Gardens and Parks in
Kashmir
Srinagar
is justly famed for its Mughal Gardens, vast acres
of hillsides, terraced with waterbodies and rimmed
with flowering shrubs and trees, laid in formal
quadrangles by the Mughal emperors whose love for
the valley is legendary.
Shalimar Gardens
are the piece de resistance of Srinagar's many
gardens and parks. This royal garden was laid out
four hundred years ago by the Mughal Emperor
Jehangir for his wife.
Shalimar Garden, Srinagar.
Nishat
Bagh, though smaller than Shalimar, is more
intensely beautiful. Descending in tiers to the
Dal's edge, Nishat is well known for its stately
chinar (plane) trees, imported to Kashmir from
distant Persia by the Mughals. Many of the giant
chinar trees have been planted by the Mughals.
Nishat Garden, Srinagar.
Shah Jehan
is reputed, also, to have laid out the gardens of Chashma
Shahi, so named because of a mountain spring
that waters it.
Chashma Shahi, Srinagar.
Pari
Mahal is as much a monument as garden. This
was initially a garden built by Dara Shiko for his
Sufi teacher, Mulla Shah. Once punctuated wth
several springs that have since dried up, the Pari
Mahal gardens are now the pride of the state. Pari
Mahal is illuminated at night, and can he seen,
located on the spur of a hill, from most places in
Srinagar.
Pari Mahal, Srinagar.
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