About Shalimar Garden
The region of Kashmir valley, with its sylvan surroundings, heavenly set up of the undulating hills, the lush and more lush green coiffed surroundings, the snow-topped peaks, the chilled climate - everything can be coupled as playing as the perfect Eden-like environ to create history in the placement of gardens and the constant flow of water through narrow streams. Indeed, since the Mughal times, Kashmir was made legendary and famous for its garden architecture, which indeed had received peak status during the times of Shah Jahan. And the pinnacle of Kashmiri gardens and its beautification can be described in the establishment of the celebrated Shalimar Garden under Shah Jahan`s brilliant architectural genius, which can be comprehended as under. Amidst such auspicious Mughal presence, garden architecture of Shalimar Garden emotes out umpteen folk lore, which can truly be justified with the garden`s majestic presence that is felt by one and all. Indeed, it can also be informed that after setting his foot on Kashmiri soil, it was the man Shah Jahan himself who had given birth to that phrase that has now turned into a legacy, that - if there ever have existed something named `heaven`, it is perfectly here in Kashmir. Thus, Kashmir and its tag-line "heaven on earth" wholly justify the emperor`s reason to have conceived and completed the Shalimar Garden amidst the Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Shalimar Garden, during Mughal times, i.e., during Shah Jahan was lovingly called as Shalimar bagh, keeping in mind Urdu as the language of artistic expression and of course Babur, who had begun the tradition of char bagh in India.
Shalimar Garden, situated on the edge of Dal Lake in Srinagar and set against the breathtaking Pir Panjal mountain range, was termed by the Frenchman Bernier as the most beautiful of all the gardens. While this site long had served as a garden, its conversion into a terraced Mughal-type garden was commenced in 1620, when Mughal emperor Jahangir had ordered the then prince Shah Jahan to dam up the stream near Shalimar. In 1634, Shah Jahan further had enlarged the garden. Shalimar Garden, once was thus extended to reach the foot of the mountains and additional pavilions were then built. Although the older name Shalimar bagh was never abandoned, the Mughals named their new garden the Bagh-i Faiz Bakhsh and Farah Bakhsh, reflecting its division into two parts. The lower terraces, employed for imperial audiences, formed the Farah Bakhsh garden (Garden of the Bestower of Pleasure), while the higher terraces nearer the mountains - intended for private use - were acknowledged as the Faiz Bakhsh (Bestower of Plenty). The ensuing Shalimar garden by Shah Jahan was hence approached from the side of Dal lake. According to Bernier, a tree-lined canal led to a small fore-garden that originally fronted the Shalimar proper.
The whole of Shalimar Garden in Srinagar, Kashmir is divided laterally by a wide stream, which commences from the mountains behind and runs the entire length of the garden through the terraced levels. Carved water chutes enhance the effect of rapidly running water. Recessed niches for lamps were carved into the terraced walls over which cascading water fell, illuminating the water at night, for the gardens were utilised as much then as during the day. Pools with spouting fountains further embellish Shalimar garden, truly a pleasure worth noticing. In the centre of each part of the garden is a black stone pavilion, covered with a tiered roof. Serving as imperial seats, these pavilions stretch across the canal overlooking cascading waterfalls. Within the lower garden, a centrally placed black platform, serving as the imperial throne, is situated across the water between bracketed pillars. Shah Jahan`s vision of Shalimar Garden epitomises the long-standing Mughal love of architectural setting amidst "ordered nature". Although the most famous and celebrated Shalimar Garden is the one in Kashmir, another Shalimar, also known in contemporary times as the Bagh-i Faiz Bakhsh and Farah Bakhsh, was constructed by Shah Jahan in Lahore, which very much had fallen within the then Indin jurisdiction of the Mughal Empire, presently separated to two unlike border lines.
History of Shalimar Gardens
History of Shalimar Bagh is counted from the early era of 75 AD. While the recent history and development of the Mughal types of gardens is credited to Emperor Jahangir, the ancient history of the garden can be traced to the 2nd century when it was built during the reign of Pravarsena II.
