Mughal gardens

Introduction
• Mughal gardens are a group of
gardens built by the Mughals in the
Islamic style of architecture.
• This style was influenced by
Persian Gardens and Timurid
gardens.
• Significant use of Rectilinear
Layouts are made within the walled
enclosures.
HISTORY
• The concept of a planned garden, also known as
the Charbagh was introduced in South Asia by
the Mughal Emperor Babur. The first garden was
established by him in Afghanistan. He lamented
the fact that Al-Hind lacked running water in
gardens or residences and the existing ones had
no walls contradicting to Babur’s idea of enclosed
gardens, in his memoirs.

• The founder of theMughal empire, Babur

described his favourite type of garden as a
CHARBAGH.

• This word developed a new meaning in India,

because as Babur explains, India lacked the fast-
flowing streams required for the Central Asian
Charbagh.
The Agra garden, now known as the Ram Bagh, is thought to have been the
first Charbagh.India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have a number of Mughal
gardens which differ from their Central Asian predecessors with respect to
'the highly disciplined
geometry'.
Mughal Gardens are generally divided into 4
sections –
• Rectangular Pearl garden
• Long Butterfly garden
• Circular garden
• Terraced garden
FEATURES
• Pools,
• Fountains
• Canals inside the gardens.
• Plants
Plant material
• Plants and Other Structures of the Mughal Gardens:
• Mughals were great plant lover of all kinds.
• From fruit trees to ornamentals besides shrubby perennials were
grown in large scale.
• Paradise gardens to avenues, inner courtyard to peripheral areas,
all areas were planted with selected plants species of choice.
• Their fascination for flowering plants and fruit trees were well
depicted in the form of paintings, carving and murals on the
building walls. Theses provide an in depth accounts of availability
of various kinds of plants during that era.
• Mughals were very fond of fragrant flowers and used to grow in
the gardens. A brief account of the various trees and plants grown
during that era which were planted in the gardens and other areas
Sl. No. Common Name Botanical Name Category Specialty

01. Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Perennial Large flowers in red colour, round the
    shrub year blooming.
      .
     

02. Hibiscus Hibiscus syriacus Perennial Flowers large, attractive, flowering

shrub round the year.

03. Olender / Kaner Nerium odorum Perennial Funnel shaped flowers in white,
shrub yellow and pink colour; round the
year blooming.

04. Caraunda Carissa carandus Perennial Coloured berries are attractive.

shrub
Screwpine Pandanus odoratissimus Palm like tree Leaves grow in clusters at the branch tips, with
rosettes of sword-shaped, stiff (leather-like) and
spiny bluish-green, fragrant leaves. In summer,
the tree bears very fragrant flowers, used as
perfume.

Willow Salix alba Tree The leaves are typically elongated, but may also be
round to oval, frequently with serrated edges.

Jasmine Jasminum grandiflorum Perennial shrub Summer blooming with white fragrant flowers.

Champa Michelia champaca Tree Large flowers in golden yellow colour, fragrant.

Chinar / Oriental Plane Platanus orientalis Tree Palmate or maple like leaves is borne alternately
on the stem, deeply lobed, attractive. 

Mulseri Mimusops elengi Tree Leaves elegant; flowers small star shaped,
fragrant.

Jasmine Jasminum smback Perennial shrub Small white flowers; fragrant; summer blooming.

Cypress Cupressus sampervirens Tree The crown with level branches and variably
loosely hanging branchlets, foliage attractive.
Star Apple/ Chalta Dillenia indica Tree Perennial tree, bears large cup shaped white flowers.

Juhi (Jasmine) Jasminum auriculatum Perennial shrub Small white compact and fragrant flowers; summer
blooming.

Narcissus Daffodil sp. Bulbous plant Cup shaped flower in various colours and forms.

Fragrant Padri Tree Sterospermum suavolens Tree Flowers fragrant, borne in large lax panicles, pinkish,
sepal cup bell-shaped,

Harsinger / Parijat Nyctanthus arbortristis Perennial shrub Small star shaped white flowers with yellow tube.

