MUGHAL GARDEN

AQSA RASHID AR-14NIDA ASHFAQ AR-50

INTRODUCTION

• Mughal gardens are a group of gardens built by the Mughals in the Islamic style of architecture.

• This style was heavily influenced by the Persian gardens particularly the Charbagh structure.

• The founder of the Mughal empire, Babur, described his favourite type of garden as a charbagh.

• Hamida Banu Begum, the principal widow of Emperor Humayun, ordered a garden to be laid around the tomb of the late emperor.

CONCEPT

• The circle represents perfection and so is sacred to Allah, therefore, circles and spheres are absent from islamic garden.

• Pools and tanks were square (representative of human existence as nourished by the four rivers of life) or octagonal (eight representing the combination of the divine perfection of the circle and the square of human life).

The numbers eight and nine were considered auspicious by the Mughals and can be found in the number of terraces or in garden architecture such as octagonal pools.

LANDSCAPE FEATURES

• The Muslim rulers tried to create manmade reflections of the Paradise on earth.

The plants for these gardens were chosen with a view to keeping alive the idea of eternity.

SHADY AND FRUIT TREES

The trees in the Mughal gardens were generally planted to emphasize the general lines of the gardens. 

SHADY AND FRUIT TREES

The dark cypress trees were usually planted to give the essence of death and life.

SHADY AND FRUIT TREES

Flowering fruit trees represented renewal, a symbol of youth and life, portraying a cycle of life.

SHADY AND FRUIT TREES

COOL PAV IL IONS

The pavilion includes a number of fountains, shaded trees and innumerable varieties of flowers that blossom in spring and autumn.

FLOWING STREAMS

Streams were diverted to the gardens to provide continuous running water.

GUSH ING FOUNTA INS

 The fountains create soothing murmur that enthrals the visitor.

FLOWERS

Flowers were mostly planted parallel to principal  water channels and also bordering the smaller subdivisions of chahar bagh.

FLOWERS

Mughal flowers were spring flowers, lilles, tulips, poppies, anemones, cyclamen, iris and violets.

FLOWERS

During summer, peonies, jasmine, carnations, roses, delphiniums and hollyhocks were also included.

LANDSCAPE PRINCIPLES

SYMMETR ICAL BAL ANCE

Symmetrical balance is found extensively in mughal gardens.

FOCUS

Usually there is a focus is fountain.

REP IT IT ION

Monotony was the special danger of the mughal as of other classic styles, was clearly recognised by its designers. 

SITES OF MUGHAL GARDEN

AFGHANISTAN• Bagh-e Babur (Kabul)

INDIA• Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

(Nizamuddin)• Taj Mahal, Agra• Ram Bagh, Agra• Mehtab Bagh, Agra• Safdarjung's Tomb• Shalimar Bagh (Srinagar), Jammu

and Kashmir• Nishat Gardens, Jammu and Kashmir• Yadvindra Gardens, Pinjore• Khusro Bagh, Allahabad• Roshanara Bagh

PAKISTAN• Chauburji (The Gate to the Mughal

Gardens)• Lahore Fort• Shahdara Bagh• Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)• Hazuri Bagh• Hiran Minar (Sheikhupura)• Mughal Garden Wah• Vernag