Hevsel GardensPlaces to Visit in Diyarbakir

The Hevsel Gardens boast a long and storied past, first recorded in Aramean texts dating to the 9th century BC. Positioned atop a basalt cliff that overlooks the Tigris River, these gardens were originally developed to supply the city with fresh water and agricultural produce from the river's edge.

In 866 BC, the gardens were devastated when Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II laid siege to the city and destroyed them as a punitive act. Despite this devastation, the fortified city maintained its strategic and cultural significance throughout the Hellenistic era, eventually falling under the rule of major empires including the Romans, Sassanids, Byzantines, Islamic Caliphates, and the Ottoman Empire, extending its legacy into the modern age.

The gardens are arranged into five distinct terraces, designed to manage the distribution of irrigation water effectively throughout the landscape. The highest sections of the gardens were carefully positioned and played a vital role in shaping the city's strategic layout. Beyond their practical function, the gardens were regarded as sacred spaces, representing sustenance and abundance. They were even likened to the Garden of Eden, symbolizing humanity’s command over nature.

The Hevsel Gardens are steeped in centuries of cultural and agricultural heritage. By 1655, the gardens had expanded along both sides of the Tigris River and were praised for their vibrant floral beauty. During the nineteenth century, explorers and travelers documented the gardens' impressive variety of produce, including melons, grapes, and apricots. A sandy islet formed by the river’s braided flow became especially famous for growing exceptional watermelons.

The gardens played a vital role in the city's life, with designated zones for vegetable cultivation and tree planting, including mulberry trees used in silk production. Agricultural goods harvested from the area were delivered to nearby regions via rafts, and timber was sourced from poplar and willow trees growing within the gardens.

Currently, about one-third of the area is planted with poplar trees, while the rest is used to grow a diverse range of crops like cabbage, spinach, lettuce, radish, green onions, parsley, watercress, eggplants, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and beans. The gardens are also rich in fruit trees, producing peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, figs, and mulberries.

In 2015, the Diyarbakır Fortress and the Hevsel Gardens were officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of their outstanding historical and cultural value.

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