ISLAMIC GARDENS

Introduction
Key elements of the Islamic outdoor: Water - fountains, ponds, water channels moving Green, dense, fresh planting of cypress and fruit-bearing plants that produce shadow Walls or fences that enclose the outdoor area and a mysterious and private character An outdoor harmony in symmetry, using geometric forms of water, trails, pavilions or planting In time Islamic gardens became more complex and their form was reflected in city planning

Gardens A reflection of paradise

The Koran gives detailed description of the eternal garden, which is as large as heaven and earth and in whose hollows brooks flow. In it stand thorn less trees that spread their shade with fruits hanging low in clusters and its where the blessed, richly clothed, lie on couches lined with thick brocade. It consists of the enclosed, protected pleasances, in which blossoming and fragrant shrubs and tress were surrounded by galleries with pillars and columns. These gardens that were generally known as riyad, were always laid out orthogonally, either square or rectangular, where they belonged to princes or ordinary citizens.

Characteristics of an Islamic garden

The typical Islamic garden is a representation of heaven on earth. It developed on the Persian plain, which was an arid desert. The environment was harsh a paradise garden was its opposite. The Islamic notion of paradise included water, shade, flowers and fruit trees. It was an enclosed garden, shutting out the harshness of the surrounding landscape. The most important element was water, which was channeled in geometric quadrants symbolizing the rivers of paradise mentioned in the Koran.

The basic form of an Islamic garden is based upon intersecting canals forming four quadrants. This was based on an ancient cosmological idea that the universe was made of four quarters divided by two great rivers. Shade was provided by canopies (baldaquin) and pavilions. There were no representational sculptures. The most common shade trees were sycamore, poplars, elms, maples, willows, myrtles. As in earlier gardens, Scented flowers, in formal symmetrical beds, were important. Avenues of trees often included cypress trees, with their tall, narrow habit, fruit trees, and shade trees such as the plane tree. On forts and hillsides, elaborate terraces were constructed. Paths were usually raised above ground level.

Mughal Gardens
The Mughals were known for four major types of garden: Palace gardens Terraced gardens Waterfront gardens; and Tomb gardens The founder of the Mughal empire, Babur described his favoured type of garden as a charbagh. This word developed a new meaning in India because, as Babur explains, India lacked the fast-flowing streams required for the Central Asian charbagh. The Agra garden, now known as the Ram Bagh, is thought to have been the first charbagh.

Soon after his conquest of hindustan, he had built gardens with running water at Agra, Dholpur, and Sikri. Babur, describing the building of his first garden near Agra, mentions the formal layout and the water bodies and summarises: thus, in unpleasant and inharmonious India,

marvellously regular and geometric gardens were introduced

Jahangirs love for gardens

It is said that Jahangir had shifted his capital city to the north west city of Lahore only because it was closer to the valley of Kashmir. In the abundantly watered and tree laden valley of Kashmir, the indefatigable nature loving spirit of Babur sprang once again to life through his great grandson, Jahangir. The environment of the lush valley, too was far more conducive than the desert like tracts of Dholpur where babur had laid out his first garden. Jahangir proceeded to carve out terraced formal gardens at all his famous spots in Kashmir, e.g., the foothills surrounding the Dal Lake, Srinagar; and Achabal and Verinag.

The results of landscape architecture of each of these places were expressions of the familiar theme of formal Mughal gardens. However, the undulating topography of the land and the abundant and endless supply of water from running mountain streams introduced 2 new dimensions into Mughal gardens of the hillsA. Pools of still waters were replaced by cascades and flowing channels; and B. The gardens and pavilions were located on gradually ascending levels. There were flagged walkways dividing flat rectangular garden areas hewn out of the foothills into formal square spaces, with chinar trees and flower beds planted in linear patterns along the channeled paths of flowing water.

 At strategic points of change of levels, minimum stone pavilions- sometimes in black stone- were erected. These wee perched on short columns over cascades of falling water. Be it Shalimar, Nishat, Achabal, or Verinag, Jahangir ordered the same geometric pattern of the mughal gardenevolved from the square, the rectangle or the octagon- to be superimposed on the natural landscape to create an environment seemingly more comprehensible to human parameters of appreciation. But that was the closest Jahangir could come to architecture.

