Iran’s Shazdeh Garden, also known as the Prince’s Garden, is a surprisingly lush garden full of greenery and water fountains surrounded by arid desert.

Located 6 kilometers from the city of Mahan, in Kerman Province, Shazdeh Garden is a historical Persian garden built by the Qajar Dynasty, at the end of the 19th century. The rectangular complex is surrounded by stone walls that shield the green paradise inside from the harsh desert surrounding it. Seen from the air, Shazdeh Garden looks like a welcoming oasis in the middle of an arid sea, and it’s photos like the ones below that attract thousands of people to this place every year. It features five impressive water fountains supplied through the Qanat technique of transporting water from a well through an underground aqueduct.

Photo: mehrzad jamshidi

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, Shazdeh Garden is a popular destination for visitors from all over the globe. Covering an area of 5.5 hectares, it consists of lush greenery, inviting water fountains and ponds, as well as stunning architecture. It has been described as a diamond shining in the middle of the desert.