ARC 1018

THEORY OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN

COLONIAL
INFLUENCE
UNDERTHE
MUGHALS
LATE
MEDIEVAL
EARLY PERIOD
MEDIEVAL
LANDSCAPE PERIOD
UNDER
ANCIENT MAURYANS
GARDENS
FROM EPICS

HISTORY OF INDIAN GARDENS

Presentation by-

Veenaa Sri (18BAR0001)

L Merrytia (18BAR0011)
Gladis Swetha (18BAR0016)
Sneha S (18BAR0027)
Samyuktha S (18BAR0031)
ANCIENT INDIAN GARDENS
 REFERENCES OF GARDENS IN EPICS
• RAMAYANAM
Ashokavana or Panchavati, in which Sita was
held captive. Ashoka trees (Saraca asoca) were
predominant in this garden.
N

W E

• MAHABHARATHAM
S
A description of the layout of gardens and parks and
artificial lakes in the city of Indraprastha is given in
the Sabha- Parva of the Mahabharata

From
Surapala's Vrikshayurveda
From the texts of Ramayana and
Mahabharata

Through the texts of the Mahabharata or

Ramayana, one can observe immense
detailing given to architecture. Be it the
“Indraprastha” with its architecture or the
“ashokavanas”.

The focus was given to vistas, and large

spaces, movement and cosmos
Artist Tomassetti’s painting of
Swargarohanam in Mahabharata
• Two sacred landscape elements
– river confluence and hills
• Cosmic geometry – connect
different level of cosmos
• Triangular yantra
• Visual axes
 Planting layouts as per Surapala

Geometric Non –Geometric (naturalistic)

Square Continuous canopy Cluster Grove

Straight row or avenue

Open square
Circle within square

Swastika

Artist Tomassetti’s painting of Balarama and Krishna

Use of artificial ponds, water bridges, scultures, free
standing pillars, gateways

Gardens or vanams – seen as part of town

planning itself

Gardens laid out for diversion of citizens in

every city

Manasārā – public commons, gardens and parks

Vrindavan – landscaped city
should be conveniently accessed by the people
 HINDU GARDENS

• ‘Vanams’ in ancient period served the purpose of a garden and was synonymous with garden. Vanams were the
natural gardens furnished by the mother earth for the humans and animals to dwell on and inhabit in.
• Such vanams were put to various uses by the various sections of the society.

RAJAVANAM TABOVANAM ASHOKAVANAM NANDAVANAM

 TYPES OF HINDU GARDENS

RAJAVANAM
Natural forest exclusively meant for kings to hunt wild animals
The time spent in hunting that is relaxing in real sense. Later on four kinds
of Rajavanams came into existence as detailed below.

• Promododyan: Private garden for king and queen exclusively. It was

attached to the fort where the queen resided.

• Udayan: A vanam where the kings passed their leisure time in playing
chess, enjoying dance and listening to music.

• Vriksha vatica: a vanam meant for ministers and courtiers where

they made merry with courtesans.

• Special garden dedicated to god with water pools studded with

lotuses and lilies.
 TYPES OF HINDU GARDEN

TABOVANAM
• It was meant for sages and hermits to meditate to explore the self and the super
natural power. Tabovanams had trees of spiritual significance as listed below.

Guettarda speciosa Asvattha (Ficus religosa) Michelia champaca

 TYPES OF HINDU GARDENS

• ‘Brindavanam’ means a place of eternal bliss. It

is supposed to be the advanced version
of tabovanam. It is the natural abode where sages are
believed to have relinquished their ‘physical body’and
attained ‘radiant body’and ‘eternal ecstasy’.

• The Arvind Ashram at Pondicherry is an example for such a

garden. Trees with showy, colourful flowers which express
absolute joy found a place in Brindavans
 TYPES OF HINDU GARDENS

ASHOKAVANAM
• It was a garden where royal ladies like queens and
princesses relaxed.
Asoka trees (Saraca indica) were grown in woodlots. The down
flowing coppery leaves of Saraca were believed to suggest to
royal ladies that their kings would return with triumph and
pacify their emotionally imbalanced hearts.
 TYPES OF HINDU GARDENS

NANDAVANAM
They are small gardens established around village
temples with flowering shrubs the flowers of which
are offered to various deities. The shrubs commonly
grown in such gardens include Tabernaemontana
coronaria, Hibiscus, Tecoma, Nerium, Jasminum spp.,
etc.,
 ELEMENTS OF HINDU GARDENS

PEDESTRIAN SCULPTURES

PONDS (Kumudini – fountains with crystal clear

SCULPTURES
water with water lilies, or fish or ducks)
 Swings ; waterbody ; Gazebo Pavilions

Garden houses – vine canopies

Latagrah- house made with

sweet scented blossoms
(pergola) Arbour
Stone or wooden seaters
 HARAPPAN AND MOHANJADARO

• Tree was worshipped in its natural form and as tree spirit

personified as human attributes in Mohenjo-daro and
Harappa

• The divine character of the trees has been depicted in a

number of seals, sealings, potteries, potsherds and some rock
paintings as archeological evidences of the Mohenjodaro and
Harappa period (2500-1750 BC).

