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Nishat Bagh () is a
terraced
In agriculture, a terrace is a piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of successively receding flat surfaces or platforms, which resemble steps, for the purposes of more effective farming. This type of landscaping is therefore ...
Mughal garden built on the eastern side of the Dal Lake
Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is an urban lake, the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir, and the most visited place in Srinagar by tourists and locals. It is integral to tourism and recreation in th ...
, close to Srinagar in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. It is the second largest Mughal garden in the Kashmir Valley. Nishat Bagh, is also located on the bank of the Dal Lake. ‘Nishat Bagh’ is Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu"
''
Located on the bank of the Dal Lake, with the Zabarwan Mountains as its backdrop, Nishat Bagh is a garden with views of the lake beneath the Pir Panjal mountain range. The Bagh was designed and built in 1633 by Asif Khan, elder brother of
:The details of the twelve terraces have been recorded as originally built:
*The first terrace is a water collection chamber that is also linked to the side flow from the garden.
*The second terrace is accessed through a gate. This terrace has five fountains that is supplied water from the third terrace, from where it flowed to the lowest terrace.
*The third terrace has a different design. The water chute has five arched open niches in the front and similar niches on the sides. A pavilion ( baradari), a two-storied structure, which existed here when it was originally built, has since been dismantled. Stairways, on either side of the channel lead to the third terrace, which has a square chamber with five fountains. Moving up the flight of steps (four steps) on either side of the channel leads to the fourth terrace.
*The fourth terrace has two levels namely, a water channel and a square pool. Stairways with 7 steps lead to the fifth terrace.
*The fifth terrace, where a stone bench is provided to take in the view across the channel. This also has a square chamber with five fountains.
*The sixth terrace is at two levels with five fountains and distinctive paving pattern.
*The seventh terrace, where the same pattern continues.
*The eighth terrace is only a water channel or chute.
*The ninth terrace, at the end of two stairways, there is an octagonal bench. The pool in this terrace has nine fountains.
*The stairways to the tenth terrace are along the side retaining walls where only the water chute with fountains is provided.
*Engraved paths lead to an impressive eleventh terrace, which has twenty-five fountains in a pool. Up from this dramatic terrace is the last one.
*The Zenana chamber, the twelfth terrace, is covered in the front by high wall with a façade of blind arches. Only one arch in this blind facade provides an opening to the twelfth terrace. Two small octagonal towers on either side of the retaining walls provide views of the lower level terraces. A two-storey pavilion here is surrounded by a lovely garden with lush plantings.
Out of all the terraces, the second terrace is considered the most impressive in view of the twenty-three niches provided in the arched recess just behind the cascade. Originally lighted lamps used to be placed at these niches. The second terrace also has an abundance of Persian lilacs and pansies coupled with sparkling cascading water over the chute, which provided a lovely sight.
Another interesting feature in the Nishat Bagh is of the many stones and marble thrones that are placed at the head of almost every waterfall.
The Herbert Offen Research Collection of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum
Nishat Bagh on Archnet November 2019, active site
November 2019, active site {{Authority control Mughal gardens in India Mughal terraced gardens Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir Tourist attractions in Srinagar district 1663 establishments in the Mughal Empire
''
History
Located on the bank of the Dal Lake, with the Zabarwan Mountains as its backdrop, Nishat Bagh is a garden with views of the lake beneath the Pir Panjal mountain range. The Bagh was designed and built in 1633 by Asif Khan, elder brother of Nur Jahan
Nur Jahan, born Mehr-un-Nissa P ersian: نورجهان (; – 18 December 1645) was the wife and chief consort of the Mughal emperor Jahangir from 1620 until his death in 1627.
Nur Jahan was born Mehr-un-Nissa, as the daughter of a Mirza Gh ...
.
An anecdote is told of the jealousy of the Emperor Shah Jahan on beholding such a delightful garden, which led to the abandonment of the garden for some time.
