Quick Facts
| Location Coordinates Category Starting Date Completation Date Order to Construct Architecture Style Covered area Status Endangered Site | Lahore,Pakistan 31°35’13.32N 74°22’56.04E Garden 1641 A.D. (1051 A.H.) 1642 A.D. (1052 A.H.) Shah Jahan Persian gardens Style 658m north to south and 258m east to west UNESCO World Heritage Site,From 1981 In 2000 |
The Shalimar Gardens, also spelled Shalamar Gardens, represent a remarkable Persian-style garden, a testament to the garden design traditions. Commissioned and constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in Lahore, Pakistan, these gardens are a testament to the era’s architectural brilliance.
Situated near Baghbanpura along the Grand Trunk Road, approximately 5 kilometers northeast of Lahore’s main city, the Shalimar Gardens draw inspiration from five distinct geographical sources: Central Asia, Kashmir, West Punjab, Persia, and the Delhi Sultanate. Notably, these gardens should not be confused with the Shalimar Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1981, the UNESCO World Heritage Site list welcomed the Shalimar Gardens, alongside the Lahore Fort, as part of the UNESCO Convention safeguarding global cultural and natural heritage sites.
Historical Roots:
Originally belonging to the esteemed Zaildar families of the region, particularly renowned as the Mian Family of Baghbanpura, the Shalimar Gardens’ site held significance. The Mian Family received the royal title of ‘Mian’ from the Mughal Emperor, honoring their services to the Empire. Mian Muhammad Yusuf, then the family head, generously donated the Ishaq Pura site to Emperor Shah Jahan after persistent requests from royal engineers, impressed by its favorable location and soil quality. In gratitude, Shah Jahan granted the Mian family governance of the Shalimar Gardens, a custodianship that endured for over 350 years.
Construction and Development:
Initiated in 1641 A.D. (1051 AH) under the auspices of Shah Jahan, the construction of the Shalimar Gardens reached completion within the following year. Supervised by Khalilullah Khan, a notable figure in Shah Jahan’s court, the project’s management involved collaboration with Ali Mardan Khan and Mulla Alaul Maulk Tuni.
Architecture:
The Shalimar Gardens are laid out in the form of an oblong parallelogram, surrounded by a high brick wall, which is famous for its intricate fretwork. This garden was made on the concept of Char Bhagh. The gardens measure 658 meters north to south and 258 meters east to west.
The three level terraces of the Gardens:
The Gardens have been laid out from south to north in three descending terraces, which are elevated by 4–5 metres (13-15 feet) above one another. The three terraces have names in Urdu as follows:
The upper terrace named Farah Baksh meaning Bestower of Pleasure.
The middle terrace named Faiz Baksh meaning Bestower of Goodness.
The lower terrace named Hayat Baksh meaning Bestower of life.
Shah Nahar:
To irrigate the Gardens, a canal named Shah Nahar meaning Royal canal, later also known as Hansti nahar, meaning Laughing canal was brought from Rajpot (Present day Madhpur in India), a distance of over 161 kilometers. The canal intersected the Gardens and discharged into a large marble basin in the middle terrace.
410 Fountains:
From this basin, and from the canal, rise 410 fountains, which discharge into wide marble pools. The surrounding area is rendered cooler by the flowing of the fountains, which is a particular relief for visitors during Lahore’s blistering summers, with temperature sometimes exceeding 120 degrees fahrenheit. The distribution of the fountains is as follows:
The upper level terrace has 105 fountains.
The middle level terrace has 152 fountains.
The lower level terrace has 153 fountains.
All combined, the Gardens therefore have 410 fountains.The Gardens have 5 water cascades including the great marble cascade and Sawan Bhadoon.
Buildings of the Gardens
The buildings of the Gardens include:
Sawan Bhadum pavilions.
Naqar Khana and its buildings.
Khwabgah or Sleeping chambers.
Hammam or Royal bath.
The Aiwan or Grand hall.
Aramgah or Resting place.
Khawabgah of Begum Sahib or Dream place of the emperor’s wife.
Baradaries or summer pavilions to enjoy the coolness created by the Gardens’ fountains.
Diwan-e-Khas-o-Aam or Hall of special & ordinary audience with the emperorTwo gateways and minarets in the corners of the Gardens
Trees of the Gardens:
Some of the varieties of trees that were planted included:
Almond
Apple
Apricot
Cherry
Gokcha
Mango
Mulberry
Peach
Plum
Poplar
Quince Seedless
Sapling of Cypress
Shrubs
Sour & sweet oranges
Design:
The enclosure is over 457 meters (500 yards) long, and contains 2 gardens, with a narrow rectangular terrace in between them. Each garden is divided by canals and flowerbeds, following the Persian tradition of the charbagh, or fourfold garden. Each of the 3 parts is on a different level, so that the upper parts are concealed from the view of people entering from below. The highest, and therefore the most private, section is thought to have been used by the imperial women. The channels of water that weave through the whole garden are fed by canals designed and administered by a defector from the Persian court, Ali Mardan Khan, or Inayat Khan, known for his architectural and building expertise. The gardens contain white marble buildings in typical Shah Jahani style. They are enclosed by a red sandstone wall interrupted by small decorative kiosks. The Shalimar Gardens are among the best preserved Mughal gardens.
