SAEDNEWS: Belqis Spring Garden: The Hidden Beauty of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province
According to Saednews, Cheshmeh Belgheis Garden is located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, in a flat plain known as Qaleh Koreh Shahbazi Township, within Choram County. It lies approximately 9 kilometers east of Choram city and one kilometer from the village of Shahrak, surrounded by rolling hills and mountains.
The garden is bordered by the Choram–Gachsaran Road to the north, agricultural lands to the south, the Agricultural Jihad Garden (Omran Garden) to the west, and agricultural fields and neighboring mountains to the east. Several seasonal and permanent streams flow through the plain, where crops such as wheat, barley, and rice are cultivated.
According to local accounts, the garden was originally established by a woman named Belgheis around the late Sassanid and early Islamic periods. In 1948, local residents began developing several small gardens around the site. Later, in 1959, a man named Eskandar Khan Chorami purchased the property and undertook further development and expansion.
The name Cheshmeh Belgheis (Belgheis Spring) is a relatively modern name for a garden that had existed in the area long before Eskandar Khan Chorami. He restored and expanded the historic garden surrounding the natural spring.
For a period, the garden and a nearby small settlement were also known as Eskandariyeh in official correspondence, historical documents, and some travel accounts. However, the garden's present-day appearance and development suggest that much of its current structure dates back to the late Qajar and early Pahlavi periods.
Covering an area of approximately 38,960 square meters, the garden features several distinctive elements, including four towers measuring approximately 70 by 150 meters on its western side, natural springs, a pool, and a large rock formation rising about 20 meters on the eastern side.
The garden is currently owned and managed by the municipality.
Thanks to the region's warm climate, Cheshmeh Belgheis Garden supports a diverse range of trees and plants. Its vegetation includes eucalyptus, cedar, oak, and cypress trees, as well as numerous fruit-bearing species, such as walnut, pear, apple, lemon, persimmon, orange, mandarin, fig, grape, mulberry, bitter orange, and date palm.
Various shrubs, flowering plants, and ornamental flowers further enhance the garden's natural beauty.
The garden's irrigation system relies on water flowing from its main spring and several smaller subsidiary springs. The water travels through a network of interconnected channels and streams that distribute it throughout the garden.
Excess water is directed through a larger canal toward the garden's pool, located in its southwestern section.
The beautiful circular pool measures approximately 10 meters in diameter and 1.5 meters in depth. It has three water inlets and one outlet, through which the spring water eventually flows into the Fashian River.
At the center of the pool is a circular garden bed, approximately four meters in diameter, filled with palm trees, bitter orange trees, orange trees, and a variety of beautiful flowers.
Nestled beneath the northern mountain entrance of Choram, Cheshmeh Belgheis Garden is a remarkable landscape filled with palm trees, flowing streams, and an intricate network of waterways designed according to traditional architectural principles.
As the streams pass through different sections of the garden, they create a refreshing atmosphere for visitors before flowing into the central pool. The larger channels, featuring distinctive traditional construction techniques, eventually carry water beyond the garden to irrigate the surrounding plains of Choram.
The small landscaped island at the center of the pool reflects the creativity and craftsmanship involved in the garden's design.
Visitors rarely leave disappointed. For the people of Choram, the garden is also a cherished local retreat, offering fresh air, natural beauty, and a peaceful environment. Today, Cheshmeh Belgheis continues to welcome thousands of visitors, serving as one of the region's most attractive natural and cultural destinations.
Every year, an estimated 600,000 to 700,000 tourists visit Cheshmeh Belgheis Garden in Choram, the administrative center of Choram County. Located approximately 220 kilometers southwest of Yasuj, the provincial capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, the garden has become one of the area's notable attractions.
With its historic background, natural springs, lush vegetation, traditional water channels, and tranquil atmosphere, Cheshmeh Belgheis Garden represents one of the lesser-known yet captivating destinations in southwestern Iran.