Rangoon Creeper Quisqualis indica Perennial Climber Pink flowers borne in clusters in summer, rainy season.

Blue Bell Vine Clitoria turnatea Perennial Climber Flowers in deep blue colour.

Midday Flower Pentapetas phonicea Seasonal Shrub Small bright scarlet flowers bloom during midday in rainy
season.

Dhak / Palas (The Flame of the Butea frondosa Tree Mass flowering in orange-red colour.
Forest Tree)

Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera Tree Ornamental foliage and attractive fruits.

Safforn Crocus sativus Perennial Corm plant Ornamental flowers and source of saffron.

Rose Rosa grandiflora Perennial shrub Flowers ornamental and fragrant.

VARIOUS MUGHAL GARDENS
• Afghanistan
– Bagh-e Babur(Kabul)
• India
– Humayun's Tomb-Delhi (Nizamuddin)
– Taj Mahal-Agra
– Ram Bagh-Agra
– Mehtab Bagh-Agra
– Shalimar Gardens (Kashmir)-Kashmir
– Safdarjung's Tomb
– Yadvindra Gardens-Pinjore
– Khusro Bagh, Allahabad
• Pakistan
– Chauburji(The Gate to the Mughal Gardens)
– Lahore Fort
– Shahdara Bagh
– Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)
– Hazuri Bagh
Shalimar bagh
• SITE LOCATION: SHALIMAR BAGH , Rainawari , Srinagar, Jammu
and Kashmir
• ARCHITECHTURE STYLE : MUGHAL GARDEN STYLE
• The garden covers an enormous 31 acres plot along the Dal Lake.
• Shalimar Bagh is a typical Mughal garden with three terraces on
31 acres of plot with 587 m of length and 251 m of depth.
• The present size of the garden measures approximately 594 x
250 m.
• GEOLOGY
• In the regions of Shalimar Bagh , Kashmir the soils are loamy and
there is little clay content in them.
• Poor in lime but with a high content of magnesia, the soil is
treated with chemical fertilizers and enriched with green manure
and legume before cultivation.
• There is sufficient organic matter and nitrogen content in the
alluvium of the Kashmir valley as a result of plant residue, crops
stubble, natural vegetation and animal excretion.
• HYDROLOGY
• Shalimar Bagh is a Mughal Garden linked through a channel of Dal
Lake , on its right bank located near srinagar city. It has a central
water channel.
• Shah Nahar is the main water channel in Shalimar which runs from
the higher or top terraces to the lower or bottom terraces of the
garden.
• A canal connects Shalimar with the Dal Lake which runs for 1.6 km to
reach the lake and it is of 11 m of width.
• Beginning at the top of the garden, the canal runs through each of
the baradaris(pavilions) in the garden. At each terrace, the canal
flows into a larger pool, highlighting its baradari.
• TOPOGRAPHY
• Shalimar Bagh is located on the northeast side of Lake Dal,
approximately fifteen kilometers away from the center of
Srinagar. It is oriented northeast to southwest, with the highest
point located along the northeast side. Although it is not located
directly on the lake shore, it is connected to Lake Dal by a long
canal. The topography of Srinagar is considered to be hilly.
• UTILITY BUILDINGS IN THE GARDEN
• Sawan bahadun pavillions Naqar khana and its buildings
Khwabgah or sleeping chambers Hammam or royal bath The
awan or grand hall Aramgah or resting place Khwabgah of begum
sahib or dream place of the emperor’s wife Baradaries or
summer pavilions to enjoy the coolness created by the garden’s
Fountain. Diwan-e-khas-o-aam or hall of special & ordinary
audience with the emperor. two gateways and minarets in the
corners of the gardens.
VEGETATION
• The garden is constructed on flat land close to Dal Lake
with a rectangular central layout with four radiating
arms.
• The walkways of the garden are decorated with Aspen
trees which are planted at a distance of 2 feet apart
• TREES OF THE GARDEN Some of the varieties of trees
that were planted includes:
• •ALMOND •APPLE •APRICOT •CHERRY •GOKCHA
•MANGO •MULBERRY •PEACH •PLUM •POPLAR
•QUINCE SEEDLESS •SAPLING OF CYPRESS •SHRUBS