• In the Indus Valley Civilization, the belief was that trees

were symbolic of gods and goddesses
Did not have separate idea for
gardens. City surrounded by
land used for cultivation

Tree worship in Harappa civilization

Peepal trees - sacred

Planning of citadel in Mohenjo-Daro

Use of Great bath (ritual bath) - colonnades on the eastern,
southern and northern edges
Under Ashoka (269 – 232 BCE) :

Shady fruit trees – along public thoroughfare and resorts

Banyan trees, mango grooves, wells, rest houses, watering

places – installed at intervals along empire roads

Sangharama : monastery + gardens Expected Pataliputra town and house

layout Courtyards and streets with
trees and ground cover

Sanchi stupa – site plan Reservoir and monastery in Sanchi stupa

SOME OF THE TREES OF THE PERIOD

Neem (Azadirachta indica) Asvattha (Ficus religosa)

Sami (Prosopis cineraria) khadira (Acacia catechu)

EARLY MEDIEVAL GARDEN
[6th – 13th century]
Influence of water bodies in evolution of gardens in India:
Badami Cave Temples
Location : Karnataka
Time period : 6th century

• Sites for temple were chosen in such a way

that it is closer to water bodies.
• It is believed that god is present in peaceful
environment with surrounded with water and
trees.
• In later stages man made water bodies were.
Evolution of step wells in India

Click to add text

Earlier form of step wells Surya kund in Modherasun temple Adalaj Step Well,Gujarat
[3rd century] [10th century] [14th century]
Chittorgarh fort [Rajasthan] – 6th century

Purpose of having waterbody

• Water conservation
• To prevent water scarcity in the fort during
summer
Late Medieval period
[13th-16th century]
Garden's in Mandu-15th century

• Influence of Islamic elementsand

principles.
• Mirror image of buildings on water bodies
• Water bodies were built for pleasure.
MUGHAL GARDENS
[1600 AD- 1800AD]
 TIMELINE

• BABUR HAD GARDENS BUILT

IN LAHORE AND DELHI- RAM
BAGH,AGRA

• HUMAYUN –PURANA QUILA

• AKBAR – RIVERFRONT
RATHER THAN FORTRESS
GARDEN,DELHI ANDAGRA
• HUMAYUNS TOMB,FATEHPUR SHALIMAR GARDEN
SIKIRI

• JAHANGIR- SHALIMAR
GARDEN, LOVED FLOWERS

• SHAH JAHAN ,APEX OF

MUGHAL GARDEN
ARCHITECTURE AND FLORAL
DESIGN
- TAJ MAHAL , RED FORT
- TULIP – PERSONAL SYMBOL
TAJ MAHAL GARDEN RED FORTGARDEN
• AURANGAZEB-CHAUBURJI
 INTRODUCTION
• MUGHAL GARDENS BUILT BY –MUGHALS

• INFLUENCED BY PERSIAN GARDENS ,CHARBARGH

• RECTILINEAR LAYOUTS MADE WITHIN THE ENCLOSSED

WALLS

CHARBARGH
• THESE GARDENS ARE PRIVATE AND FORMAL SPACES.

• THE BASIC STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF FOUR QUADRANTS

DIVIDED BY
• WATERWAYS
• PATHWAYS

• TRADITIONALLY, THE RICH USED SUCH GARDENS IN WORK-RELATED

FUNCTIONS

• THESE GARDENS BALANCE STRUCTURE WITH GREENERY.

• THE PLANTS ARE OFTEN PLACED AT PERIPHERY OF THE POOLS OR PATH.

