2008 India: 03 Kashmir - Abodes of Pleasure and Love...

"Certain things capture the eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart...." - India Proverb

(A beautiful winter garden)

Day 03: 27 December 2008
Route: The Mughal Gardens
Hotel: The Khyber Boathouse

We visited two of Srinagar’s famed Mughal Gardens - Nishat Bagh (Abode of Pleasure), built by Asif Khan, the brother-in-law of Emperor Jehangir in the 16th century, and Shalimar Bagh (Abode of Love), created by Jehangir himself for his beloved wife, Noor Jehan. Both gardens rest gracefully along the banks of Dal Lake, framed by the majestic Zabarwan Mountains in the background.

Designed in the classic Mughal style, the gardens are laid out in terraces with stone pathways, fountains, and canals fed by crystal-clear mountain streams. The uppermost terrace, hidden from view, was once reserved for the ladies of the royal court - a secluded haven of beauty and tranquillity. We could imagine how breathtaking these gardens must look in autumn and spring, when the leaves turn golden and the flowers burst into colour, creating a scene of pure poetry against the mountain air.

(The garden at dusk)