Mughal Gardens of Kashmir

Mughal Gardens of Kashmir:
The celebrated Mughal gardens of Kashmir owe their grandeur primarily to Emperor Jahangir who deeply loved Kashmir, and his son Shah Jahan. Jahangir was responsible for the careful selection of the sites and maneuvering it to suit the requirements of the gardens.

The sites selected were invariably at the foot of a mountain, wherever there was a source of water either in the form of streams or springs. This feature eventually evolved in terraced garden layouts.
The highly advanced engineering skills of the Mughal empire helped in creation of the timeless beauty of the exquisite gardens.
The major gardens are - Pari Mahal, Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh & Chashma Shahi in Srinagar, Achabal Bagh near Anant Nag and Verinag.

Pari Mahal this seven terraced garden located at the top of Zabarwan mountain range over-looking city of Srinagar and south-west of Dal-Lake was laid out by Prince Dara Shikoh son of Emperor Shah Jahan on the ruins of a Buddhist monastery. It was also used as an observatory.
Chashm-e-Shahi: En route to Pari Mahal this is one of the smallest gardens in the area. The garden was laid out with terraces and waterfalls by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 AD. It offers great views of Dal Lake and the surrounding mountains.
Shalimar Bagh: Built by Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife NoorJahan in 1616 AD, this garden has four terraces rising one above the other covering 31 acres. There is a central canal of water known as “Shah Nahar” flowing in this garden and numerous different trees and flowers grow in abundance. From May to October a spellbinding sound and light show is organised for visitors in the garden in the evenings.
Nishat Bagh: Designed by Asaf Khan, the brother of Mughal Queen Noor Jahan in 1633 AD, this is the second largest of the Mughal gardens. It offers a mystic view of the Pir Panjal range and Dal Lake. It follows the basic conceptual model of the Persian gardens  and consists of the twelve terraces and a central water channel which flows through the middle of the garden and is flanked by flower beds and Chinar trees on either side. There is a spring behind the garden called Gopi Tirth which provides water for the whole garden.