MUGHAL GARDENSLANDSCAPE PRESENTATION

SUBMITTED BYGULAL MOTGHARE

IV SEMESTER

HISTORYFrom the beginnings of the Mughal Empire, the construction of gardens was a beloved imperial pass time. Babur, the first Mughal conqueror-king, had gardens built in Lahore and Dholpur.

Humayun, his son, does not seem to have had much time for building he was busy reclaiming and increasing the realm but he is known to have spent a great deal of time at his father’s gardens. Akbar built several gardens first in Delhi, then in Agra, Akbar’s new capital.

These tended to be riverfront gardens rather than the fortress gardens that his predecessors built. Building riverfront rather than fortress gardens influenced later Mughal garden architecture considerably.

HISTORY

Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, marks the top notch of Mughal garden architecture and floral design. He is famous for a sprawling funereal paradise in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. He is also responsible for the Red Fort at Delhi which contains the Mahtab Bagh, a night garden that was filled with night-blooming jasmine and other pale flowers. The pavilions within are faced with white marble to glow in the moonlight. This and the marble of the Taj Mahal are inlaid with semiprecious stone depicting scrolling naturalistic floral motifs, the most important being the tulip, which Shah Jahan adopted as a personal symbol.

DESIGNS & SYMBOLIZATION

TYPICAL FEATURES • Pools • Fountains • Canals inside the gardens.

TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDENS

• Rectangular Pearl Garden • Long Butterfly Garden • Circular Gardens • Terraced Garden

EXAMPLES OF MUGHAL GARDENS

INDIA HUMAYUN’S TOMB TAJ MAHAL RAM BAGH MEHTAB BAGH SHALIMAR BAGH KHUSRO BAGH ROSHANARA BAGH BRINDAVAN GARDEN RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN VERNAG

EXAMPLES OF MUGHAL GARDENS

PAKISTAN CHAUBHURJI LAHORE FORT SHAHADRA BAGH SHALIMAR GARDENS TOMB OF JEHANGIR HAZURI BAGH HIRAN MINAR MUGHAL GARDEN WAH

EXAMPLES OF MUGHAL GARDENS AFGHANISTAN

BAGH-E-BABUR

TAJ MAHAL…AGRA, INDIA

The garden that starts from the end of the main gateway and ends near the squared base of the mausoleum is an integral part of the Taj Mahal structure and is, undeniably, one of the major highlights of the visit for many. The garden that beautifies Taj comes from the Persian Timurid style of gardens, and is based on the concept of ‘paradise garden' and was brought in by Babur. 

This garden, filled with flowers, fruits, birds, leaves, symmetry, and delicacy, served many functions along with portraying strong symbolic or abstract meanings about paradise. A paradise which, according to Islamic beliefs, consists of four rivers: one of water, one of milk, one of honey, and one of wine. And it is from this concept that Char Bagh of Taj Mahal originated. Also, the symbolism of the garden and its division are noted in the Islamic texts that describe paradise as a garden filled with abundant trees, flowers, and plants.

LAYOUTING

Out of the total area of 580 meter by 300 meter of the Taj complex, these gardens alone cover an area of 300 meter by 300 meter distance and are based on geometric arrangements of nature. No attempt was made to give them a "natural" look. Another architectural attribute that has been followed in the case of the entire monument, especially the gardens of the Taj Mahal of Agra, is the usage of number four and its multiples. Since four is considered the holiest number in Islam, all the arrangements of Charbagh Garden of Taj Mahal are based on four or its multiples. The entire garden is divided into four parts, with two marble canals studded with fountains crossing in the center. In each quarter portion, there are 16 flowerbeds that have been divided by stone-paved raised pathways. It is said that even each of the flowerbed was planted with 400 plants. 

PLANTATION

The trees of the Taj Garden are either that of Cyprus (signifying death) or of the fruit bearing type (signifying life) and even they are arranged in a symmetrical pattern. Taj Mahal occupies the north-end corner of the garden, instead of being in the center. In fact, at the center of the garden, between the Taj and its gateway, is a raised marble lotus-tank with a cusped border, which reflects the Taj in its waters. The four walkways that are although identical are differentiated through their context. In fact, the symmetry with which the whole garden has been organized and laid out, can be clearly observed and experienced as one can get an unhindered view of the mausoleum from any spot. These aesthetically maintained gardens not only bring a natural sense to the proceedings, but also make for some great snap taking spots.

