Baghsangi (Stone Garden)

The trees of this unique garden are not covered in leaves, but rather consist of dried trunks with heavy stones hanging from their branches. The story of Baghsangi began in 1961, when Darvish Khan Esfandiari, a landowner in Sirjan, lost a significant portion of his property due to the Land Reform program. His fertile lands, which he had cultivated for years, gradually dried up before his eyes. Feeling the injustice as a heavy burden on himself and his family, Darvish Khan grew distressed and moved to a tent in the desert near one of his ruined orchards. It was there that he began creating Baghsangi.

The exact reason behind the creation of Baghsangi has remained a mystery. Since Darvish Khan was deaf and mute, he could never fully explain his intentions. Some say it was born of a dream, while others believe it was a silent protest against injustice. What is certain, however, is the astonishing sight he left behind: massive stones, too heavy for one man to carry, skillfully hung from dry tree trunks.

In 1976, filmmaker Parviz Kimiavi visited Baghsangi and was so fascinated that he made a film about Darvish Khan’s life, in which Darvish Khan and his family played the main roles. The film won several awards at both national and international festivals, including the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

According to the film’s narrative, Darvish Khan once dreamed of a garden made of stones after his orchards had withered. Upon waking, he collected pierced stones from nearby riverbeds and mountains, carried them over long distances, and hung them on tree trunks. His family, however, insisted that Baghsangi was his way of protesting silently: unable to speak, he expressed his grief and anger by building the garden. Villagers recall how he burned old tires to extract wires, which he then used to fasten the stones.

There are mysteries surrounding Baghsangi. All of the stones are neatly pierced, even though Darvish Khan had no drilling tools. Many were so heavy that even after his death, several strong men struggled to rehang them when one of the trees collapsed. Despite these challenges, Darvish Khan dedicated his entire life to building the garden, employing unique techniques that died with him.

Every stone and tree in Baghsangi carried symbolic meaning. Whenever an event occurred in his life, he would add a new tree or stone. For example, when his grandson went to military service, he hung a round stone resembling a shaved head. Over time, these symbolic acts shaped a surreal landscape that, years later, would attract tourists and photographers from around the world.

Darvish Khan passed away on April 8, 2007, at the age of 90. He died among the trees of his beloved Baghsangi and was buried there, leaving behind a cultural landmark that continues to fascinate visitors.

I have designed a student project as a tourism complex for this region, and I will share its link with you below.

Tourism Complex, Recreational Complex