Shalimar Bagh Delhi, Mughal gardens in North West Delhi, India
Shalimar Bagh Delhi is a Mughal garden in North West Delhi that spreads across multiple hectares with a symmetrical water system featuring numerous fountains and channels. The garden follows a chahar-bagh layout with water channels, a central pavilion, and fruit orchards that once provided shade and cooling for visitors.
The garden was founded in 1653 by Izz-un-Nissa, wife of Shah Jahan, as a tribute to the gardens of Kashmir. It later witnessed major court ceremonies in the 17th century and served as a residence for European administrators in the early 1800s.
The central pavilion displays traditional Mughal architecture with arched rooms and decorative stonework that visitors encounter directly while exploring. The layout reflects how the Mughal court valued gardens as spaces where nature and building design worked together.
The grounds are relatively flat and easy to explore on foot, with paths leading along water basins and toward the central pavilion. Bring sun protection and wear comfortable shoes, as you will walk between different areas of the garden.
The garden houses remains of an ornately decorated hall with a ceiling that once featured mirrors and semi-precious stones creating a shimmering light effect. This decorative technique was popular in Mughal times to make interior spaces appear more luminous.
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