Naming of Shalimar : The word "Shalimar" in Sanskrit means abode of love. The king, on his visits to a local saint by the name Sukarma Swami at Harwan, used to stop at this cottage. Over the years, the cottage fell into ruins and later could not be located. However, the name of the village remained as Shalimar.
Early History of Shalimar Gardens : Praversena II founded the city of Srinagar and ruled in Kashmir from 79 AD to 139 AD. He had built a cottage for his stay at the north-eastern corner of the Dal Lake and had named it Shalimar.
Medieval History of Shalimar Gardens : It is here that Emperor Jahangir built his celebrated Shalimar Bagh, his dream project to please his queen. He enlarged the ancient garden in 1619 into a royal garden and called it `Farah Baksh`. He built it for his wife Nur Jahan. In 1630, under Emperor Shah Jahan"s orders, Zafar Khan the governor of Kashmir extended it. He named it "Faiz Baksh". It then became a pleasure place for the Pathan and Sikh governors who followed Zafar Khan. During the Mughal period in particular, Emperor Jahangir and his wife Nur Jahan were so enamoured of Kashmir that during summer they moved to Srinagar with their full court entourage from Delhi at least 13 times. Shalimar Bagh was their imperial summer residence and the Royal Court. They crossed the arduous snowy passes of the Pir Panjal Mountain range on elephants to reach Srinagar, now in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir. During the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the marble pavilion was the guest house for European visitors, mostly the British East Indian Company traders and French East India Company Traders.
Modern History of Shalimar Gardens : The electrification of the premises of Shalimar Gardens was done during Maharaja Hari Singh"s rule, who was the last Emperor of Jammu and Kashmir, before the Independence of India in 1947. Thus, over the years, Shalimar Gardens was extended and improved by many rulers and called by different names, but the most popular name "Shalimar Bagh" continues to this day. It is now the paradise for the tourists, who are visiting Jammu and Kashmir.
Architecture of Shalimar Gardens
Architecture of Shalimar Gardens covers three terraces of the garden, which are elaborate and the designs are similar to the Persian Gardens, which are the epitome of Mughal and Turk architecture.
Terraces of Shalimar Gardens : The first terrace is a public garden or the outer garden ending in the Diwan-e-Aam (public audience hall). In this hall, a small black marble throne was installed over the waterfall. The second terrace garden along the axial canal, slightly broader, has two shallow terraces. The Diwan-e-Khas (the Hall of Private Audience), which was accessible only to the noblemen or guests of the court, now derelict, is in its centre. However, the carved stone bases and a fine platform surrounded by fountains are still seen. The royal bathrooms are located on the north-west boundary of this enclosure. The fountain pools of the Diwan-e-Khas, the Diwan-e-Aam, and in turn, the Zenana terrace are supplied in succession. It has 410 fountains. In the third terrace, the axial water channel flows through the Zenana garden, which is flanked by the Diwan-e-Khas and chinar trees. At the entrance to this terrace, there are two small pavilions or guard rooms (built in Kashmir style on stone plinth) that is the restricted and controlled entry zone of the royal harem. Shahajahan built a baradari of black marble, called the Black Pavilion in the zenana garden.
Fountains of Shalimar Gardens : Shalimar Gardens is encircled by a fountain pool that receives its supply from a higher terrace. A double cascade falls against a low wall carved with small niches (chini khanas), behind the pavilion. Two smaller, secondary water canals lead from the Black Pavilion to a small baradari. Above the third level, two octagonal pavilions define the end wall of the garden. The baradari has a lovely backdrop of the Snow Mountains, which is considered a befitting setting for the Bagh.
Chini Khanas of Shalimar Gardens : Shalimar Gardens is well known for chini khanas, or arched niches, behind garden waterfalls. They are a unique feature in the gardens. These niches were lighted at night with oil lamps, which gave a fairy tale appearance to the water falls. However, now the niches hold flower pots that reflect their colours behind the cascading water.
Baradari of Shalimar Gardens : There is another unusual architectural feature mentioned is about the doors of the Baradari. In the garden complex, the Baradari of Shalimar Gardens had four exquisite doors made of stones supported by pillars. It is conjectured that these stone doors were ruins from old temples that were demolished by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The garden also provided large water troughs where a variety of fountains were fixed.