Prominent examples of mughal gardens

Shalimar gardens, Lahore Shalimar gardens, Kashmir Begumbad garden, Achabal, Srinagar Yadvindra gardens, Pinjore Nishat gardens, Kashmir Taj mahal, Agra Ram bagh, Agra Mehtab bagh, Agra Humayuns tomb, Delhi

Yadavindra Gardens, Pinjore

Nishat Bagh, Kashmir

Shalimar Bagh, Lahore

Mehtab Bagh, Agra

The Shalimar Gardens, Kashmir

An inscription on the Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir reads 'If there be a Paradise on earth, it is here, it is here'. This garden was built by Jahangir on a sloping site between mountains and Dal Lake.

 Shalimar Garden, developed by Jehangir and later by his son Shahjahan, is the epitome of Islamic garden design brought to India by Babur. The linear water channel, formed by diverting the water from the mountain to the lake, is the central axis in this symmetrical garden. The row of square gardens are connected by canals with pavilions built over them. Seated in these pavilions, surrounded by lush greenery, lulled by the sound of flowing water, chaddars or waterfalls and fountains, it is easy to imagine that this is the 'Paradise in Heaven described in the Koran. A zenana (segregated area for women) at the far end of the garden built by Shahjahan, has a pavilion of black marble.

layout plan

Waterfalls have been created using steps.Flowers and candles were kept in the niche behind the waterfalls.

This pavilion also doubles as the Diwan-i-Khas where Mughal emperors gave private audience

Entrance to the Shalimar Gardens

Nila Nag Bagh, Srinagar

Nila Nag Bagh was built by Jehangir in 1620, and later by his son Shah Jahan. A large water source is enclosed by an octagonal, pillared structure and water channels flow into a mountain rivulet in the valley. This small square garden is surrounded by mountains. Sycamores, poplars, lawns and flower beds, make this a pleasant and serene garden.

Colonade surrounding the water source

Nishat Bagh, Srinagar

Nishat Bagh, built by Asaf Khan, elder brother of Empress Nur Jahan, in 1632, is a symmetrical garden where the central axis is emphasized more than in square gardens. The step incorporated on either side of the central axis is reminiscent of the terraced gardens of the Italian Renaissance period. While Italian gardens were built as descending gardens, this garden has been built as an ascending garden. Earlier, this fairly large garden could only be approached by boat from the lake. Today unfortunately the pavilions are broken and weeds cover the waterways.

Gardens of the Taj Mahal

The gardens of the Taj Mahal are typical of Mughal gardens, with a formal, symmetrical design and abundant water flowing through channels and pools. Typically, two water channels cross each other, dividing the garden into four quarters. A central pool or pavilion marks the centre of the garden. As well as flowing in channels, water is also used in cascades and fountains, and is appreciated for its air-cooling properties.

Plan of the taj mahal with the garden in between the gateway and the tomb, unlike the humayun tomb which is placed in the centre of the 16 squares

Ram Bagh, Agra

The first emperor of the Mughal dynasty, Babur, was an educated man. He loved the huge gardens he left behind in central Asia and wanted to build a geometrical, Islamic garden in India. This style was later developed on a grand scale in Kashmir. Babur built Ram Garden (originally Aram Garden) which was the resting place for his body before it was interred in Kabul.

The pavilion facing the yamuna river

Gardens at Humayun's Tomb

The Humayun Tomb is located in the centre of a huge garden, occupying the central four squares in a grid of 36, the divisions being marked by raised walkways, each of which has narrow water channels leading to pools at most of the intersections.

Gardens at Agra Fort

The gardens at agra fort have varying characteristics as the garden in the courtyard of the zenana had a simple garden whereas the gardens at the khas mahal area had beautiful charbagh with a central high platform connecting the other 4 parts of the garden that have geometric partitions.