Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PERSIAN GARDENS
In 2011 Unesco added a group of nine Iranian gardens to the World Heritage list, describing them as the best exist-
ing examples of the classic Persian Garden form. Traditionally conceived to symbolise Paradise, these gardens are
all divided into four sectors symbolising the Zoroastrian elements of sky, earth, water and plants.
The gardens that are included in the listing date back to different periods since the 6th century BC and include
five gardens in Central Iran that are easy to visit: the Bagh-e Fin (
Click here
) in Kashan, the Bagh-e Chehel Sotun
(
Click here
) in Esfahan, the Bagh-e Dolat Abad in Yazd (
Click here
), the Bagh-e Eram (
Click here
) in Shiraz and
the ancient garden of Pasargadae (
Click here
)
near Persepolis.
The gardens are in the village of Fin, 9km southwest of central Kashan at the end of
Amir Kabir St. You can get here by shuttle taxi (US$1.60) from Kamal al-Molk Sq or by
taxi
dar baste
(closed door; US$4.50), or you can hop on the green bus that travels from
the corner of Ayatollah Kashani and Baba Afzani Sts in the centre of Kashan. The only
problem with catching the bus is that officially, passengers should have a bus card and
tickets aren't sold on board. The cards are purchased at the bus terminal for US$1.60. That
said, our experience suggests that the drivers aren't too concerned if you hitch a lift with
them without a ticket.
Tours
Kashan is full of driver-guides who can take you to Abyaneh and back in half a day (usu-
ally about US$65) or to Esfahan via Abyaneh and Natanz (US$90). Ask your hotel to or-
ganise this for you. For a tour of the town or its immediate surrounds, try one of the fol-
lowing:
GUIDE
Hossein Moznebi
( 0913 264 2236; kashan_uide@yahoo.com; half-/ full-day tour US$25/40)
Based at
Tabatabei House, Hossein has excellent English.
GUIDE
Leila Sabbaghi
( 0913 260 8839; sabbaghil@yahoo.com; half-/full-day tour US$25/40)
An enthusiast-
ic and knowledgeable guide with good English and basic French.
