# Nishat Bagh > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nishat_Bagh > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nishat_Bagh.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishat_Bagh > Source revision: 1355105267 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Terraced Mughal garden near Dal Lake, in Srinagar, Indian Administered Kashmir This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (July 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Nishat Bagh Nishat Bagh Interactive map of Nishat Bagh Type Mughal garden Location Srinagar, Kashmir Coordinates 34°07′30″N 74°52′52″E / 34.125°N 74.881°E / 34.125; 74.881 Area 19 hectares (47 acres) Opened 1633; 393 years ago (1633) Founder Asif Khan, elder brother of Nur Jehan Owner Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department Operator Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department Website [1] **Nishat Bagh** (lit. 'Garden of Joy' or 'Garden of Delight')**[1]** is a [terraced](/source/Terrace_garden) [Mughal garden](/source/Mughal_garden) built on the eastern bank of the [Dal Lake](/source/Dal_Lake), close to [Srinagar](/source/Srinagar) in the union territory of [Jammu and Kashmir](/source/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(union_territory)), India. It is the second-largest Mughal garden in the [Kashmir](/source/Kashmir_Valley) Valley. ## History Nishat Bagh Mughal Gardens Sunset at Nishat Bagh Mughal Gardens The garden is located on the bank of the Dal Lake, with the [Zabarwan Mountains](/source/Zabarwan_Range) as its backdrop, and views of the lake beneath the Pir Panjal mountain range. The Bagh was designed and built in 1633 by [Asif Khan](/source/Abu'l-Hasan_Asaf_Khan), elder brother of [Nur Jahan](/source/Nur_Jehan).[2][3][4] 'Nishat Bagh' is derived from [Urdu](/source/Urdu_language), meaning a "Garden of Joy." Nishat Bagh- Jhau tree An anecdote is told of the jealousy of the Mughal emperor [Shah Jahan](/source/Shah_Jahan) on beholding such a delightful garden, which led to the abandonment of the garden for some time. When Shah Jahan saw the garden, after its completion in 1633, he expressed great appreciation of its grandeur and beauty. He is believed to have expressed his delight three times to Asif Khan, his father-in-law, in the hope that he would make a gift of it to him. As no such offer was forthcoming from Asif Khan, however, Shah Jahan was piqued and ordered that the water supply to the garden should be cut off. The garden was then deserted for some time. Asif Khan was desolate and heartbroken; he was uninterested in the sequence of events. When he was resting under the shade of a tree, in one of the terraces, his servant was bold enough to turn on the water supply from the Shalimar Bagh. When Asif Khan heard the sound of water and the fountains in action, he was startled and immediately ordered the disconnection of the water supply as he feared the worst reaction from the Emperor for this wanton act of disobedience. Fortunately for the servant and for the Khan, Shah Jahan, who had heard about this incident in the garden, was not disturbed or annoyed by the disobedience of his orders. Instead, he approved of the servant's loyal service to his master and then ordered the full restoration of rights for the supply of water to the garden to Asif Khan, his Prime Minister and father-in-law.[1][5][6] The Mughal Princess Zuhra Begum, daughter of the Mughal Emperor [Alamgir II](/source/Alamgir_II) and granddaughter of the Emperor [Jahandar Shah](/source/Jahandar_Shah), is buried in the garden.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Layout The layout of Nishat Bagh was based on the conceptual model of the [Persian gardens](/source/Persian_gardens), remodelled to fit the topographic and water source conditions at the site chosen in the Kashmir valley. The plan, instead of being central with four radiating arms in a square pattern as in the case of Chahar (suited for a flat countryside), was changed to an axial stream flow design to fit the hill condition with water source originating at the top of the hill end. This resulted in planning a rectangular layout rather than a square layout. This helped in dispensing with the long side arms. Thus, a rectangular layout with an east–west length of 548 metres (1,798 ft) and a width of 338 metres (1,109 ft) was adopted.