Hasht Behesht

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Hasht Behesht
Hasht Behesht Palace, Isfahan 02.jpg
General information
Architectural styleIranian
LocationIsfahan, Iran
Coordinates32°39′12″N 51°40′13″E﻿ / ﻿32.6534°N 51.6702°E﻿ / 32.6534; 51.6702

Hasht Behesht (هشت‌بهشت, Hašt-Behešt), literally meaning "the Eight Heavens" in Persian, is a 17th-century pavilion in Isfahan, Iran. It was built by order of Suleiman I, the eighth shah of Iran's Safavid Empire, and functioned mainly as a private pavilion.[1] It is located in Isfahan's famous Charbagh Street.


The plan of Hasht Behesht by French artist Pascal Coste.

As indicated on its name, the two-story pavilion of Hasht Behesht was built on the hasht-behesht plan, that is a type of floor plan consisting of a central hall surrounded by eight rooms.[2] The building is of an octagonal shape,[2] and has two main entrances. Four larger sides of it feature large balconies (iwans), under which some tall and thin wooden columns are raised.

The pavilion is decorated with mural paintings, perforated woodwork, prismatic mirrors, tilework, and plasterwork.[1][3]



  1. ^ a b Babaie, Sussan; Haug, Robert (April 5, 2012). "Isfahan x. Monuments (2) Palaces". Encyclopædia Iranica. XIV. pp. 14–20.
  2. ^ a b Bernardini, Michele (March 20, 2012). "HAŠT BEHEŠT (2)". Encyclopædia Iranica. XII. pp. 49–51.
  3. ^ "Hasht Behesht Palace". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 15 October 2018.


  • Wilber, D. N. (1962). Persian Gardens and Garden Pavilions. Tokyo. pp. 107–11.
  • Ferrante, M. (1968). "Le Pavillon de Hašt Bihišt, ou les Huit Paradis, à Ispahan: Relevés et problèmes s'y rattachant'". In Zander, G. Travaux de restauration de monuments historiques en Iran. Rome. pp. 399–420.