Mughal Garden

Mughal Gardens
Mughal Gardens
The great Mughal Emperor Babur had high
aesthetic sense and was fond of gardens. Mughal
gardens are synonymous of formal style of
gardening.
Broadly Mughal gardens can be categorised into
two:
i) Pleasure gardens of kings and queens and
ii) Tomb garden.
The former gardens were made with the sole
purpose of pleasure of king and Queen and family
members whereas the latter gardens were
attached to tombs of king or queen for giving
peace to soul.
● Mughal gardens are the symbols of paradise as a couplet written by famous
poet Amir Khusru is inscribed at the black pavilion at Shalimar Bagh, Kashmir,’ ‘If
there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here’.
● The image of King as a God among Mughals had demanded a symbolic divine
throne.
● Even after death of the emperor, the tombs were necessitated to be
constructed with a garden as a symbol of paradise.
● The tomb gardens were open to the people and sometimes were used as
● guest’s place for resting.
General Features
● Gardens are formal in style; symmetrically designed in rectangular or square plots.
● The garden area is divided into four plots by water channels. These four channels
represent four rivers of life. The running water provides coolness and freshness to the
garden. Reflection of sky and trees provide unique beauty to the eye.
● The four plots are planted with trees, shrubs, etc.,
● The axis is straight and central and sometimes represented by trees line.
● The water pool created in the centre with over flowing water serves as central
specimen.
● Fountains, cascades are linked to central pool to create scenic beauty.
Elements of Mughal Landscape
Terraces: Terraces are components to maintain the proportion of land for extended view irrespective of
topography of the area 7, 8 or 12 terraces symbolize 7 planets, 8 paradise and 12 zodiacal signs. The entrance is
located at the lowest terrace. As the Mughal emperors came from a hilly country, the idea of building a garden
in terraces came to them naturally.
Running water (Nahars): Water is the life and soul of Mughal garden. Love for running water made the Mughals to
select sites close to hill sides and rivulets for their gardens.
● The idea of constructing canals and tanks to keep the water brimming to the level of paths on either
side was borrowed from Persians.
● Water channels were paved with tiles of brilliant blue color to reflect the sky and give impression of
depth.
● Various patterns were used for paving the marble stones and style so that running water is thrown up
and broken into ripples. At dusk, tiny lighted lamps were placed behind the water falls so that
diffusion of light through the water creates a very pleasant sight.
Elements of Mughal Landscape
Site and design: A perennial river, the slope of a hill and river banks were the places selected for this purpose. A
typical Mughal garden is square or rectangle in shape. It is not merely a garden but serves the purpose of fort,
residence and a place for recreation.
High protecting wall: Mughal gardens are protected by a high strong wall. The top of the wall is adorned with
serrated battlements. The presence of high wall was for protection against enemy and hot winds of summer.
Entrance: Entrance is generally tall and gorgeous. Doors are huge and strong wooden structure studded with
heavy iron nails and spikes. Heavy gates are provided to protect the kings and gardens from enemy attack.
Baradari: It is a canopied building with twelve open doors i.e., three in each direction. From baradari, one can sit
and enjoy the fresh breeze and watch dark clouds and birds in the sky. The masonry pillars of baradari were
painted with designs of flowers in vases and the floor was furnished with thick carpets and cushions.
Scented flowers: The flowers in Mughal gardens are mostly scented in nature and highly colourful. The colourful
effects are created by massing mixed coloured annuals. Mixed colours have been preferred rather than mono,
complementary or contrast colours.
Baradari
Chabutra
Chabutra: A stone
or a brick platform,
usually situated at
the intersection of
two axes, be it two
causeways or two
water channels.
Jalis: Perforated
stone or marble
screen, usually
carved in geometric
forms.
Chadar (literally, "shawl"):
A stone or marble chute;
usually textured, creating
bounces or ripples in the
waterfall; if not textured, it
contains zigzag patterns
made from
different-colored stones.
Chini Khana: A landscape element
designed within three walls with an
arcade on the fourth side forming an
enclosure with carved recesses or
niches in the walls to hold candles or
flowers in small porcelain vases; the
waterfall cascades in front of the
niches
Charbagh
● Chahar Bagh means four gardens, originally a Persian concept, became the basis of
geometry of Mughal gardens. Babur introduced Chahar Bagh layout for the gardens
in Indian subcontinent and later his descendants refined it .
● It is composed of two intersecting lines (water bodies or pathways) which divide the
whole garden into four equal quadrants, sometimes a monument or a platform is
provided at the centre. Each quarter is further divided into four quadrants.
● Sometimes these pathways are raised and the garden is at lower level e.g. Aram Bagh
at Agra and Akbar’s Tomb at Sikandra, it gives a feeling of walking on carpet for the
viewer. The geometry of Mughal gardens are based on divisions and subdivisions with
symmetry.
● It made the gardens beautiful and also made the irrigation convenient.
CHARBAGH
CHARBAGH
Water systems in Mughal Gardens
● Invention of water wheel in Persia in eighth century made the irrigation easy and
triggered the idea of manmade flowing water channels in the gardens.
● To maintain the pressure and flow, the water was drawn from lake, reservoirs,
natural or manmade basins, rivers, canals,rainwater cisterns etc.
● The water bodies were either placed at a higher level or through a water
● wheel was lifted to a higher point from where it flowed downward by gravity.
● The four channels in Chahar Bagh symbolize the four flowing channels of water,
honey, wine and milk in jannah.
Symbolism
Water: Source of life
Eight divisions: Eight divisions of Quran
Alternate planting of cypress and flowering trees: immortality and renewal of life.
White flowering Bauhinia alba: Youth and life.
Cypress trees due to its evergreen nature have been a symbol of eternity for Mughals

Mughal Garden

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Mughal Gardens

Eight divisions: Eight divisions of Quran

White flowering Bauhinia alba: Youth and life.

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