El Goli Shah Garden Pavilion and Park
Visit El Goli (Shah Garden), Tabriz's beloved historic park where a central lake, an 18th-century pavilion on a man-made island, and the surrounding forested hillsides create the city's most cherished recreational space and a beautiful example of Azerbaijani garden design.
- 1
Park Entrance
Enter El Goli Park through its main gate where the forested slopes of Tabriz's southeastern hills create a backdrop for the park that has served as the city's principal recreation area since the Safavid period, now beloved by Tabrizis of all ages.
- 2
Central Lake
Walk alongside the large central lake where the reflections of the surrounding trees and the island pavilion create a tranquil landscape within the city, the lake that gives El Goli (meaning 'Shah's Pond' in Azerbaijani) its name being the organizing element of the entire park composition.
- 3
Island Pavilion
Cross the causeway to the island pavilion where the historic two-story structure has been restored as a restaurant, the elevated position above the lake providing views across the water to the wooded hillsides beyond and making this the most sought-after dining location in Tabriz.
- 4
Hillside Forest Walk
Walk the forested hillside paths where mature trees provide shade and the elevation above the city affords views over Tabriz's sprawling urban landscape, the hillside park being an essential resource for urban recreation in a city that has grown to be one of Iran's largest metropolitan areas.
- 5
Evening Promenade
Join the evening promenade when Tabriz families and couples walk the park paths in the long Persian tradition of the evening stroll, the park's atmosphere relaxed and social in a way that provides insight into ordinary urban Iranian leisure culture beyond the monuments.
- 6
Park Garden Areas
See the formal garden areas within the park where flower beds, ornamental plantings, and the maintained landscape of the original Safavid garden design coexist with the more naturalistic forested areas, the combination creating the variety of landscape character that makes El Goli beloved by generations of Tabrizis.