Mughal gardens were built by the Mughals in the Islamic style, influenced by Persian gardens. They typically featured rectilinear layouts divided into four sections by pathways and waterways. The most important feature was the char bagh system of four quarters separated by walkways and canals. Shalimar Bagh was an example built by Emperor Jahangir for his wife, featuring three terraces with fountains and pools connected by canals and walkways lined with chinar trees.

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R S Shrividhyah, 5th Year B Arch.
MUGHAL GARDENS
 MUGHAL GARDENS are a group of gardens built by the Mughals in the
Islamic style of architecture.
 This style was influenced by Persian gardens.
 Significant uses of rectilinear layouts are made within the walled
enclosures.
 Some of the typical features include pools, fountains and canals inside
the gardens.
CHAR BAGH – Typical Layout
 These gardens are private and
formal spaces.
 The basic structure consists of
four quadrants divided by
Waterways,
Pathways.
 Traditionally, the rich used such
gardens in work-related
functions
 These gardens balance
structure with greenery.
 The plants are often placed at
periphery of the pools or path.
CLASSIFICATION OF MUGHAL GARDEN
 Mughal Gardens are generally divided into 4 sections –
 Rectangular Pearl garden
 Long Butterfly garden
 Circular garden
 Terraced garden
Typical Layout of Mughal Garden

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R S Shrividhyah, 5th Year B Arch.
DESIGN CONCEPT AND
PHYLOSOPHY
 Mughal gardens design
derives primarily from the
Islamic garden, although
there are influences that
come from the Persian and
Timurid gardens.
 The most important feature of Mughal garden is CHAR BAGH system.
 The Mughals were obsessed with symbol and incorporated it into their
gardens in many ways.
TYPICAL FEATURES
 Running water (perhaps the most important element) and a pool to
reflect the beauties of sky and garden
 Flowers of different species were used for beautification of gardens,
the flowers are chosen according to their depiction and belief of life
and death.
 Significant use of rectilinear layouts is made within the walled
enclosures.
 Typical features include pools, fountains and canals inside the garden.
 The garden might include a raised hillock at the centre, reminiscent of
the mountain at the centre of the universe in cosmological
descriptions, and often surmounted by a pavilion or palace.
1. SHALIMAR BAGH – An example of Mughal Garden
INTRODUCTION
 The 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' ('the delightful').
 He built it for his wife Nur Jahan ('light of the world').
 In 1630, under Emperor Shah Jahan’s orders, Zafar Khan the
governor of Kashmir got it extended. He named it ‘Faiz Baksh’ ('the
bountiful').
 It then became a pleasure place for the Pathan and Sikh governors
who followed Zafar Khan.
KEY FEATURES
 Includes all the features of a Mughal garden.
 Has 3 terraces.
Gardens influenced from Islamic gardens

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 The 2nd terrace garden along the axial canal slightly broader has two
shallow terraces.
 The carved stone bases and a fine platform surrounded by fountains
are still seen
 Shalimar Bagh is well known for chini khanas, or arched niches, behind
garden waterfalls.
 The garden is considered to be very beautiful during the autumn and
spring seasons due to the colour change in leaves of the famed Chinar
trees.
DESIGN LAYOUT
 Shalimar Bagh is a Mughal garden linked through a channel to the
northeast of Dal Lake, on its right bank located near Srinagar city.
 It is also based on charbagh concept.
 The garden built with a size of 587 metres ,length on the main axis
channel and with a total width of 251 metres . The garden has three
terraces fitted with fountains and with chinar tree-lined vistas.
 Broad green paths bordered the lake with rows of chinar trees.
 The first terrace is a public garden ending in the Diwan-e-Aam (public
audience hall). In this hall, a small black marble throne was installed
over the waterfall.

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R S Shrividhyah, 5th Year B Arch.
 The second terrace garden
along the axial canal, slightly
broader, has two shallow
terraces. The Diwan-i-Khas (the
Hall of Private Audience),
which was accessible only to
the noblemen or guests of the
court.
 In the third terrace, the axial water channel flows through the Zenana
garden, which is flanked by the Diwan-i-Khas and chinar trees.
 At the entrance to this terrace, there are two small pavilions (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.
 It 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, behind the
pavilion.
 The Shalimar Bagh is well known for chini khanas, or arched niches,
behind garden waterfalls.
 They are a unique feature in the Bagh. These niches were lighted at
night with oil lamps, which gave a fairy tale appearance to the water
falls.