WATER DEVICES AND IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Taj Mahal Garden are architecturally designed with an excellent system to procure water through the underground pipes. Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs (a manual system of drawing water from river using bucket and ropes) through a wide water channel into an huge oblong storage tank. The water was again raised above by a series of 13 purs driven by bullocks into a channel. One pipe line run to the mosque to supply water to the fountains in the tanks on the plinth below the marble structure. For irrigation of the garden, water from the overflowing canals was used. An ingenious system of water supply was used to provide uniform and undiminished water pressure in the fountains. A number of copper pots were used for separate fountains in the north-south canal, lotus pond and the surrounding canal. Water first fills the copper pot and then simultaneously in the fountains. The fountains are controlled by pressure in the pots, which ensures equal supply of water at the same rate. However the the main supply of water was obtained through a series of earthenware pipes. The unique water devices depict that the Mughal water expert was a master of his art and ensured the unobstructed supply of water for centuries.

SHALIMAR GARDENS…LAHORE, PAKISTAN

The ultimate masterpiece from the time of the brilliant Mughal civilization, which reached its height during the reign of the Emperor Shah Jahan. The elegance of these splendid gardens, built near the city of Lahore on three terraces with lodges, waterfalls and large ornamental ponds, is unequalled.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

The inscribed property the Shalimar Gardens, located in the City of Lahore. The extensive water gardens - are outstanding examples of Mughal artistic expression at its height, as it evolved during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Mughal civilization, a fusion of Islamic, Persian, Hindu and Mongol sources (from whence the name Mughal derives) dominated the Indian subcontinent for several centuries and strongly influenced its subsequent development.

The Mughal forms, motifs and designs developed at Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens have been influenced by design innovations in other royal Mughal enclaves but have also exerted great influence in subsequent centuries on the development of artistic and aesthetic expression throughout the Indian subcontinent.

LAYOUTINGThe Gardens are laid out in the form of an

oblong parallelogram, surrounded by a high brick wall, which is famous for its intricate fretwork. This garden was made on the concept of Char Bhagh. The gardens measure 658 meters north to south and 258 meters east to west. In 1981

The Shalimar garden is characterized by enclosing walls, a rectilinear layout of paths and features, and large expanses of flowing water. The Shalimar Gardens cover 16 hectares, and is arranged in three terraces descending from the south to the north. The regular plan, enclosed by a crenellated wall of red sandstone, disposes square beds on the upper and lower terraces and elongated blocks on the narrower, intermediate terrace; within, elegant pavilions balance harmoniously arranged poplar and cypress trees, reflected in the vast basins of water

THREE LEVEL TERRACES OF THE GARDENS

The gardens have been laid out from south to north in three levels of terraces, which are elevated by 4–5 meters (13-15feet) above one another.

The respective names of the three terraces have been listed as follows:

1. The upper level or the third terrace named Farah Baksh meaning Bestower of Pleasure.

2. The middle level or the second terrace named Faiz Baksh meaning Bestower of Goodness.

3. The lower level terrace named Hayat Baksh meaning Bestower of Life

PLANTATION

There are various types of trees used in The Shalimar Gardens.

Some of which are Almond, Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Gokcha, Mango, Mulberry, Peach, Plum,

Poplar, Quince Seedless, Sapling of Cypress Shrubs,

Sour & Sweet Oranges

FOUNTAINS

From this basin, and from the canal, rise 410 fountains, which discharge into wide marble pools. It is a credit to the creativity of Mughal engineers that even today scientists are unable to fully comprehend the water systems and thermal engineering from architectural blueprints. The surrounding area is rendered cooler by the flowing of the fountains, which is a particular relief for visitors during Lahore's blistering summers, with temperature sometimes exceeding 120 °F (49 °C). The distribution of the fountains is as follows:

1. The upper level terrace has 105 fountains. 2. The middle level terrace has 152 fountains. 3. The lower level terrace has 153 fountains.

All combined, the Gardens has 410 fountains. The Gardens have 5 water cascades including the great marble cascade and Sawan Bhadoon.

BUILDINGS OF THE GARDENS

The buildings of the Gardens include:

Sawan Bhadun pavilions Naqar Khana and its buildings

Khwabgah or Sleeping chambers Hammam or Royal bath The Aiwan or Grand hall

Aramgah or Resting place Khawabgah of Begum Sahib or Dream place of the emperor's wife Baradaries or summer pavilions to enjoy the coolness created by

the Gardens' fountains Diwan-e-Khas-o-Aam or Hall of special & ordinary audience with

the emperor Two gateways and minarets in the corners of the Gardens

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