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Nishat Bagh

Nishat Bagh, a beautiful Mughal garden located on the fringes of a scenic Dal Lake lures tourists for its artistically landscaped terraces, myriad range of flowers and the scenic Zabarwan Mountains as the backdrop. Located about 10 km away from the tourist Reception Center in Srinagar(the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir), Nishat Bagh is the second largest Mughal gardens across the state.

Floral beds at Nishat Bagh, affectionately called Garden of Bliss, commands a stunning view of the sparkling waters of Dal Lake and of snowy peaks of Pir Panjal mountain range. This garden is distinguished by its frothy fountains, colorful terraces and lush landscapes which sets it apart from the other gardens here.

Nishat Bagh was conceptualized and designed by Asaf Khan in the year 1633 AD. He was the brother of Nur Jahen. Manicured greens and flowery beds of Nishat Bagh are criss-crossed by pretty water channels which add to the character of the garden and make it all the more picturesque.

Domestic as well as international tourists love to visit this garden and savor its natural bounties. Appropriately rated as one of the major sightseeing attractions of Srinagar, a trip to Nishat Bagh is incomplete without a shikara ride from its precincts to Nehru Park. This garden is located on the eastern side of Dal Lake and is second in size to Shalimar Gardens of Srinagar.

Original layout of Nishat Bagh boasted of 12 terraced tiers which were abundant with flowers, shrubs and a beautiful range of ornamental plants. However, over time, three of the lower tiers have been cut off by a main road, leaving this garden with nine terraces on the mountain side.

A second terrace is scenic and offers tourists mesmerizing views of Persian lilacs, brilliant pansies and a host of other pretty and fragrant flowers. The area is marked by twists and turns of cascading waters which makes it more beautiful than the other gardens in Kashmir. Visitors are quite enchanted by the aura of this garden during early hours when carefully laid out lamps add to the romance and beauty of Nishat Bagh.

Two pavilions are located at the upper and lower end of Nishat Garden respectively. These pavilions are a favorite haunt of tourists looking forward to refreshments and moments of leisure; after a long walk through the sprawling garden. There is a central reservoir about 14 sq feet in area and about 3 feet in depth. It boasts of musical fountains and is the most beautiful place in Nishat Bagh.

Nishat Bagh is not an imperial garden and so its design and layout is less hierarchical than the other royal gardens in Kashmir. The entire garden is divided into two important sections—a private zenana for the ladies and a public garden. During the Mughal era, access to zenana section was limited only to the ladies belonging to family of Asaf Khan.

Historical Facts about Nishat Bagh

The landscape of Nishat Bagh is modeled in accordance with layout of Chahar Bagh (four gardens). Its design was modified to suit the water source conditions and topographical attributes of this region. Chahar Bagh was inspired by Quaranic descriptions of heaven. It is believed that the celestial abode contains four rivers of honey, wine, milk and water. This belief has guided the layout of Chahar Bagh, which is uniformly shaped with four radiating streams, a central water reservoir and four equal sections of the garden.

About the Place

Nishat Bagh occupies a pride of place in Srinagar-a beautiful mountain city boasting of the serene Dal Lake, beautiful Mughal gardens, snow capped peaks, historic wooden mosques and never ending rows of quaint shops selling artifacts, saffron, Pashmina shawls and other handicrafts.

Located in the midst of the scenic Valley of Kashmir, Srinagar is a much favored tourist destination. Its invigorating climate, mind boggling tourist attractions, houseboats, flower laden shikaras and temples make it the much loved summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The city was established by King Pravarasen II and is located beside the waters of River Jhelum. Nagin Lake, Anchar Lake and a host of other smaller water bodies set against the backdrop of lush Himalayan Mountains, make Srinagar all the more romantic and captivating.

Point to Remember

Nishat Bagh is home to some of the most beautiful species of flowers and plants which grow in different seasons. For example, tulips are in full bloom only for 15 days in a year. This makes it important for tourists to time their visits with the seasons which create the best weather conditions for their favorite flowers.

The delicate flowers adorning the garden wilt very easily and so visitors should avoid visiting Nishat Bagh on very sunny days. They should remember to take their cameras along, as this beautifully terraced garden provides a lot of opportunities for great digital captures.

How to Reach


By Air

Domestic tourists can avail of multiple carriers to reach Srinagar from various important cities of India. Srinagar airport is well connected to Mumbai, Chandigarh, Delhi and Shimla. Tourists flying in from other countries may reach Srinagar via Delhi. After arriving in Srinagar, they can avail easy transport facilities to visit Nishat Bagh.

By Rail

The nearest railhead to Srinagar is at Udhampur which is located at a distance of 60km to the north of Jammu. Jammu Tavi railway station is well connected to most important towns and cities of India and is situated at a distance of 293 km from Srinagar. Travelers from Chennai, Trivandrum, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and other important centers can book themselves easy and comfortable train journeys to reach Jammu.

After arriving in Jammu, they can hire a taxi or avail regular bus services to complete the 12 hours journey to Srinagar.

By Bus

Jammu Tavi is well connected to Srinagar by private coaches, regular bus services and taxis. National Highway 1A links Srinagar to the rest of India and passes through beautiful mountain terrains, long tunnels and scenic valleys. Srinagar can be accessed from Leh and Kargil in summers.

Entry Fees

The entry fees to Nishat Bagh are very nominal. They are priced at INR 10 per head.

Best Time to Visit

If you want to enjoy scenic beauty of Srinagar and Nishat Bagh, a good time to visit is from April to October. Weather conditions are pleasant at this time and tourists can indulge in long strolls in Nishat Bagh along with a host of other sightseeing opportunities. Kashmir is at its very best in these months and attracts millions of visitors with plenty of outdoor activities like trekking, hiking, biking, boating and water sports of Dal Lake.

Trivia

Well known across the world for its Chinar trees, Nishat Bagh had always been a favorite destination for Persian and Mughal Kings and their royal families.

Timing

Nishat Bagh is open to tourists and public between 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. The gates of this pretty garden are closed on Fridays.

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