Kashmir
Nishat Bagh: Kashmir
Mother Masala Tours
Paradise Through Stone and Water
Nishat Bagh Kashmir. Meaning "Garden of Joy" or "Garden of Gladness" in Persian, stands as the second largest Mughal Garden in Kashmir Valley, situated on the eastern bank of Dal Lake. Created in 1633 CE by Asaf Khan, brother of Empress Nur Jahan and father of Mumtaz Mahal, this grand garden exemplifies the Persian concept of paradise on earth. The name derives from the Persian "nishāt" (pleasure, delight) and reflects its intended purpose as a space of royal relaxation and aesthetic contemplation. Rising on a steep hillside with twelve terraces symbolizing the twelve zodiac signs.
The central water channel, fed by natural mountain springs, cascades through chinar-lined terraces before reaching the entrance pavilion. When Emperor Jahangir first visited Nishat in 1633, he was so captivated by its beauty that he asked Asaf Khan to gift it to him. Upon refusal, Jahangir ordered the water supply cut off. Legend tells that the garden remained dry until the emperor's departure, when Asaf Khan restored its flowing splendor.
Primeval Waters Shapeing Valley
Nishat Bagh Kashmir. Long before humans shaped the landscape into geometric gardens, the site of present-day the Bagh was part of ancient Lake Satisaras mentioned in Hindu texts. Geological evidence indicates this area formed approximately 40,000 years ago when massive landslides blocked the drainage of the Kashmir Valley, creating an enormous prehistoric lake. By 5000 BCE, natural erosion processes had reduced the lake's size, forming marshy lands at the foothills of Zabarwan range where Nishat would later rise.
First Settlers Created Foundations
Archaeological excavations around Dal Lake have uncovered Neolithic settlements from 3000-1700 BCE. Stone tools, pottery fragments, and burial sites discovered within 2 kilometers of the current garden suggest early human activity. The indigenous tribes, called Nishadas in ancient texts, worshipped nature deities associated with water and mountains. They created simple terraced fields along the hillsides, establishing an agricultural tradition that would influence later landscaping principles.
Buddhist Footprints Marked Territory
Nishat Bagh Kashmir. The earliest documented settlement near present-day Nishat dates to the 3rd century BCE during Emperor Ashoka's reign. Historical chronicles describe a small village called "Surajavana" (Sun Forest) occupying the site, with approximately 340 inhabitants who practiced Buddhism. The remains of a small stupa discovered during Mughal excavations in 1633 CE confirm this Buddhist presence. These early inhabitants established primitive water channels diverting mountain springs for irrigation - creating the hydrological foundation later Mughal engineers would brilliantly expand upon.
Celestial Guided Design
This design follows the classic Persian chahar bagh (four-part garden) layout but adapts it dramatically to the sloping Kashmiri terrain. The garden's mathematical proportions derive from precise astronomical calculations. The primary axis runs 4 degrees east of true north, aligning with the summer solstice sunrise as viewed from the central pavilion. This celestial orientation connected the garden to cosmic rhythms important in both Islamic astronomy and Hindu astrological traditions.
Sacred Geometry Reveals The Cosmos
Nishat Bagh Kashmir. The twelve terraces symbolize not only zodiac signs but also the twelve months of the Persian solar calendar. Each terrace contains precisely 108 fountain jets - a sacred number in Hindu cosmology representing the universe's completeness. The central water channel measures exactly one-twelfth the garden's total length, creating mathematical harmony through proportional relationships. The main canal width progressively narrows by exactly one-eighth as it ascends each terrace, creating an optical illusion that makes the garden appear longer when viewed from the entrance.
The Heaven's Architects Created Masterpiece
Asaf Khan collaborated with Persian astronomer Khwaja Majid Shirazi to incorporate astronomical principles into Nishat's design. Historical documents in the Srinagar Archives record payments of 230,000 silver coins to Shirazi for "aligning the garden with heaven's pattern." The original plans included stone markers that tracked seasonal shadows, effectively creating a monumental sundial across the terraces. Several of these astronomical features were lost during later modifications, but ground-penetrating radar surveys in 2008 confirmed their original positions beneath current structures.
Earth Transformed Through Labor
Nishat Bagh Kashmir. Construction of Nishat Bagh began on March 7, 1633, under the supervision of Mirza Haider, Asaf Khan's chief engineer. The massive landscaping project required redirecting three mountain streams and excavating approximately 120,000 cubic meters of earth to create the terraces. Historical records document 1,200 laborers working continuously for 18 months to complete the initial structure.
Power Struggles
Following Asaf Khan's death in 1641, ownership of Nishat transferred to his daughter Mumtaz Mahal, then to Emperor Shah Jahan. The garden witnessed political turmoil during the decline of Mughal power. In 1752, Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Durrani seized Kashmir, using Nishat as a military headquarters. His troops damaged several structures and cut down 340 chinar trees for firewood during the harsh winter of 1753. The garden's central pavilion was converted into a weapons storage facility, with cannon emplacements positioned along the upper terraces.
Colonial Influence Altered Patterns
British colonial administrators assumed control of Kashmir in 1846 after the Treaty of Amritsar. They introduced European landscaping elements to Nishat, including Victorian flowerbeds and non-native plant species. Walter Roper Lawrence, British settlement commissioner, documented Nishat in his 1895 book "The Valley of Kashmir," noting that "the garden shows magnificent engineering skill, though suffering from unfortunate European innovations." Colonial authorities counted approximately 250 families living in the vicinity of Nishat, with many working as gardeners or maintenance staff.
Living Traditions Continue
Today's Nishat Bagh Kashmir, maintains many original features while serving as both historical monument and public space. The garden hosts traditional Kashmiri festivals, particularly Tulip Festival (April 5-15) when over 70 tulip varieties bloom across the terraces. During Badamwari (February 25-March 15), almond blossoms herald spring's arrival with cultural performances. The garden employs 87 full-time gardeners, many from families who have maintained Nishat for generations. The Mir family, descendants of original Mughal gardeners, has passed specialized pruning and cultivation techniques through fifteen generations.
The View Is Better When You're Actually There - Come With Us
Step through Nishat's twelve celestial terraces where Mughal royalty once contemplated perfection. Feel cool mountain waters cascade alongside you as chinar trees whisper four centuries of secrets. We ahve a wondeful time, its so eay in this magmificent setting.