Hayat Bakhsh Bagh, Royal garden in Red Fort, Delhi, India.
Hayat Bakhsh Bagh is a royal garden within the Red Fort featuring pools, fountains, and red sandstone walkways arranged in four geometric sections. Marble pavilions throughout the space give it structure, with the Zafar Mahal serving as the garden's central focal point.
Shah Jahan commissioned this garden in the 17th century as a square layout about 200 feet (61 meters) on each side. Following the 1857 uprising, British forces damaged significant portions and built military barracks over parts of the site.
The Sawan and Bhadon pavilions take their names from Hindu monsoon months and feature white marble with niches designed for traditional oil lamps. This naming reflects how the garden blended Mughal design with local seasonal rhythms and customs.
The garden is accessible through the main entrance of the Red Fort and lies within the fort's overall grounds. Visitors should be prepared for uneven surfaces and some areas showing age from past changes to the site.
The garden follows Persian design principles with a star-shaped parterre laid out with geometric precision typical of Mughal gardens. The original plantings used flowers in blue, white, and purple shades that were meant to echo the water features and marble work.
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