EVOLUTION OF MUGHAL GARDENS
 TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDENS

1. RECTANGULAR PEARL 2. LONG BUTTERFLY 3. CIRCULAR GARDEN 4. TERRACED GARDEN

GARDEN GARDEN

TERRACED GARDEN LONG BUTTERFLYGARDEN CIRCULAR GARDEN

SHALIMAR GARDEN RASTRAPATHI BHAVAN RASHTRAPATHI BHAVAN
 ENCAMPMENT GARDEN PALACE GARDEN TOMB GARDEN MUGHAL PLANTING DESIGN

ENCAMPMENT GARDEN
TOMB GARDENS
• THESE WERE FORMED ON TIMURID LINES.
• THE COURT NEEDED THE PROTECTION OF AN ARMY WHEN • 16TH CE- TOMB ENCLOSURESAS GARDENS
TRAVELLING FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND IT WAS PLEASANT TO • A CENTRAL MAUSOLEUM REPLACED THE GARDENPAVILION
HAVE GOOD CAMP SITES ON THE ROUTE, GARDENS SERVING THIS • THE CHAHAR BAGH LAYOUT WAS FORMALISED INTO A
PURPOSE WELL. PERFECTLYSYMMETRICAL SQUARE PLAN.
• THE PAVILION WAS A PLACE FOR THE EMPEROR TO SLEEP.
• CANALS PROVIDED WATER. Eg HUMAYUN TOMB GARDEN
• PLANTING PROVIDED SUCCULENT FRUITS AND REFRESHING
SCENTS.
PALACE GARDEN
Eg SHALIMAR GARDEN

SHALIMAR GARDEN [LAHORE] HUMAYUN TOMB GARDEN AGRA FORT ,JAHANGIR MAHAL
 MUGHAL GARDENS IN INDIA
• HUMAYUN’S TOMB

• TAJ MAHAL

• RAM BAGH

• MEHTAB BAGH

• SHALIMAR BAGH

• KHUSRO BAGH
KHUSHRO BARGH ROSHANARABAGH
• ROSHANARA BAGH

• BRINDAVAN GARDEN

• RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN

• VERNAG

• LOCATION – DELHI ,
AGRA,KASHMIR
MEHTAB BAGH
 DESIGN AND PHILOSOPHY

• MUGHAL GARDENS DESIGN DERIVES PRIMARILY FROM THE

ISLAMIC GARDEN, PERSIAN AND TIMURID GARDENS

• CHARBAGH SYSTEM.

• THE MUGHALS WERE OBSESSED WITH SYMBOL AND

INCORPORATED IT INTO THEIR GARDENS IN MANYWAYS.

• QURANIC REFERENCES TO PARADISE WERE IN THE

ARCHITECTURE, LAYOUT, AND IN THE CHOICE OF PLANTLIFE
AMBER FORT SYMBOLS

• NUMEROLOGICAL AND ZODIACAL SIGNIFICANCES

CONNECTED TO FAMILY HISTORYOR CULTURAL
SIGNIFICANCE, WERE OFTENUSED.

• THE NUMBERS EIGHT AND NINE WERE CONSIDERED

AUSPICIOUS BY THE MUGHALS AND WERE FOUND INTHE
TERRACES OR IN GARDEN ARCHITECTURE E,G.
OCTAGONALPOOLS
• THE DESIGN SYMBOLIZES 4 FLOWING RIVERS OF
PARADISE AND REFLECTS THE GARDENS OF PARADISE
DERIVED FROM THE PERSIAN PARIDAEZA, MEANING
INFLUENCE BY ISLAMIC GARDENS WALLED GARDEN - CONCEPT DEPICTING 4 DIRECTIONS

• Running water (perhaps the most important
element) and a pool to reflect the beauties of sky
and garden
• Flowers of different species were used for
beautification of gardens, the flowers are chosen
according to their depiction and belief of life and
death
FEATURES
• Significant use of rectilinear layouts are
made within the walled enclosures.
• Typical features include pools, fountains
and canals inside the garden.
• The garden might include a
raised hillock at
the center, reminiscent of the mountain
at the center of
the universe in cosmological descriptions,
and often surmounted by a pavilion
or palace
ELEMENTS

• WATER CHANNELS • FOUNTAINS • CHADDAR- sloping, carved • CHABUTARA-A stone or

surface over which waterflows. a brick platform, usually situated
at the intersection of two axes, be
it two causeways or two
water channels

BARADARI- An Indian open-sided

pavilion (literally, it means twelve-
pillared, possibly in reference to the
four walls of the pavilion pierced each by
three doors). LOW HEIGHT CENTRAL VEGETATION HIGH PERIPHERALVEGETATION
SITE SITING SPATIAL ORGANISATION

• DISTINCT EQUAL ZONES • PLAINS/STEPPED TERRACES • AXIAL VIEWS

ARCHITECTURE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

• CHARBAGH
• SYMMETRICAL • INDEPENDENT
• STRONG • FORMAL
• AXIAL LAYOUT • SYMMETRICAL

EXPRESSION SCALE

• HIGHLY ORGANIZED • MONUMENTAL

CHARBAGH
Analysis of garden of TajMahal:
Principles :
Charbargh
Axial
Symmetry
Mirror image

