HimLocal
Sign in
HimLocal
A stepped water cascade and fountain in a Mughal garden framed by tall chinar trees at Shalimar Bagh
1 / 2
Photo: Pradeepkjoshi · CC BY-SA 4.0
monument17 min from Srinagar

Shalimar Bagh — the Mughal garden on Dal Lake's north shore

Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar: the Mughal garden laid out by Jahangir in 1619 on Dal Lake's north-east shore, its canal and terraces, and the road time.

What it is

Shalimar Bagh, also called Shalimar Garden, Farah Baksh and Faiz Baksh, is a Mughal garden at the north-east of Dal Lake in Srinagar. Emperor Jahangir enlarged an older garden into a royal one in 1619 and called it Farah Baksh, "the delightful". Shah Jahan's governor extended it in 1630 and named it Faiz Baksh, "the bountiful". It is now a public park, sometimes called the crown of Srinagar.

Photos: KaranKapoor1314 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

The layout

Wikipedia says the garden follows the Persian garden plan, built on level ground on a square plan with a central canal and terraces. Water and fountains run down its length, and chinar trees shade the lawns. Jahangir and his wife Nur Jahan came to Kashmir many times in summer, and this was their imperial summer residence and royal court.

Getting there

By road it is about 13 km and 17 minutes from the centre on our routing, the furthest of the three gardens. Nishat Bagh is on the same shore.

Combine it with

The one-day plan pairs the three gardens with a shikara ride, and the spring tulip day adds the tulip garden. See when to visit Srinagar.

Plans that include this

All 3 plans that stop here →
Rows of red and yellow tulips in full bloom on a terraced slope at the Srinagar tulip garden
A spring day in Srinagar — the tulip garden and the Mughal gardens
Day plan · First visit · nature
A spring day in Srinagar: the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, then Chashme Shahi, Pari Mahal, Nishat and Shalimar, timed to avoid the crowds.
Best Mar–Apr
See the plan →
Two shikara boats on calm Dal Lake with snow-covered mountains rising behind the far shore
One day in Srinagar — the Mughal gardens and a shikara on Dal Lake
Day plan · First visit · Temples & heritage
A one-day Srinagar plan: the Mughal gardens of Shalimar, Nishat and Chashme Shahi, Pari Mahal above the lake, and a shikara ride on Dal Lake. Free to copy.
Best Apr–May · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
The tall wooden Khanqah-e-Moula with its carved balconies and a spired pagoda roof against the sky
Two days in Srinagar — the old city's shrines, then the lake and gardens
1 night · 2 days · culture · Temples & heritage
A two-day Srinagar plan: the Khanqah-e-Moula, Jama Masjid, Hari Parbat and Shankaracharya Temple, then Hazratbal, Shalimar, Nishat and Dal Lake. Free to copy.
Best Apr–May · Sep–Oct
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of Srinagar →
Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
monument · 2.8 km away
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
temple · 3.7 km away
Dal Lake — shikara boats, houseboats and floating gardens in Srinagar
Dal Lake — shikara boats, houseboats and floating gardens in Srinagar
lake · 5.2 km away
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — Asia's largest tulip garden
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — Asia's largest tulip garden
park · 5.9 km away
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
fort · 7.1 km away
Chashme Shahi — the royal spring garden above Dal Lake
Chashme Shahi — the royal spring garden above Dal Lake
monument · 7.2 km away
Pari Mahal — the terraced garden of fairies above Dal Lake
Pari Mahal — the terraced garden of fairies above Dal Lake
monument · 7.6 km away
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
temple · 8.1 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
Dalhousie hill station across its five hills
Dalhousie
207 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
Chamba town on the bank of the Ravi, seen from the hillside above
Chamba
212 km away · 3 itineraries · 5 places
The stone tower of the Narasimha temple at Bharmour with a green mountain behind it under a blue sky
Bharmour
245 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Namgyal Monastery, the Dalai Lama's temple complex in McLeod Ganj
Dharamshala
254 km away · 5 itineraries · 15 places
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.

Questions people ask

What is Shalimar Bagh?

A Mughal garden at the north-east of Dal Lake in Srinagar, made into a royal garden by Emperor Jahangir in 1619 and called Farah Baksh. It was extended in 1630 under Shah Jahan. Wikipedia calls it the high point of Mughal horticulture and the earliest of the imperial gardens named Shalimar.

How far is Shalimar Bagh from the centre of Srinagar?

About 13 km and 17 minutes by road on our routing, making it the furthest of the three Mughal gardens on the lake. Nishat Bagh is about 14 minutes and Chashme Shahi about 11 minutes away, so most people visit the three in one morning or afternoon. We have no verified opening hours.

When is Shalimar Bagh at its best?

In spring, when the gardens flower, and in autumn, when the chinar trees turn gold. Photographs of the garden show both seasons. Check the garden's current hours and any entry fee before you go, as we have no verified figures; the canal and terraces are best seen without a crowd, early in the day.