A typical Mughal garden is square or a rectangular in shape.
It is surrounded by a high wall.
There is a straight entrance gate with huge wooden doors studded with heavy iron bosses, nails and spikes.
During the Mughal period, a new formal garden style emerged which, was based on the basic paradise garden design. ‘Char Bagh’ of Persia in Central Asia from where the Mughals came to India.
The development of gardening in India started in AD 1525 when Babur, the first Mughal King established the Mughal dynasty in the country.
The Mughal garden, though based on Persian design, has incorporated certain modifications like more number of terraces, fountains, waterfalls and architectural buildings, water channels lined with concrete or blue tiles.
The gardens were divided into two or more terraces with a small brick-paved canal of running water flowing down from the tanks provided with fountains.
To maintain the proportion of land in view of the garden, the basic plan extended into terraces, irrespective of the topography of the land.
The presence of seven, eight or twelve terraces in the garden symbolized plants, paradise and the zodiac, respectively.
In many gardens, the entrance is at the last terrace, with the exception of the Pinjore Garden, where the entrance is on higher ground and the seventh terrace is the lowest.
Terraces were also made on flat ground by dividing land into terraces.
The Mughals generally preferred a garden site on a hill slope with perennial rivulets, an unbroken site of water or along the banks of a river.
They had selected sites on the hill slopes to tap rivulets or springs as the water source.
Broad water canals were made in overall proportion to the area. The central water course was strong and dominant.
In the centre of these canals, there were fountains which make for the central axis also.
Running water in the form of cascades and ‘chadars’ made the garden splendid. There were different types of cascades and ‘chadars’.
Generally, paths ran parallel to the canals so that a person walking on them could see and admire the beauty of the colourful paved marble reflected in the crystal-clear water and enjoy the beauty of the spray from the sparkling fountains by moonlight.
To create a pleasant site at dusk, tiny lamps placed in the niches behind the artificial water falls were lighted, and the diffusion of light through the water cast shimmering reflections.
Baradari, a canopied building with twelve open doors on all sides, is another feature of some of the Mughal gardens.
They painted the masonry pillars of the baradari with their favourite design of banquets of flowers in vases and furnished them with thick carpets and cushions.
The baradari was generally used by royalty to observe the play of the water or ‘chardar’ in the twilight.
The permanently built flowerbeds were geometrical patterns, with one or two exceptions, where the natural shapes of flowers of various types were adopted for the flowerbed designs.
Beds of flowers were constructed near the main building or along the built up water channels and paths.
In Mughal gardens, the terminal building is a gorgeous and superb structure.
The best example is the Taj Mahal.
These buildings have a dynamic force which attracts the mind of the viewers.
It is often said that the Mughal gardens were at their best when built around a tomb or mosque.
It is said that water is present in the garden symbolically and physically as a source of life.
The cross formed in the centre by the intersection of water channels has been the symbol of the meeting of humanity with god.
Generally, the gardens are divided into eight parts representing the eight divisions of the Holy Koran.
The traditional planting of alternate cypress and flowering trees along the waterways represented immortality and the renewal of life, respectively.
White kachnar (Bauhinia alba) represented the youth of life.
Plant materials were selected carefully for formal effect in the garden. Selection of plants was dependent upon the local climatic conditions.
Fruit trees, flowering plants, shrubs and colourful annulas were planted in the garden to give a new life to it.
Fragrant flowers were the main attraction of the garden.
In Kashmir, the Mughals planted chenar, white poplar, cypress, apple, peach, plum, sour or sweet cherries, quince, pomegranate and fig. in the plains.
The gardens were planted with fruit trees like mango, garpe, fig, orange, citron, peach and plum.
Fragarant flowering shrubs like harsinghar, queen of the night, jasmine, rose and screwpine were commonly planted.
Herbaceous plants like narcissus, daffodils, iris, carnation, hollyhock, larkspur, stock, sunflower, amaranthus and coxcomb were dominant.
Last modified: Saturday, 10 December 2011, 12:28 PM
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