Mughan Gardens in Srinagar Kashmir

THE MUGHAL GARDENS
With terraced lawns, cascading fountains, paint-box-bright flowerbeds with the panorama of the Dal in front of them - the three Mughal Gardens of Chesmashahi, Nishat and Shalimar are the Mughal Emperors' concept of paradise and are today very popular places for picnics and excursions.
The entrance pavilion at Shalimar Garden
Shalimar Bagh
Nishat Bagh
Chashma Shahi
Pari Mahal
Harwan
Shalimar Bagh
Built by Emperor Jehangir for his wife Nur Jehan, Shalimar, 15 kms from the TRC, is a beautiful garden with sweeping vistas over gardens and lakes, and shallow terraces. The garden is 539 m by 182 m and has four terraces, rising one above the other. A canal lined with polished stones and supplied with water from Harwan runs through the middle of the garden. The fourth terrace, by far the best, was once reserved for royal ladies.
Shalimar Garden in summer
Nishat Bagh
Situated on the banks of the Dal Lake, with the Zabarwan Mountains as its backdrop, (11 km. from TRC), this 'garden of bliss' commands a magnificent view of the lake and the snow capped Pir Panjal mountain range which stands far away to the west of the valley. Nishat was designed in 1633 AD by Asaf Khan, brother of Nur Jehan.
Nishat Bagh in autumn
Chashma Shahi
At Chashmashai, is a tastefully laid garden in terraces, which commands a magnificent view of the Dal Lake below and surrounding mountain ranges. The cool water of the spring is highly refreshing and digestive. The original garden was laid out by Shah Jehan in 1632 AD. TRC Srinagar free of cost to visit the permits can be had from the infromation Counter Chashma Shahi Garden. Permits can be had from the infromation counter.
Chashma Shahi
Pari Mahal
Once the royal observatory, Pari Mahal has a charmingly laid out garden and is a five-minute drive from Cheshmashahi. A Buddhist monastery at one time, it was converted into a school of astrology by Dara Shikoh, Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan's eldest son. Situated on the spur of a mountain overlooking the Dal, the ancient monument, with a well-laid spacious garden in front, is connected to Cheshmashahi by road. It is illuminated at night.
Harwan


On the hillside, south of the village of Harwan (19 kms from the TRC)), remarkable remains of ancient ornamented tile pavements of the Buddhist period have come to light. The tiles depict the dresses of the people, such as loose trousers, Turkoman caps or close fitting turbans and large ear-rings which reveal Central Asian influence.

Dal Lake

The Dal lake is one of the most famous lakes in India. It lies in the heart of the city of Srinagar, the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.It is located on the eastern end of the city. The Dal Lake comprises of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake some 8 km from the city center. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains surrounding Srinagar from this lake. Travelers can enjoy taking a ride on traditional Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to explore the intricate maze of waterways of this lakeThe Dal Lake is a beautiful lake near Srinagar. It is the flood-lung of the Jhelum. The famous Mughal gardens are situated around it. . Floating gardens are found in this lake where a large variety of vegetables is grown. The The Dal lake has two parts, the small Dal and the big Dal, separated by a swampy bund. The road round the lake is called Boulevard. There are two artificial islands in the lake, Rupalank and Sonalank, built by Mughal Emperors. Nehru Park is the western terminus of the lake. The lake is a spot of great attraction for visitors, who enjoy staying in house-boats in the lake. Parts of the Dal Lake are used for sports like water skiing. The lake is an ideal place for swimming and sailing in Shikaras and motorboats. A shikara-ride through this lake is thought to be a very enjoyable experiences.This lake is the chief beauty of Srinagar. On it's east there are famous Moghul gardens like Shalimar, Nishat, Chasma Shahi and on its west side there is Naseem Bagh and the white marble shrine of Hazratbal.