Name: Srinagar
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Mughal Gardens, Srinagar Overview

Mughal Gardens which have truly changed the face of the Mughal Empire is one of the most popular and the most visited tourist attractions of Srinagar. During their rule, the Mughals began to build several types of gardens in Persian architecture, and the combination of these gardens is referred to as the Mughal Gardens. The natural beauty of the place filled with lush green grass and the scented flowers is a stress-buster and pleasing to the eyes. The tourists who come here take long strolls in the garden or sit and admire the beauty of the place.

The Mughal Gardens in Srinagar comprise of Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Chashme Shahi, Pari Mahal, Achabal and Verinag Garden. The grandeur of the gardens is dedicated to Emperor Jahangir who always had an undying love for Kashmir. Jahangir was responsible for the selection of the site and planning the requirements of the paradise gardens. It is always a lot of fun in exploring the history behind these gardens. They follow a Persian style of architecture and have been influenced by the Persian gardens. Some typical features of Mughal Gardens which are a treat for its visitors include canals, pools and fountains.

History of Mughal Gardens

The landscape of the city has evolved ever since the Mughal Gardens have been built. The concept of gardens was introduced in South Asia by Babur in the form of planned charbagh which was persistent in Farghana, his homeland as well as his kingdom Kabul. According to Babur, the Hindus did not use running water for gardens, and he considered only enclosed spaces to be gardens in the real sense. Taking into consideration all these faults, he started building gardens with all the needed waterworks to bring him back to his homeland.

The first Mughal Garden was established in Punjab in 1519 by Babur. These gardens are not only some spaces filled with greenery and patches, but they are also a representation of the Mughal architectural settings. Babur's descendants adopted his legacy and continued building the Mughal Gardens in different parts of the county including Srinagar.

According to legends, Shalimar Bagh, one of the Mughal Gardens was built during the rule of Pravarsena II who had made the district of Srinagar and lived in a cottage situated nearby. After Emperor Jahangir became the ruler, he paid a visit to this place and decided to build a beautiful garden there for his wife, Nur Jahan. The site gained popularity as the pleasure hall for the Pathans. The garden is spread over an area of 31 acres with a length of 587 meters and width of 251 meters. The roofs of the garden are all equipped with water fountains, and the garden is attached to the Dal Lake via a canal.

Architecture and Symbolism of Mughal Gardens

Mughal gardens' design derives primarily from the medieval Islamic garden, though there are nomadic influences that come from the Mughal's Turkish-Mongolian ancestry as well. Julie Scott Meisami describes the old Islamic garden as a protected nutshell from the outside world. It mostly follows the Persian style of architecture follow the classic format of a closed space with its centre bearing a structure and a gate on the entrance with additional structures on the left-out walls. During the reign of Shah Jahan, a lot of importance was given to a riverfront garden which is how most gardens were constructed by him. There was another terraced garden known as the Shalimar Garden which Shah Jahan was known for. This concept was influenced by Central Asia.

The garden was constructed on three terraces- the top one being Fara Baksh Bagh and the lower one being Fayz Baksh Bagh. There was a large pool, fountains and colourful flowers present on the terrace in the middle. A hydraulic system was installed in the garden which did the task of supplying running water from the River Ravi via a canal system designed by one of the courtiers of Shah Jahan.

Best Time To Visit Mughal Gardens

An ideal time to pay a visit to the Mughal Gardens of Srinagar is between October and June because during October to March as the place is chilly and a perfect place to spend some time for snow lovers. During April to June, the climate of Srinagar is amazing, and the Tulip festival which is regarded as colourful festival there is also organised during April.

Tips For Visiting Mughal Gardens

Be careful not to pluck any flower or fruit or might have to pay a fine of INR 500.

How To Reach Mughal Gardens, Srinagar

Mughal Gardens in Srinagar are quite accessible. There are many public taxis as well as buses available for the tourists from Lal Chowk to reach the gardens. Hotels too can arrange cabs for the tourists.