Nishat Bagh

Nishat Bagh is a garden on the eastern shore of Dal Lake featuring twelve constructed terraces connected by water channels. The layout rises across several levels toward the slope of the Zabarwan range and combines stone pavilions with planted areas.

Asif Khan ordered the creation of this site in 1633 after his brother Jahangir had already established other gardens in the region. The terraces remained over the centuries and were restored in modern times.

The name means "garden of joy" in Persian and describes the intention behind its placement along the shore of Dal Lake. Visitors today still see the connection between water and terraced construction that shapes its character.

Access is through the main entrance along the road beside the lake, and most pathways are wide enough for comfortable walking. The upper terraces require climbing stairs but offer benches along the route.

Each of the twelve levels represents a sign of the zodiac and forms a rising path through the site. From the higher platforms, the view opens across the entire lake toward the mountains on the opposite shore.