Elements :
• Fountain
• Water channel
• Low height vegetation
• High peripheral
vegetation

Location: Agra
Climate : Hot and dry
Philosophy : Islamic
Concept : Paradise
Type : Tomb gardens
Concept :
• Heaven on earth
• Four rivers which meets at a
central pool
• It shows the transition earthly
world to heaven
Influence of Mughal gardens :

Amer Fort Rajasthan

16th century
Kesar kyari - Amer fort
Location : Maotalake, Rajasthan
Type : Terrace garden.

Kyari means plantpot

Principle :
Geometric patterns
Axis
Symmetry
Levels
Charbargh
Deeg palace [Rajasthan]
18th century
 INFLUENCE OF
COLONIAL RULE
INFLUENCE OF THE BRITISH ON INDIAN GARDENS

• The British rule in India was from 1608 to 1947. Initially they came to India as traders, and later after the gain of power
and control over the region they began settling down and taking control over the planning and design of the cityscape and
associated landscape. In fact, the landscape design was concentrated more and justified by the fact that these expatriate’s
wanted to replicate “home”.

• The following are the types of gardens:

1. Domestic gardens
2. Official gardens
3. Botanical gardens and public parks
4. Memory gardens
5. Archaeological restoration
6. Tea estates for trade
DOMESTIC GARDENS
SERVICES/
NORTH
STABLES
• All houses like the urban villas or the country-side bungalows
all wanted to achieve the fact that the gardens are not an entity
surrounding the house but a continuation of it.
• These gardens wanted to make the most of the slightest breeze
and also provide shelter from the sun.
• 18th CE GARDEN LAYOUT
• All the services and stables are on the east.
• The 2 plots on the south of the pleasure gardens are the
bungalows.
• The 18th CE garden layout is more formal and geometric. ORCHARD FRUIT
TREES
• They grew well stocked fruit and flower gardens.
• 19th CE GARDEN LAYOUT
• The 19th CE garden layout was more organic in form and gave a
lot more lawn space with surrounding shaded walkways.
• End of 19th CE, tanks for irrigation was built on the south
• The block of trees to the south are the small orchard of fruit
trees.

TANK
18TH CE GARDEN 19TH CE GARDEN
BUNGALOWS
The land is levelled in such a way that the bungalow is the focus from the
garden and the stables and service areas are in a lower level and placed
behind to avoid the smell.

Large area of well trimmed lawn was visible.

Lawns – doob grass (Cynodon dactylon)
Method – Leepna
Process – 2 baskets of Doob grass with roots and 1 basket of earth, cow
dung and 1 shovel wood ash.
Spread thickly on the ground and rolled over.
Constant rolling and trimming for 2-3 days per week.

Boundaries were lined by:

1. hedge of phuleae, Acadia modesta, of Agave americana and aloe.
19th CE Belverdere garden- a view from thetank
2. dwarf shrubs such as Lawsonia inermis, Malpighia nitida or Myrtus
communi were used to divide the vegetable and ornamental
gardens.
Carriage drives and walks were made from red ‘soorkee’
or powdered brick and 6-7ft wide.

ELEMENTS:
Benches
Fountains
Sundials
Outdoor dining area
Flowerbeds
Shading trees

OUTDOOR DINING AREA,

Randal Lodge, Bombay
BOTANICAL GARDENS

ACHARYA JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE INDIAN

BOTANICAL GARDEN, KOLKATA

• Founded in 1786, with main function being scientific and commercial.

• Later after expansion, public could apply for seeds and cuttings.
• It is home to more than 12000 species of plants.
• It played an important role in cultivating tea bushes from China.

THE GREAT BANYAN TREE IS

250 YEAR OLD AND HAS AN
ARRAY OF CROSS LINKED
BRANCHES.

Giant water lily pads

LAL BAGH, BANGALORE
• Commisioned in 1760 by Hayder Ali and completed by his son TipuSultan.
• After the fall of Tipu Sultan the Lalbagh was taken under English Military botanist.
• In 1874, expansion from 45 acre to 100 acres of land wasdone.
• In 1899, Glass House was constructed and modeled on London’s crystal Palace. It was built with cast iron from UK.
• Formal and Informal styles dominate the garden in perfect Harmony.
• It has nearly 673 genera and 1854 species of plants.
• It has 4 approach gates.
LALBAGH, BANGALORE SITEPLAN
 OFFICIAL GARDENS
•RASHTRAPATHI GARDENS
Edward Lutyen’s – BritishArchitect
Art and Craft style and also Mughal style of gardens
ELEMENTS:
1. Use of stonework
2.water in rills and fountains
3.Mughal canals and terraces
4. Geometrical and divided the layout in quadrilateral patterns. CIRCULAR RECTANGULAR
LONG GARDEN GARDEN
To these Mughal influences he added GARDEN

