A History of Agriculture in India v2.c81.s9.1

v2.c81.s9.1

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.