tehran’s Sa’dabad may find Delgosha more modest, but if you love literature, poetry and a gentle artistic mood, sitting beneath orange trees and smelling the blossoms will make you happy.
The Kolah-Farangi is the garden’s main building and arguably the best of its kind in Iran. Larger and more spacious than many counterparts, it offers grand iwans and rich decoration. Set at the garden’s center, it is surrounded by planting and faces a large, old pool.
The water from the channel pours into the central pool. Historically the pool helped with washing and cooling the space. Around the pool the pavilion’s hall and four royal platforms are arranged. The building has two floors; the upper floor offers a balcony overlooking the main pool — the best vantage for viewing the garden.
Those tall rectangular windows around the building exist to showcase the crafted garden view. They’re usually made of sturdy wood with dark brown finish and colored glass. The tops of the windows are rounded, giving them a distinct look.
The most beautiful room is the mirror-decorated chamber on the second floor. It is one of the building’s showpieces, with precise and prominent mirror work — a masterpiece comparable to mirror work in other famed Iranian shrines and palaces.
The first thing visitors notice is the sky-high date palms that have lived here many seasons. These palms are like columns reaching the heavens. Grass rings surround each palm and are carefully tended.
The phrase “patches of paradise” describes the hedges around the garden’s stone paths. These hedges are not made of earth bricks but of thick boxwood. Beyond hedges, palms and lawns, what garden in Shiraz is complete without orange trees? The best perfumes in the world pale next to the scent of Shiraz’s bitter orange blossoms. Benches under these trees invite every visitor to enjoy that aroma — especially if you come in spring.
The garden also includes cypress, seasonal flowers and some fruit trees.
A distinctive spot is the main pool facing the Kolah-Farangi entrance. Fed by qanat water that runs from the Saadi area, the pool waters the entire garden. The pool is large and rectangular; smaller pools elsewhere help irrigate the trees. All pools use Nishapur-style turquoise tilework, reinforcing the garden’s authentic aesthetic.
If you think a season other than spring is the only time to visit Delgosha or Shiraz, you’re mistaken. I believe one reason poets like Sa’di and Hafez grew here is the gardens’ springtime mood: orange blossom scent, white blossoms, and a cooling breeze that refreshes your skin.
Delgosha’s gates are open from morning until night. Management closes at 23:00 in the first half of the year and at 22:00 in the second half. The garden is closed on the mourning days of Tasua and Ashura and on the anniversaries of the Prophet’s death, Imam Ali and Imam Ja’far Sadiq.
The garden lies between Delgosha and Narenjestan streets on a mountainside about one kilometre south of Saadiyeh. If you’re not handy with directions, use Google Maps — it makes finding Delgosha simple.
Perhaps the most beautiful meetings don’t happen at the famous tombs. While many travelers read Hafez and Sa’di at their shrines, I firmly believe Delgosha is the best place to start a conversation with Hafez or hear Sa’di’s sweet counsels.
A quiet, safe spot, especially on spring nights, Delgosha invites anyone who wants to sit on a bench, read poetry, talk or simply think. We’d be glad if you tell us how the garden made you feel. Travel’s joy shows best in long and generous retellings.
Tip | Quick note |
|---|---|
Best time to visit | Spring (Nowruz) and autumn are highlighted; spring recommended for orange blossom and fullest experience. |
Closing times | Garden closes at 23:00 in the first half of the year and 22:00 in the second half. |
Holiday closures | Closed on Tasua, Ashura, the Prophet’s death, and the martyrdom anniversaries of Imam Ali and Imam Ja'far Sadiq. |
Where to enter | The main entrance opens onto a straight avenue beside the water channel leading to the Kolah-Farangi pavilion. |
Getting there | Located between Delgosha and Narenjestan streets, ~1 km south of Saadiyeh; Google Maps or a taxi will take you there. |
Photo & experience tip | For the best view, go to the pavilion balcony overlooking the main pool; sit under orange trees to enjoy the scent and read poetry. |