1. British lawns
2. Geometric flowerbeds (year round flowers)
3. Private hedges
PLANTS:
1. Maulsari tree
2.Columnar cypress
3.China orange
4. Gardenia
5. Roses
6. Tulips, lilies, daffodils, bougainvilleas etc.
 LONG GARDEN or Purdah
RECTANGULAR GARDEN garden runs along the
Variety of roses and tulips central pavement. Enclosed
adorn the garden in walls of 16ft high and has
16 squares of flower beds.

CIRCULAR GARDENS
Or Butterfly or Pearl or Sunken garden
has fragrant flower varieties and
arranged stepwise like a amphitheatre.
Water pool in the center with
fountains give soothing effect.
INDIA GATE
• India gate was envisioned by Ar. Edward Lutyens and Laurie Baker to form one of
the structure of the main axis.

COMPARISON OF OVERALL LANDSCAPE

WITH THE BUILT AREA TRYING TO RELATE THE ARC DU TRIOMPHE, PARIS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESTORATION
• TAJ MAHAL
The Taj Mahal once was cloaked behind towering foliage and only shyly revealing
its contours as the visitor approached - until a British viceroy removed the mystery.
Lord Curzon the Viceroy of India from 1899 “imposed an imperial stamp”.
Curzon "effectively clear-felled" fragrant trees, shrubs and other plants to open up views
of the Taj, says Herbert, author of "Flora's Empire" - a detailed history of British gardens
in colonial India.

The gardens were

all tamed as per
the English style
to give them a
feeling of home. PAINTING SHOWING THE TAJ MAHAL’S UNTAMED GARDEN

THE STAMP
SHOWING THE
SCENIC
ARCHITECTURE
OF THE
MUGHALS

THE TRIMMED AND

TAMED GARDENSCAPE OF
THE TAJ MAHAL THAT
STANDS TODAY .
MEMORY GARDENS
• Memorial garden provides a long-lasting tribute to a loved one who has
passed away, as well as offers a place for the. survivors to remember and to
heal. The garden can be as small as a single tree or perennial plant or as
large as an oversized flowerbed or garden with many.
• The Madras war cemetery bears plaques with the names of British and
Commonwealth soldiers who died in both World Wars and the inscription;
"Their name liveth for evermore".
• The Victoria memorial has a circular rock and marble structure built in the
area that formerly housed the coastal belfry. Within what was once called
Cupid's Bow stands a flag post with the Tricolour aflutter, and a squat tower
that lances the sky.
• The Delhi’s war memorial is the site of the graves of 1,154
MADRAS WAR CEMETRY, CHENNAI
service personnel who served the
British empire and fought the first
and second world wars.

DELHI’S WAR MEMORIAL VICTORIA WAR MEMORIAL

SOURCES

• Garden Imperialism-December 15, 2011. https://www.berfrois.com/2011/12/eugenia-herbert-indias-colonial- gardens/

• Defining a nation, article by W.Gavin Robb
• https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/homesick-british-put-colonial-stamp-on-indias-gardens-532261
• "Are all memorials really throbbing with life?". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2018.

• "Delhi War Cemetery". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved
24 December 2018.
• https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-forts/chittorgarh-fort.html
• https://www.thoughtco.com/the-taj-mahal-
1434536#:~:text=Islam%20holds%20the%20image%20of,the%20mausoleum%2C%20has%20four%20quadrants.
• https://www.slideshare.net/kalal30/history-of-landscape-india
• https://www.slideshare.net/SaikhomHerojitSingh/history-of-garden-in-india
• Cities and parks in ancient India, Ram Bachan Singh ; Ekistics Vol. 42, No. 253 (DECEMBER 1976), pp. 372-376 (5 pages)
• ANCIENT HINDU GARDEN DESIGN, PATRICK BOWE ; Garden History Vol. 44, No. 2 (WINTER 2016), pp. 272-278 (7 pages)
• Landscapes and the Ramayana Legend, Amita Sinha ; Article inGeographical review of India · January 1999
• https://www.gardenvisit.com/
• http://satyamparamdheemahi.blogspot.com/2018/03/giampaolo-tomassetti-and- his.html