Ornamental Horticulture

Mughal Gardens of Kashmir

The credit of developing the Mughal gardens in Kashmir goes to three rulers i.e., Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. All these gardens have a series of descending terraces, following the tradition of Mughal style, to facilitate the flow of water which is another main stay of the Mughal gardens.
The gardens on the bank of the Dal Lake, Shalimar, Nishat Bagh and Chasma-e-Shahi are well preserved and frequently visited by tourists. Some other popular gardens are at Achabal, Verinag and Bijbehara. The most spectacular feature of these gardens is ‘Chenar’ trees in groups. A Persian poet Jami has mentioned about Mughal Gardens of Kashmir as “If there is a paradise on earth, it is this”.