This article throws light upon the top four styles of Persian gardens. The styles are: 1. Chahar Bagh 2. Hayat 3. Meidan 4. Park and Bagh.
Style # 1. Chahar Bagh:
Cyrus II the great is thought to be the pioneer of Chahar Bagh Paradise garden whose basic structure consists of four quadrants divided by water ways or path ways. Chahar Bagh design is a balanced design and central axis plays dominating role and divides garden into two equal parts.
To create greenery, planting is done around the periphery of a pool, pathways or waterway. This is a form of garden which means Eden having four rivers and four quant. The old example of a rectangular canal pattern is at Pasargadae.
A reconstruction of garden of King Cyrus II (550-500 B.C.) who was founder of Persian Kingdom under Achaemenid dynasty in the plains of Meridasht in Southern Iran. Such garden had geometrical plan and stone water courses. Incorporating architectures, planting, water rills and shade giving pavilions, Cyrus’s garden offered the back ground to later garden development.
It is likely to be planted with pomegranate, cherry and cypress. This is the earliest remnant of what becomes the classical garden of Persia and back ground to later development of such garden. The plan is based on David Stronach’s Pasargadae—a report on excavation.
The ancient province of Pars is in central Iran and is known for the being home of sites of immense importance in the history of world. When travelling from Shiraz, the fabled capital of Pars is towards Esfahn, the second largest city of Iran. From here the road goes to the valley of Pasargadae which is the birth place of Persian Empire.
Style # 2. Hayat:
The Hayat is a classical Persian layout where man-made structures in the garden are made particularly such as pergola, arches and pools. The ground is often covered in gravel and plants are typically very simple, such as line of tree that offers shade.
Privately, these gardens have pool in the centre and have structural supports like pergola and arches. The pool serves as a focus and source of humidity for the surrounding atmosphere. In Urban areas, due to availability of limited water very few plants are panted.
Style # 3. Meidan:
The meidan gardens have few structures and emphasis is on natural elements. The meidan have trees, shrubs, bedding plants and grasses. There may be an element of pool and gravel pathway which are divided upto lawn. This is a public formal garden.
Style # 4. Park and Bagh:
The park and Bagh styles emphasises on the natural and green aspect of the garden. Persian parks are public areas and have strong emphasis on plant life but are usually limited in terms of structural elements. The bagh is private area around a Persians house and consist of lawns, trees ground plants, etc. Waterways and pathways are in this type of garden are largely functional.