Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
What it is
Nishat Bagh, the Garden of Joy, is a terraced Mughal garden on the eastern bank of Dal Lake, close to Srinagar. Asif Khan, Nur Jahan's brother, designed and built it in 1633, with the Zabarwan Range behind it and views of the lake and the Pir Panjal Range below.
Photos: Vinayaraj (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The layout
The garden uses the Persian garden idea but was adapted to the hillside: instead of a square plan with four arms, a central stream runs down the slope from the water source at the top, over a series of terraces, towards the lake. Wikipedia also records that the Mughal princess Zuhra Begum is buried in the garden.
A story
Wikipedia retells an anecdote about Shah Jahan admiring the garden so much that he wished to own it and, when Asif Khan did not offer it, had its water cut off. A servant turned the water on and, when the emperor was not angry, the supply was restored. Treat it as a story rather than a record.
Getting there
By road it is about 11 km and 14 minutes from the centre on our routing. Shalimar Bagh is further along the same shore, and Chashme Shahi is close.
Combine it with
The one-day plan and the spring tulip day both include it. See when to visit Srinagar.
Plans that include this
All 3 plans that stop here →
Nearby places
All of Srinagar →
Nearby destinations
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Questions people ask
What is Nishat Bagh?
A terraced Mughal garden on the eastern bank of Dal Lake, laid out in 1633 by Asif Khan, who was Nur Jahan's elder brother. Its name means Garden of Joy. Wikipedia ranks it the valley's second biggest Mughal garden, behind only Shalimar Bagh, with the Zabarwan Range behind it.
Why was the water cut off?
Wikipedia retells a story that Shah Jahan so admired the garden that he hoped his father-in-law Asif Khan would give it to him, and when no offer came he ordered its water supply cut. A servant turned the water on again, and the emperor, hearing it, restored the supply. It is an anecdote, not a documented fact.
How far is Nishat Bagh from Srinagar?
About 11 km and 14 minutes by road on our routing from the centre. Chashme Shahi is nearby, and Shalimar Bagh is a further few minutes along the shore. We have no verified opening hours or entry fee, so ask locally. Allow about an hour, and visit in the morning when the terraces catch the light.