When Shah Jahan saw the garden, after its completion in 1633, he expressed great appreciation of its grandeur and beauty. He is believed to have expressed his delight three times to Asif Khan, his father-in-law, in the hope that he would make a gift of it to him. As no such offer was forthcoming from Asif Khan, however, Shah Jahan was piqued and ordered that the water supply to the garden should be cut off. The garden was then deserted for some time. Asif Khan was desolate and heartbroken; he was uninterested in the sequence of events. When he was resting under the shade of a tree, in one of the terraces, his servant was bold enough to turn on the water supply source from the Shalimar Bagh. When Asif Khan heard the sound of water and the fountains in action he was started and immediately ordered the disconnection of the water supply as he feared the worst reaction from the Emperor for this wanton act of disobedience. Fortunately for the servant and for the Khan, Shah Jahan, who had heard about this incident at the garden, was not disturbed or annoyed by the disobedience of his orders. Instead, he approved of the servant's loyal service to his master and then ordered the full restoration rights for the supply of water to the garden to Asif Khan, his Prime Minister and father-in-law.
The Mughal Princess Zuhra Begum, daughter of the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II and granddaughter of the Emperor Jahandar Shah
Mirza Mu'izz-ud-Din Beg Muhammad Khan (10 May 1661 – 11 February 1713), more commonly known as Jahandar Shah (), was the ninth Mughal Emperor who ruled for a brief period in 1712–1713. He was the son of Bahadur Shah (Shah Alam), and the ...
, is buried in the garden.
Layout
Even though the layout of Nishat Bagh was based on the basic conceptual model of thePersian gardens
The tradition and style of garden design represented by Persian gardens or Iranian gardens ( fa, باغ ایرانی), an example of the paradise garden, has influenced the design of gardens from Andalusia to India and beyond. The gardens of the ...
, it had to be remodelled to fit the topographic and water source conditions at the site chosen in the Kashmir valley. The plan, instead of being central with four radiating arms in a square pattern as in the case of Chahar (suited for a flat countryside), was changed to an axial stream flow design to fit the hill condition with water source originating at the top of the hill end. This resulted in planning a rectangular layout rather than a square layout. This helped in dispensing with the long side arms. Thus, a rectangular layout with east–west length of and width of was adopted.
Architecture
Nishat Bagh has a broad cascade of terraces lined with avenues of chinar and cypress trees, which starts from the lakeshore and reaches up to an artificial façade at the hill end. Rising from the edge of the Dal Lake, it has twelve 12 terraces representing twelveZodiac
The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The pat ...
al signs. However, it has only two sections, namely the public garden and the private garden for the Zanana or harem vis-à-vis the four sections of the Shalimar Bagh; this difference is attributed to the fact that the latter Bagh catered to the Mughal Emperor, while Nishad Bagh belonged to a man of his court, a noble. There are, however, some similarities with the Shalimar Bagh, such as the polished stone channel and terraces. The source of water supply to the two gardens is the same. Built in an east–west direction, the top terrace has the Zenana garden while the lowest terrace is connected to the Dal Lake. In recent years, the lowest terrace has merged with the approach road. A spring called the Gopi Thirst provides clear water supply to the gardens. There are a few old Mughal period buildings in the vicinity of the Bagh.
The central canal, which runs through the garden from the top end, is wide and has a water depth of . Water flows down in a cascade from the top to the first terrace at the road level, which could be also approached from the Dal Lake through a shikara
The shikara is a type of wooden boat found on Dal Lake and other water bodies of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir Shikaras are of various sizes and are used for multiple purposes, including transportation. A usual shikara seats six people, with th ...
ride. The water flow from one terrace to the next is overstepped stone ramps that provide the sparkle to the flow. At all the terraces fountains with pools are provided, along the water channel. At channel crossings, benches are provided.
The twelve terraces
:The details of the twelve terraces have been recorded as originally built:
*The first terrace is a water collection chamber that is also linked to the side flow from the garden.