[1][5] ## Architecture Nishat Bagh has a broad cascade of terraces lined with avenues of [chinar](/source/Platanus_orientalis) and [cypress](/source/Cypress) trees, which starts from the lakeshore and reaches up to an artificial façade at the hill's end. Rising from the edge of the Dal Lake, it has twelve 12 [terraces](/source/Terrace_(gardening)) representing twelve [Zodiacal](/source/Zodiac) signs. However, it has only two sections, namely the public garden and the private garden for the Zanana or harem vis-à-vis the four sections of the Shalimar Bagh; this difference is attributed to the fact that the latter Bagh catered to the Mughal Emperor, while Nishad Bagh belonged to a man of his court, a noble. There are, however, some similarities with the Shalimar Bagh, such as the polished stone channel and terraces. The source of water supply to the two gardens is the same. Built in an east–west direction, the top terrace has the Zenana garden, while the lowest terrace is connected to the Dal Lake. In recent years, the lowest terrace has merged with the approach road. A spring called the Gopi Thirst provides a clear water supply to the gardens. There are a few old Mughal period buildings in the vicinity of the Bagh.[1][7][3][4][8][9] The central canal, which runs through the garden from the top end, is 4 metres (13 ft) wide and has a water depth of 20 centimetres (7.9 in). Water flows down in a cascade from the top to the first terrace at the road level, which could also be approached from the Dal Lake through a [shikara](/source/Shikara) ride. The water flow from one terrace to the next is overstepped a stone ramps that provide the sparkle to the flow. At all the terraces, fountains with pools are provided, along the water channel. At channel crossings, benches are provided.[1] ## The twelve terraces Fountains on terraces in Nishat Bagh - The details of the twelve terraces have been recorded as originally built: - The first terrace is a water collection chamber that is also linked to the side flow from the garden. - The second terrace is accessed through a gate. This terrace has five fountains that are supplied water from the third terrace, from where it flows to the lowest terrace. - The third terrace has a different design. The water [chute](/source/Chute_(gravity)) has five arched open niches in the front and similar niches on the sides. A pavilion ([baradari](/source/Baradari_(building))), a two-storied structure, which existed here when it was originally built, has since been dismantled. Stairways, on either side of the channel, lead to the third terrace, which has a square chamber with five fountains. Moving up the flight of steps (four steps) on either side of the channel leads to the fourth terrace. - The fourth terrace has two levels, namely, a water channel and a square pool. Stairways with 7 steps lead to the fifth terrace. - The fifth terrace, where a stone bench is provided to take in the view across the channel. This also has a square chamber with five fountains. - The sixth terrace is at two levels with five fountains and a distinctive paving pattern. - The seventh terrace, where the same pattern continues. - The eighth terrace is only a water channel or chute. - The ninth terrace, at the end of two stairways, there is an octagonal bench. The pool in this terrace has nine fountains. - The stairways to the tenth terrace are along the side retaining walls, where only the water chute with fountains is provided. - Engraved paths lead to an impressive eleventh terrace, which has twenty-five fountains in a pool. Up from this dramatic terrace is the last one. - The Zenana chamber, the twelfth terrace, is covered in the front by 5.5 metres (18 ft) high wall with a façade of blind arches. Only one arch in this blind facade provides an opening to the twelfth terrace. Two small octagonal towers on either side of the retaining walls provide views of the lower-level terraces. A two-storey pavilion here is surrounded by a lovely garden with lush plantings.[1] Out of all the terraces, the second terrace is considered the most impressive because of the twenty-three niches provided in the arched recess just behind the cascade. Originally, lighted lamps used to be placed at these niches. The second terrace also has an abundance of Persian lilacs and pansies, coupled with sparkling cascading water over the chute, which provided a lovely sight.