Chehel Sotoun Palace

Chehel Sotoun includes two main parts, palace and garden. You will be amazed by a marvelous palace in the middle of the Chehel Sotoun garden.

Chehel Sotoun is one of the best samples of royal garden in the Safavid dynasty. This garden designed by Shah Abbas II with a palace in the middle. Due to the reflection of twenty wooden pillar in the pool of mansion, this palace is called Chehel Sotoun. Chehel Sotoun is a Satavand (An Iwan with pillar) which remained in Isfahan province.
 

• Chehel Sotoun Garden

The walls which surround this garden separated it from the other urban elements. The connection between Naqsh-e Jahan Square and the other public historical buildings indicates the urban structure of Isfahan during the Safavid dynasty. This garden has three entrance gate that the old one located on the east side of the garden. When you enter the Chehelsoton Gardens, you will see a long pool along the main axis of the garden in front of the palace. The axis guides you by trees on both sides to reach the palace. The streams designed with a low gradient, due to water flows throughout the garden. Currently, the garden vegetation of Chehel Sotoun is as follows: Acer nigrum, Pine, Elm, Plane trees, and Tree of heaven.
 

• Chehel Sotoun Palace

The architecture of this palace is a combination of Iranian, Chinese, and Western Europe architectural style. It consists of the porch with a length of 38 meters, a width of 17 meters and a height of 14 meters situated eastwards. This octagonal porch has 18 wooden pillars which are made of Plane trees and pine. Four of them in the middle which are placed on the stone lion pedestals.
 

The other part of the porch contains two pillars. It considered as the Portal of the Mirror Hall. The Mirror Hall includes marvelous Aina-Kari. The ceiling made of wooden frames in various geometric shapes. The central hall of the palace, dedicated to the foreign guests. It also contains paintings that describe the historical events of different periods. Moreover, you will see three decorated domes above this hall which looks marvelous. Shah-Neshin is smaller and higher than the portal of the Mirror Hall and situated at the back of it. The ceiling of this part covered by little mirrors. At the top of the Chehel Sotoun palace, there is a section which considered as the King bedroom. The roof of the Chehel Sotoun palace covered with a coating of cob. At the end section of the Chehel Sotoun palace, on the southern side, there is an Iwan with some pillars which decorated with the painting of the late Safavid dynasty.
 

• Ornamentation  

The palace contains many frescoes, paintings on ceramic, Khatam, Wood carving, the wooden column with Muqarnas on the capital. Unfortunately, many of these decorated ceramics disappeared during the time.
 

• What is the best time to go?

  Late March till late May is the best time to visit the Chehel Sotoun. Also, it is better to know some information about visiting time and the payment of it.
   
  • Visiting information
     
    • Visiting the Chehel Sotoun for foreign visitors costs 200,000 IRR.
    • You can visit the Chehel Sotoun from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

• Getting there:

The Chehel Sotoun is located on the Ostandari Ave., Imam Hossein Sq., Isfahan City, Isfahan Province, Iran. You can reach the Chehel Sotoun via private car or public transportation such as metro, taxi, and bus.

Metro: You can get off at the Shohada station on the Chahar Bagh Boulevard. After that, you can reach the Chehel Sotoun with a taxi or walking to the south.

Bus: You should use Imam Hossein Square to Laleh Square line and get off at the Shahrdari station.

Taxi: The Chehel Sotoun is laid near to the Naqsh-e Jahan Square. You can take a taxi to get there.