A History of Agriculture in India v2.c81.s9: Gardens of Jahangir
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c81.s9
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Gardens of Jahangir
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Jahangir laid out the Shalimar garden at the site of the villa of Pravar-Sena II (79-139 A.D.), the founder of the city of Srinagar, in 1619. Connecting the garden with the water of the Dal lake is a canal about twelve yards (11 m) broad. On each side are green paths shaded by giant *chenars*. Fields of narcissus and tulip provided an enchanting feast of colours. The garden is divided into three parts, the outer garden, the central or Emperor's garden, and the inner ladies' garden (Fig. 52). The outer garden was open to the public and terminates at the large pavilion, the Diwan-i-am. The Emperor's garden consists of two shallow terraces with the Hall of Private Audience at the centre. This building has suffered the ravages of time and no longer exists. The snows of Mahadeo provide a sublime and grand background to the pavilion in the ladies' garden. Mrs Villiers Stuart comments that ‘a subtle air of leisure and repose, a romantic indefinable spell, pervades the Shalimar with its dim vistas, smooth sheets of falling water and canals with calm reflections.’ This garden bears an eloquent testimony to Jahangir's sense of landscape and good taste. Shalimar, or the Abode of Love as it means in Sanskrit, draws large numbers of Kashmiris who rest under the *chenars* drinking tea from samovars.
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Nishat, the Garden of Delight, was laid out by Asaf Khan, brother of Nur Jahan. From the shore of the lake its twelve terraces rise dramatically higher and higher to the mountain side (Fig. 53). Each terrace represents a sign of the zodiac. At the head of every waterfall is a stone or marble seat. At the sides are cypresses and *chenars*. Iris, narcissus, daffodils and roses were grown in profusion. Nishat provides a grand view of the lake and mountains.
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Another garden associated with Jahangir is Achhabal near Anantnag. Gushing out of a lime-stone mountain on which a forest of deodars is growing is a spring of clear water which is the life and soul of Achhabal garden. The garden is laid out in terraces and is planted with apple, pear, plum, apricot and cherry. There are also stately *chenars* for shade. A pavilion with rich cedar wood-work presides over the canal, which takes its birth in the mountain-side spring. Near the road-side is a rest house with streams of water flowing through its lawns.
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Verinag, a deep spring, the source of Jhelum, also attracted Jahangir. In 1609 he built an octagonal tank round the spring flanked by twenty-four arched recesses. The emerald-green spring swarms with carps which are regarded as sacred. The water from the spring flows into a canal and at its sides a garden was laid.
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Wah garden at Hasan Abdal near Rawalpindi was built around the springs by Jahangir. This garden palace was used as an Imperial camping ground on the way to Kashmir. Jahangir and Nur Jahan loved the mountains, and every year in summer the whole Court moved to Kashmir from Lahore.