[10] Another interesting feature in the Nishat Bagh is the many stones and marble thrones that are placed at the head of almost every waterfall. ## See also - [Foreshore Road](/source/Foreshore_Road) - [Indo-Islamic Architecture](/source/Indo-Islamic_Architecture) - [Shalimar Bagh (Srinagar)](/source/Shalimar_Bagh_(Srinagar)) - [Hazratbal](/source/Hazratbal) Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Nishat Bagh](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Nishat_Bagh). ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nish_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nish_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Nish_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Nish_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Nish_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Nish_1-5) ["Shalimar Gardens in Srinagar"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100818114357/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=15002). Archnet.org. Archived from [the original](http://www.archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=15002) on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Department Of Floriculture | Gardens And Parks"](https://dofkashmir.com/MGNishatGarden.aspx). *dofkashmir.com*. Retrieved 16 May 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tourism_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tourism_3-1) ["Dal Lakes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120429154412/http://kashmir-tourism.com/jammu-kashmir-lakes-dal-lake.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.kashmir-tourism.com/jammu-kashmir-lakes-dal-lake.htm) on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-srinagar_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-srinagar_4-1) ["Srinagar Attractions: Nagin Lake"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120222202835/http://www.srinagaronline.co.in/attraction.php?pname=attraction). Archived from [the original](http://www.srinagaronline.co.in/attraction.php?pname=attraction) on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2009. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Stuart_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Stuart_5-1) Stuart, C.M. Villiers (2008). [*Gardens of the Great Mughals (1913)*](https://archive.org/details/gardensofgreatmu00villiala). READ BOOKS. pp. [168](https://archive.org/details/gardensofgreatmu00villiala/page/168)–169, 171. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4097-1962-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4097-1962-5). Retrieved 30 December 2009. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |work= ignored ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#periodical_ignored)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Royal_6-0)** ["History of Nishat Bagh"](https://searchkashmir.blogspot.com/2009/04/history-of-shalimar-bagh.html). 4 April 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bindloss_7-0)** Bindloss, Joe; Sarina Singh (2007). [*India*](https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari). Lonely Planet. pp. [353](https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari/page/353)–354, 360. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-74104-308-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-74104-308-2). Retrieved 29 December 2009. Dal Lake. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |work= ignored ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#periodical_ignored)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. ["Mughal Gardens in Kashmir"](https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5580/#:~:text=Humayun's%20Tomb%20and%20the%20Taj,the%20Shalimar%20Gardens%20of%20Lahore.). *UNESCO World Heritage Centre*. Retrieved 16 May 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Plumptre, George (1993). *The Water Garden*. London: Thames & Hudson Limited. pp. 38–39. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-500-01571-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-500-01571-6). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-nishat_10-0)** ["Mughal Gardens!"