Culture · Srinagar, Kashmir
Mughal gardens of the Zabarwan, terrace by terrace
Four gardens line the foothills above Dal Lake: Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi and Pari Mahal. Visiting in a morning shows how Mughal engineers moved spring water down stone channels and terraces using gravity alone, with chinar shade and views across the lake.
Photo: ANSAR AHMAD · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsStart at Shalimar Bagh, which Jahangir laid out in 1619 and called Farah Baksh, the delightful. The central channel, the Shah Nahar, runs through three terraces, and the black marble pavilion added by Shah Jahan sits in the upper garden once reserved for the royal women. In spring the fountains run and the beds are planted with tulips, pansies and roses.
Drive ten minutes south to Nishat Bagh, built in 1633 by Asif Khan, brother of the empress Nur Jahan. It is the largest garden on the lakeshore after Shalimar, with twelve terraces said to represent the signs of the zodiac. The 4 m wide water channel cascades over carved stone chutes called chadars, and the top terrace gives the best view of Dal and the Pir Panjal beyond.
Finish with Chashme Shahi, a small garden built around a spring whose water many Srinagar families still bottle to drink, and Pari Mahal above it, a terraced ruin linked to Dara Shikoh that is lovely at sunset. Gardens open around 9 am and close at dusk; check current hours. Picnics are allowed on lawns but not in water channels.
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Sleep nearby
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Budget
Zostel Srinagar
A backpacker hostel in the Nishat area, a short walk from the eastern shore of Dal Lake, with dorm beds, private r…
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Mid
Ahdoos Hotel
A long-established city hotel on Residency Road in central Srinagar, best known for its restaurant, one of the val…
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Luxury
The LaLiT Grand Palace Srinagar
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Questions
Before you book
Which Mughal garden in Srinagar is best if we only have time for one?
Nishat Bagh. It has the most dramatic terraces, the best view of Dal Lake and the Pir Panjal, and is close to the Boulevard. If you have two hours more, add Shalimar for its pavilions and history. Go before 10 am to avoid school groups.
Are the Mughal gardens open in winter?
Yes, the gardens stay open through winter, but fountains are switched off and beds are bare. Late October and early November are a lovely compromise, with chinar trees turning red. Spring from late March to May is when the planting and water are at their best.
Can seniors manage the garden terraces?
Mostly. Each terrace is linked by stone steps, some steep and without rails. Shalimar is the gentlest. At Nishat, seniors can enjoy the lower terraces and the lake view without climbing to the top. Benches are available, and the lawns are flat.