•SOUR AND SWEET ORANGES •NUMEROUS OTHER
VARIETIES OF ODORIFEROUS (FRAGRANT) AND NON
ODORIFEROUS AND FRUIT GIVING PLANTS
MAHTAB BAGH
Mahtab bagh
It is situated on the sandy bank of Yamuna River just
opposite the Taj Mahal mausoleum.
• The name Mahtab Bagh means 'Moon Lit Garden' and
the same is testified by the beautiful reflection of Taj
Mahal in the pool at night in Mahtab Bagh.
• The place has a history of its own. It is believed that
the great emperor Shah Jahan who built Taj Mahal for
his queen wanted an identical one for himself at
Mahtab Bagh.
• However the archaeological findings have proved the
existence of garden complex.
Persian gardens
Introduction
Features
Common features
Types of Persian garden
Natural elements
Sunight
Water
Shade
PLANTS
Plants
Apart from species and type, vegetation is also significant due to the location,
cultivation plan, beauty, and its usefulness. Plants even play a role in protecting
gardens against destructive natural events. In an Iranian garden plants are used
for different purposes including shade, yield, and garden ornamentation, etc.
Since usefulness is a very important aspect of Iranian garden construction, fruit
trees are more prevelant in them and shading trees are less frequent, and least of
all are ornamental trees. As a result of the hot and dry climate of Iran, gardens
contain mostly trees. Use of flowers and shrubs to provide colour and scent also
have their place. Along the streams in long streets are planted cedar, pine and
box. Aspen, Tabrizi and rowan have mostly been planted in clay lands. Wychelm,
bid, and purple trees, have often been planted around pools. Plots at both
sides of the routes into a garden, were covered by fruit seedlings, plots around
the gardens were covered by grapevines, and the pathways, corners, and shelters
were covered by fig, senjed, and annab trees. Instead of planting high trees and
bushes among the plot to cover the garden’s building, spest (a kind of alfalfa)
was used. Also flowers have had important role in gardens. Seasonal flowers
used to be planted in front of palaces and small aromatic flowers had been
planted beside trees.
Plant as a material
• Trees, and especially evergreen trees
have the second-most important role
after the water being the first (Taghvaei
2011). The presence of ever-green
trees is firstly due to the users’ need for
shade and secondly is associated with
the heaven’s trees which are finitely
green and fresh.
Bagh-e Eram
Garden plants
Measures similar to other Persian
Gardens have been taken in this garden
concerning its vegetation. Due to the
location of Bagh-e Eram in a hot and
arid terrain, it has been attempted to
decrease the intense heat by planting
dense and shadow casting trees
including cedars, pines, etc… Also
medical trees and flowers were planted
which had the additional medical
effects aside their aesthetic effects.
• Small decorative trees with beautiful flowers including: eglantine,
cluster jasmine, yellow jasmine, wild hyacinth, Toori, Japanese
quince, flower peach, flower apple, silk, oleander, Tavoosi and
many types of rose.
Plant characteristics
• 5-1-Plants Characteristics
• Bagh-e Eram serves as a raw model for tree planting and
landscape gardening. Additionally, it acts as the continuum of
pre-Islamic Persian Gardens.
• A) Its old cedars which are matchless in other parts of Iran, is
among the features that make it a salient sample of gardens in
Iran.
• B) Another prominent feature of Bagh-e Eram is its nurturing
of rare plants, its sore orange trees and the wide variety of
rose flowers planted inside its rose-garden.
Nishat bagh
Nishat Bagh, also known
as the garden of joy, is a
terraced Mughal garden
sprawled along the eastern
side of the Dal Lake, with
the towering Zabarwan
hills as its backdrop, in the
city of Srinagar, Jammu &
Kashmir.
• The second largest
Mughal garden in the
Kashmir Valley.