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100312204017/http://travel.kashmironline.net/mughal_gardens.asp). Archived from [the original](http://travel.kashmironline.net/mughal_gardens.asp) on 12 March 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009. ## External links - [The Herbert Offen Research Collection of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum](https://web.archive.org/web/20100130185156/http://www.pem.org/library/collections/offen) - [Nishat Bagh on Archnet, November 2019, active site](https://archnet.org/sites/6339) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200215193002/https://archnet.org/sites/6339) 15 February 2020 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) v t e Kashmir Valley Passes Banihal Pass Zojila Burzil Pass Sinthan top Margan Top Valleys Sind Valley Lidder Valley Lolab Valley Betaab Valley Baisaran Valley Cities Srinagar Anantnag Baramulla Towns Akingam Achabal Pulwama Budgam Ganderbal Shopian Bandipore Kulgam Downtown Nowshera Gurez Pattan Kangan Hazratbal Awantipora Tral Qazigund Kokernag Shangus Bijbehara Doru Pahalgam Pattan Uri Kreeri Boniyar Tangmarg Sopore Rafaiabad Karnah Kupwara Lolab Handwara Langate Charari Sharief Beerwah Chadoora Bagh e Mehtab Sumbal Sonawari Quimoh Pahloo D.H.Pora Soura Buchpora Jawahar Nagar Srinagar Rajbagh Bemina Maisuma Karan Nagar Indira Nagar, Srinagar Hazratbal Lal Chowk Sonwar Bagh Nowhatta Hazratbal Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar Lal Bazar Zukura Munawar Abad Badami Bagh Nowshera Awanta Bhawan Singhpora Magam Kokernag Daksum Rivers Jehlum Sind Lidder Kishanganga Veshaw Rambi Ara Glaciers Kolhoi Glacier Machoi Glacier Lakes Anchar Lake Dal Lake Nigeen Lake Manasbal Lake Wular Lake Vishansar Lake Krishansar Lake Gangabal Lake Gadsar Lake Sheshnag Lake Tarsar Lake Nundkol Lake Satsar Lake Kausar Nag Brari Nambal Khushal Sar Gil Sar Khanpursar Mountains Harmukh Kolahoi Machoi Peak Amarnath Sirbal Peak Tatakooti Sunset Peak Mahadev Hill stations and Mughal gardens Pahalgam Sonamarg Yusmarg Gulmarg Aharbal Nishat Bagh Shalimar Bagh Chashme Shahi Verinag Kokernag Naseem Bagh Pari Mahal Achabal Protected areas Dachigam Hokersar Hirpora Overa-Aru Rajparian Gulmarg See also History of Kashmir Kashmir conflict The Valley Of Kashmir (1895 book) Line of Control Jammu–Baramulla line Kashmiri language v t e Mughal Empire Emperors Babur Humayun Akbar Jahangir Shahryar Shah Jahan Aurangzeb (Alamgir I) Muhammad Azam Shah Bahadur Shah I Jahandar Shah Farrukhsiyar Rafi ud-Darajat Shah Jahan II Muhammad Shah Ahmad Shah Bahadur Alamgir II Shah Jahan III Shah Alam II Shah Jahan IV Akbar II Bahadur Shah II Administration Dynasty family tree Economy Flag Foreign relations Government Military Mughal artillery Provinces Agra Ajmer Awadh Bengal Berar Bihar Gujarat Delhi Hyderabad Lahore Malwa Multan Sira Conflicts Mughal-Rajput wars Mughal conquest of Malwa Gujarat conquest Mughal–Safavid war (1622–1623) Mughal–Safavid war (1649–1653) Suppression of Tilpat rebellion Ahom–Mughal conflicts Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal war Mughal–Maratha wars Child's war Carnatic wars Bengal war Indian Rebellion of 1857 Mughal–Portuguese conflicts Battles Agra Badli-ki-Serai Bhuchar Mori Buxar Chanderi Chausa Ghagra Haldighati Karnal Khajwa Khanwa Najafgarh Panipat (1526) Panipat (1556) Panipat (1761) Plassey Raj Mahal Samugarh Sirhind Thanesar (1567) Thanesar (1710) Tukaroi Bakla Bhulua Sieges Bijapur Chittorgarh Delhi Daman Daulatabad Golconda Hooghly Jinji Kandahar Mankot Purandhar Ranthambore Sambhal Adversaries Baro-Bhuyan Isa Khan Khwaja Usman Bayazid of Sylhet Musa Khan Pratapaditya Ibrahim Lodi Rana Sanga Sher Shah Suri Hemu Maharana Pratap Malik Ambar Gokula Shivaji Lachit Borphukan Khushal Khattak Josiah Child Guru Gobind Singh Henry Every Bajirao I Nader Shah Hector Munro Architecture Forts and palaces Agra Fort Lahore Fort Lalbagh Fort Red Fort Jahangir Mahal Sheesh Mahal Mosques Alamgir Mosque, Aurangabad Jama Masjid (Delhi) Chawk Mosque Badshahi Mosque Shah Jahan Mosque, Thatta Sunehri Masjid Wazir Khan Mosque Tombs and mausoleums Akbar's Tomb Bibi Ka Maqbara Gardens of Babur Humayun's Tomb Jahangir's Tomb Taj Mahal Tomb of Salim Chishti Tomb of Aurangzeb Tomb of Nur Jahan List of tombs of Mughal Empire Others Fatehpur Sikri Shalimar Gardens Achabal Gardens Shahi Bridge more See also Art Cuisine Culture Fashion Gardens Language Painting Iranian immigrants Tribe Weapons Foreign relations Successor states Sur Empire (interrupted) Maratha Empire Rajput states Jats Sikh Empire Nawabs of Bengal Nawabs of Awadh Nizam of Hyderabad Carnatic Kingdom of Mysore Rohilkhand Authority control databases: National United States Israel --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nishat Bagh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishat_Bagh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishat_Bagh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.