Mughal Gardens of Srinagar

The Mughals treated Kashmir as a summer retreat and built terraced gardens along the Dal shore on a Persian model adapted to a hillside: water is taken from a spring above and run down a central channel through a series of level terraces, dropping over stone chutes carved to break the flow, with fountains, pavilions and chinar trees on each level. Shalimar Bagh, laid out by Jahangir in 1619 for Nur Jahan, has three terraces and a black marble pavilion. Nishat Bagh has twelve, one for each sign of the zodiac, rising from the water. Chashme Shahi is smaller, built around a spring, and Pari Mahal sits higher on the ridge.

What you actually see

• Nishat Bagh - twelve terraces rising from the lake shore.
• Shalimar Bagh - Jahangir's garden with its black marble pavilion.
• The water chutes - carved stone drops breaking the flow between levels.
• The chinar trees - great planes turning red in autumn.

When to go

April to October; tulips at the nearby garden in April, roses in summer, and chinar colour in late October are the three peaks. Winter closes the fountains and much of the planting.

Honest expectations

Each garden charges separately and they are spread along the lake, needing transport. Fountains do not always run. Weekends and the summer season bring heavy domestic crowds.

Nearby

Dal Lake lies below; Pari Mahal is on the ridge above.