As part of a scheme to boost tourism in Mehriz, Yazd Province, eight historical gardens will be restored to host foreign and domestic travelers.

The scheme, titled "Eight Heavens", has been proposed by Mehriz Governorate and will be implemented by the private sector with state support and under the supervision of the provincial office of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.

According to Mohammad Rastegari, governor of Mehriz, four gardens, namely Pahlevanpour, Shoja' Lashkar, Akbarabad and Tabasi, have so far been selected, IRNA reported.

"Others will soon be introduced to ICHHTO," he said.

Apart from attracting more tourists to the province, the plan is expected to encourage tourists to stay longer.

Mehriz is 30 kilometers south of Yazd, a globally known and UNESCO-inscribed city that attracts a large number of tourists each year. It is one of the oldest residential areas in Iran's central region.

Prehistoric stone inscriptions, Median adobe ruins and Zoroastrian cemeteries are all indicators of the city's ancient history.

It is also home to other attractions such as Gharbalbiz Spring, Rig Mountain, Zeineddin Caravanserai, Sassanian Saryazd Castle and Pire Naraki Zoroastrian Temple.