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Yazd Water Museum, Yazd, Iran

Yazd Water Museum was opened in 2000 by Yazd Regional Water Authority. However, as a mansion, its construction and beautification work was completed in 1887 and it is today 145 years old.

The building: The museum is a mansion with an area of 720 Square meters, constructed by late Mr. Kolahdooz who was a merchant some 150 years ago. The Regional Water Organization of Yazd purchased the house to establish the museum. This ancient building comprises the following five divisions:

  1. Two qanats named Rahimabad and Zarch which were once running under this construction and just the second one is now active;
  2.  Payab (a passage cut in the ground to have access to Qanat water) which is at the depth of 10 meters in the ground;
  3. Basements;
  4. Rooms and courtyard;
  5. Roof.

Goals and missions:

  • Explaining the achievements of the past in the field of water supply and distribution
  • Teaching children and teenagers about the culture of water consumption using multimedia tools
  • The narrative of water circulation in ancient Iran using multimedia tools
  • Creating a water tour in order to truly visualize how water circulates and is used in ancient Iran
  • Investigating the cultural and social commonalities between different communities that have formed in relation to water and trying to build culture in order to create friendship between communities

What is exhibited in the water museum:

  • Various tools for digging canals
  • Tools and equipment for measuring water volume
  • Lighting devices in the qanat
  • Water purchase and sale documents
  • Old dedication letters
  • Mirab booklet and water distribution documents
  • Containers for storing and transporting water and many other valuable items

The roof of the building enjoys a well with a Persian wheel. A reservoir and a small pool to supply the consuming water for the household as well as its conveyance to the fountains in the courtyard and filling the pool.

An Introduction to The Collection:

  • Various kinds of axes. Illumination in Qanats, Persian wheels, buckets, clothing and especial cotton caps for the practitioners of Qanats;
  • Water faucets, utensils for carrying and preservation of water besides rubber bags the water carriers used;
  • Instruments for gauging Qanat water, water distribution devices and the first water clock of the world;
  • Qanat gallery levelling equipment;
  • Markets displaying the Qanat conveyance process as well as historical and water based places like mosques, reservoirs, ice houses, public bathhouse, water mills, farms and orchards;
  • Documents concerning endowment of Qanat water right benevolently.

Itineraries

The Water Tourism Route in the Ancient Area of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Yazd – Iran

Is it possible to discover the history of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the middle of a desert through an underground water distribution route in 60 minutes? This route will take us back in history, to a time when Yazd was represented by its Kariz Civilization. The route will be crossed both above and under the ground so that we learn about the ways in which our ancestors founded such a civilization along this route and in the desert.
The route starts from Amirchakhmagh square from its water reservoir. The next point is the water museum where a Sradab can be visited. Then the Darvazeh Mehriz (Mehriz Gate) Water Reservoir will be visited. From that point the Payab of Jame’ mosque, and the Shah Kamalieh Hammam can be visited. Then visitors can move to the Vazir watermill and finally the Rakhtshooy Khane.

Seven Narrations of Water and Life

Yazd Water Museum and its Sardab

The Kolahdoozan house dates back to about 110 years ago. Two Qanats named Rahimabad and Zarch passed under this building and the house is intertwined with water due to the passage of two Qanats under it; and today it has become a water museum. Water plays a fundamental role in the overall organization of the home’s spaces. The harshness of Yazd’s climate have led traditional architects to use groundwater and Qanats in order to alleviate climatic problems.

Visit Itinerary

Videos

The film is a short story which takes place in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the middle of a desert in Iran. A city with harsh dry climate which has developed a special culture of social participation to transfer water through underground tunnels for many kilometers; the city of Yazd. The film tries to introduce the culture of Yazd which is highly dependent on water. All the culture and history which is collected in Water Museum of Yazd…

SERs

Visiting museum by school and university students and painting workshops about water for primary school students

Visitors’ satisfaction is directly related to experience of learning, discovery and involvement. Yazd Water Museum has tried its best in motivating learning behavior for all age groups especially primary school students. This will shape a sustainable future for water museum and a lifelong learning for students.
We’ve actually tried to make the museum as a source of knowledge to the public on the history, culture and natural history.