MUGHAL TIME LINE • , the first -king, had gardens built in and BABUR • E.g., RAM BAGH, 1526-1530

• has not as such contributed much to the but he had built HUMAYUN 1530-1543 PURANA QUILA , in which there are traces of landscape.

• built several gardens first in Delhi, then in Agra, eg, Humayuns tomb, Fatehpur sikhri • These tended to be riverfront gardens rather than the fortress . Which influenced the AKBAR 1556-1605 later Mughal garden architecture

• , did not build as much, but he helped to lay out the famous Shalimar garden. JAHANGIR 1605-1627

• , marks the apex of Mughal garden architecture and floral design. SHAH- JAHAN • Example, Shalimar(lahore), Taj , , Nishat garden(). 1628-1658

• has not developed much gardens except . AURANGZEB 1658-1707 INTRODUCTION • are a group of gardens built by the . • This style was heavily influenced by the , particularly the structure. • Significant use of rectilinear layouts are made within the walled enclosures.

CHARBAGH • These gardens are private and formal spaces. • The basic structure consists of four quadrants divided by • waterways • pathways. • Traditionally, the rich used such gardens in work-related functions • These gardens balance structure with greenery. • The are often placed at periphery of the pools or Typical layout of path. Mughal Garden CLASSIFICATION TERRACED GARDEN . Mughal Gardens are generally divided into 4 sections – . Rectangular Pearl garden . Long Butterfly garden . Circular garden . Terraced garden

CIRCULAR GARDEN LONG BUTTERFLY CONCEPT And philosophy • Mughal gardens design derives primarily from the , although there are influences that come from the Persian and Timurid gardens • The most important feature of Mughal garden is Charbagh system. • The Mughals were obsessed with symbol and incorporated it into their gardens in many ways.

Symbols used in Mughal garden

Gardens influenced from Islamic gardens • Quranic references to paradise were in the architecture, layout, and in the choice of life • Numerological and zodiacal significances connected to family history or cultural significance, were often used. • The numbers eight and nine were considered auspicious by the Mughals and were found in the terraces or in garden architecture E,g. octagonal pools • The design symbolizes 4 flowing rivers of Paradise and reflects the gardens of Paradise derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning . Abundance with 4 rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, south, east and west. FEATURES

• Running water (perhaps the most important element) and a pool to reflect the beauties of sky and garden • Flowers of different species were used for beautification of gardens, the flowers are chosen according to their depiction and belief of life and death • Significant use of rectilinear layouts are made within the walled enclosures. • Typical features include pools, and canals inside the garden. •The garden might include a raised hillock at the center, reminiscent of the mountain at the center of the universe in cosmological descriptions, and often surmounted by a pavilion or palace :- GARDEN CASE STUDY •Built by- Shah Jahan •According to , garden is symbolic of divided into 4 parts. • Further divided into 16 sections of flower beds with raised pathways •Symmetry and pattern can be seen in the relationship between • sunlight and shade • plants and water • light and dark tones •Trees of Taj garden are •Cyprus(signifying death) •Or of the fruit bearing type (signifying life) arranged in a Symmetrical pattern. •Garden conjures up the Islamic concept of heaven where rivers of water, milk, wine and honey flows. TOMB

WATER CHANNEL

GARDEN AREA

ENTRY GATE

• The Taj garden, the tomb building is placed at the farthest end. • The tomb garden and subsidiary buildings are • Enclosed by a broad wall with octagonal pavilions at each end. • A monumental entrance gate in the centre of southern side. • When the emperor built the Taj, the garden was full of trees • fruit trees • Cypress • palm trees • flowering trees. • The flowers were not what we see today, but species of narcissus, iris, and rose. • It was conceived as garden of Eden or Bagh–i–adam with flowers, trees and water channels. ELEVATED POOL

WATER CHANNEL

• The use of water is the most remarkable character of mughal garden. • Shah jahan built a marble pool in the centre on north-south axis of the garden, to reflect the perfection of Taj Mahal. • From the central, elevated pool Haus–i- kaus, the water channels flow in four directions dividing the garden at right angles into four. • The inclination and level of the garden is carefully designed to keep the water continuously flowing from river behind the Taj. • The formal garden is based on Char Bagh or four proportional garden plan. TOMB

CENTRAL MARBLE POOL RAISED PATHWAYS DIVIDING GARDEN INTO SECTIONS WATER CHANNEL FLOWER BEDS DEPICTING FLOWING RIVER AND DIVIDING THE GARDEN INTO 4 PARTS

ENTRANCE

PLAN:- TAJ MAHAL MUGHAL GARDEN HUMAYUNS TOMB COMSSIONED BY BEGA BEGUM IN 1569-1570 designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath

• The garden is divided into 36 squares by a grid of water channels and paths. • Divided initially into four large squares separated by pathways and channels. • Each square divided again into smaller squares by pathways creating a charbagh. • The channels bisect at right angles. THE CONCEPT AND ITS EXECUTION

. The symbolism behind the charbagh is at the central axis very strong it relates to life after death. . The Quran describes paradise as a garden of eternity with four rivers of water, milk, wine and honey. . The water in the channels is carried out north, south, west and east. . Meaning- Larger paradise gives away to smaller ones. . Eternal flowers, fruit, herbs, water and birds added further character to the tomb garden. . The tomb rose like a cosmic mountain above the four rivers.

Single rectangular bagh

Meeting point of all the channel SITES OF MUGHAL GARDENS

• 1. HUMAYUN’S TOMB, DELHI 2. TAJ MAHAL, AGRA 3. RAM BAGH, AGRA 4. , AGRA HUMAYUN’S TOMB 5. SHALIMAR GARDENS, KASHMIR 6. YADVINDRA GARDENS, PINJORE 7. , ALLAHBAD

SHALIMAR GARDENS

YADVINDRA GARDENS TAJ MAHAL RAM BAGH KHUSRO BAGH VARIOUS MUGHAL GARDENS

. . . Bagh-e Babur() . Chauburji(The Gate . •India to the Mughal . Humayun's Tomb-Delhi Gardens) (Nizamuddin) . . Taj Mahal-Agra . Shahdara Bagh . Shalimar Gardens . Ram Bagh-Agra (Lahore) . Mehtab Bagh-Agra . . Shalimar Gardens (Kashmir)- Kashmir . Safdarjung's Tomb . Yadvindra Gardens-Pinjore . Khusro Bagh,