*The second terrace is accessed through a gate. This terrace has five fountains that is supplied water from the third terrace, from where it flowed to the lowest terrace.
*The third terrace has a different design. The water chute has five arched open niches in the front and similar niches on the sides. A pavilion ( baradari), a two-storied structure, which existed here when it was originally built, has since been dismantled. Stairways, on either side of the channel lead to the third terrace, which has a square chamber with five fountains. Moving up the flight of steps (four steps) on either side of the channel leads to the fourth terrace.
*The fourth terrace has two levels namely, a water channel and a square pool. Stairways with 7 steps lead to the fifth terrace.
*The fifth terrace, where a stone bench is provided to take in the view across the channel. This also has a square chamber with five fountains.
*The sixth terrace is at two levels with five fountains and distinctive paving pattern.
*The seventh terrace, where the same pattern continues.
*The eighth terrace is only a water channel or chute.
*The ninth terrace, at the end of two stairways, there is an octagonal bench. The pool in this terrace has nine fountains.
*The stairways to the tenth terrace are along the side retaining walls where only the water chute with fountains is provided.
*Engraved paths lead to an impressive eleventh terrace, which has twenty-five fountains in a pool. Up from this dramatic terrace is the last one.
*The Zenana chamber, the twelfth terrace, is covered in the front by high wall with a façade of blind arches. Only one arch in this blind facade provides an opening to the twelfth terrace. Two small octagonal towers on either side of the retaining walls provide views of the lower level terraces. A two-storey pavilion here is surrounded by a lovely garden with lush plantings.
Out of all the terraces, the second terrace is considered the most impressive in view of the twenty-three niches provided in the arched recess just behind the cascade. Originally lighted lamps used to be placed at these niches. The second terrace also has an abundance of Persian lilacs and pansies coupled with sparkling cascading water over the chute, which provided a lovely sight.
Another interesting feature in the Nishat Bagh is of the many stones and marble thrones that are placed at the head of almost every waterfall.
Visitor information
Nishat Bagh located in the Srinagar District is from the city centre. The nearest AirportSheikh ul-Alam International Airport
Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport also known as Srinagar Airport and Budgam Airbase, is an international airport serving Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is owned by the Indian Air Force, and the Airports Author ...
away at Humhama. The Airport connects to all major cities of India.
Jammu
Jammu is the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the headquarters and the largest city in Jammu district of the union territory. Lying on the banks of the river Tawi, the city of Jammu, with an area of ...
is the nearest Rail Head which is away. The National Highway NH1A connects the Kashmir valley with rest of the country. One way of visiting the Bagh is through the Dal Lake using the famous "water taxi" of Kashmir, the Shikara
The shikara is a type of wooden boat found on Dal Lake and other water bodies of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir Shikaras are of various sizes and are used for multiple purposes, including transportation. A usual shikara seats six people, with th ...
.
See also
*Foreshore Road
Foreshore Road is one of the prestigious roads in the city of Srinagar. The notability of the road lies in the fact that the entire road lies on the banks of Dal Lake. The road starts from Hazratbal, Srinagar and ends at Nishat. The famous M ...
* Indo-Islamic Architecture
Indo-Islamic architecture is the architecture of the Indian subcontinent produced by and for Islamic patrons and purposes. Despite an initial Arab presence in Sindh, the development of Indo-Islamic architecture began in earnest with the establi ...
* Dal Lake
Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is an urban lake, the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir, and the most visited place in Srinagar by tourists and locals. It is integral to tourism and recreation in th ...
* Shalimar Bagh (Srinagar)
* Hazratbal
Hazratbal is the notified area situated in Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is about from Srinagar city center. The early settlements in the area occurred on the banks of Dal Lake and majority of population of area are Hangis (fish ...
References
External links
The Herbert Offen Research Collection of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum
Nishat Bagh on Archnet November 2019, active site
November 2019, active site {{Authority control Mughal gardens in India Mughal terraced gardens Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir Tourist attractions in Srinagar district 1663 establishments in the Mughal Empire