MUGHAL GARDENS IN KASHMIR - ART & CULTURE

MUGHAL GARDENS IN KASHMIR - ART & CULTURE

News: Autumn hues of Mughal Gardens draw tourists from across country

 

What's in the news?

●       The Mughal Gardens in Kashmir are witnessing a surge in tourists as they arrive in droves to see the changing colours of the autumn season.

 

Mughal Gardens of Kashmir

  1. The celebrated Mughal gardens of Kashmir owe their grandeur primarily to Emperor Jahangir who had an undaunted love for Kashmir and his son Shah Jahan.
  2. Jahangir was responsible for the careful selection of the site and manoeuvring it to suit the requirements of the traditional paradise gardens.
  3. Although the Mughals never deviated drastically from the original form or concept of the gardens, their biggest challenge in Kashmir was to exploit the chosen site and the abundance of water resources to its maximum potential.
  4. The sites selected were invariably at the foot of a mountain, wherever there was a source of water either in the form of streams or springs.
  5. This feature eventually resulted in terraced garden layouts.
  6. Undaunted by the challenges offered by mountainous terrain, the Mughal engineering skills and aesthetics helped in exploiting the dominating natural landscape and the available water resources to their maximum potential and achieved an unparalleled height of perfection.

 

Features of Mughal gardens:

●       These are developed in Islamic architectural style by the Mughals in India and other countries.

●       These gardens are frequently seen as a place for relaxation and meditation.

●       Examples: The Taj Mahal Garden, Agra Fort, Humayun's Tomb Garden, and the Red Fort Garden.

●       Design:

○       This gardening design was influenced by Persian, namely the Charbagh structure.

○       Gardens are formal in style; symmetrically designed in rectangular or square

○       The garden area is divided into four plots by water channels. These four channels represent four rivers of life.

○       The running water provides coolness and freshness to the garden.

○       The four plots are planted with trees, shrubs, etc.,

○       The axis is straight and central and sometimes represented by a tree line.

○       The water pool created in the centre with over flowing water serves as the central specimen.

○       Fountains, cascades are linked to the central pool to create scenic beauty.

○       Mughal gardens are surrounded by a high, robust wall. The wall's summit is decorated with serrated battlements.

○       The entrances are often towering and beautiful. The doors are massive wooden structures studded with hefty iron nails and spikes.