travel.mapsofworld.com offers you information about Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan

Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan is one of the most famous Tourist Attractions in Isfahan. Chehel Sotun Palace was built as a reception hall by the Shah Abbas II in 1647. This great Safavid Palace was one of the 300 structures built in Isfahan when it was the capital of Iran. Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan is located in the old royal park between the Ali Qapu Palace and the Chahar Bagh Avenue. The name means ‘The Forty Columns’. The palace has only twenty columns built of cypress wood and arranged in three rows of six with two additional ones on either side of the main entrance. Their reflections in the adjacent pool make up for the other twenty. ‘Chehel’ is the Farsi word for forty.

Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan also has a small museum inside the building. You will find here six friezes painted on the upper part of the inside walls. It depicts the Safavid court life and their military exploits. There are smaller paintings beneath these majestic scenes. These smaller paintings resemble the Persian miniature in style and subject matter. Covered in plaster during the Qajar period, these have recently been restored. You will find a collection of Safavid objects including carpets, amour, porcelain and coins all around the room.

The talar or verandah is the dominant feature of the Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan. The columns are over 40 meters tall, support the verandah and are cut from single chenar trees. The roof is also made from chenar tree beams and embellished with detailed decoration. The surface of much of the throne room is covered with mirrored glass and it is thought that this was also used on the pillars. It is interesting to note that immense importance was attached to the concept of ‘talar’ by the Persians. It protected them from the light and heat even while sitting in the garden.

There is a small raised throne room behind the verandah of Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan and this will lead you into a huge audience chamber. This is heavily embellished with paintings depicting the heyday of the Safavid dynasty. The most noteworthy of these is the one depicting Shah Tahmasb receiving the Mughal Emperor Homayun at a banquet.

travel.mapsofworld.com offers complete online information on Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan