A History of Agriculture in India v2.c82.s3: Shalimar, Lahore
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c82.s3
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Shalimar, Lahore
v2.c82.s3.1
The most delightful creation of Shah Jahan was the Shalimar garden of Lahore. It was built in 1634 under the direction of Ali Mardan Khan, who was responsible for the Chashma Shahi garden. It was laid out in seven divisions, symbolic of seven stages of paradise according to Islamic concept. Of these, four have been destroyed and only three remain, which cover about 39 acres (15.78 ha). In the second terrace towards the east are the royal bathrooms which consist of four arched chambers with beautiful reservoirs which were heated by firewood from outside.
v2.c82.s3.2
Shalimar is a garden of great beauty characterized by balance and symmetry. The central terrace consists of a large raised tank with marble pavilions on three sides. In the centre is a platform reached by narrow stone cause-ways (Fig. 55). A canal discharges in the middle terrace into a large marble basin. From the basin and the canal rise four hundred and fifty jet fountains which fill the air with gentle spray. Pavilions and summer houses of marble and red stone are scattered about in the garden. In summer the garden is delightful. The green foliage, white marble and flowing water create coolness.
v2.c82.s3.3
Mulla Abdul Hamid Lahori, in his excellent work, *Badshah-nama*, gives the following account of the first state visit of the Emperor to these gardens. ‘It having been represented to His Majesty that the gardens, the management of which had been entrusted to Khalilullah Khan, had been finished, the royal astrologers were ordered to fix an auspicious hour for the visit of the august sovereign. Accordingly the 7th of Shaban 1052 A.H. was fixed as the date of the royal visit. His Majesty honored the gardens with a visit on that day, and was highly pleased with the scene he witnessed. The omerahs and grandees of State offered their congratulations, while all joined in prayers for the duration of the Imperial grandeur. Multitudes of intelligent and wise men who were present before His Imperial Majesty and who had seen Rum, Irak and Mawar-un-Nahar, represented to him that a garden such as this had never to this date been constructed, or seen or even talked of by anybody.' 'So many edifices,' adds Abdul Hamid, 'were constructed in this garden that, whenever it pleases the Emperor to pay a visit to it with the Royal Harem, who remain with him at Lahore, the capital, the necessity of pitching tents is avoided.' Shalimar suffered considerable damage in the last quarter of the eighteenth century when the Mughal power collapsed.