InfopediaPk - All Facts in One Site!
  • Home
  • Islamic
    • Islamic Articles >
      • Holy Quran
      • Tafhim-ul-Quran >
        • About Tafhim-ul-Quran
        • Sura No 01 to 15 >
          • 01;Sura Al-Fatiha
          • 02;Sura Al-Baqarah
          • 03;Sura Al-i-Imran
          • 04;Sura An-Nisa
          • 05;Sura Al-Maida
          • 06;Sura Al-An'am
          • 07;Sura Al-A'raf
          • 08;Sura Al-Anfal
          • 09;Sura At-Tawbah "Or" Sura Al-Baraat
          • 10;Sura Yunus
          • 11;Sura Hud
          • 12;Sura Yusuf
          • 13;Sura Ar-Ra'd
          • 14;Sura Ibrahim
          • 15;Sura Al-Hijr
        • Sura No 16 to 30 >
          • 16;Sura An-Nahl
          • 17;Sura Al-Isra "Or" Sura Bani Israil
          • 18;Sura Al-Kahf
          • 19;Sura Maryam
          • 20;Sura Ta Ha
          • 21;Sura Al-Anbiya
          • 22;Sura Al-Hajj
          • 23;Sura Al-Mu’minoon
          • 24;Sura An-Nur
          • 25;Sura Al-Furqan
          • 26;Sura Ash-Shuara
          • 27;Sura Al-Naml
          • 28;Sura Al-Qasas
          • 29;Sura Al-Ankabut
          • 30;Sura Ar-Rum
        • Sura No 31 to 45 >
          • 31;Sura Luqman
          • 32;Sura As-Sajda
          • 33;Sura Al-Ahzab
          • 34;Sura Saba
          • 35;Sura Al-Malaika "Or" Sura Fatir
          • 36;Sura Ya Sin
          • 37;Sura As-Saaffat
          • 38;Sura Sad
          • 39;Sura Az-Zumar
          • 40;Sura Al-Mu'min "Or" Sura Al-Ghafir
          • 41;Sura Ha Mim As Sajdah "Or" Surah Fussilat
          • 42;Sura Ash-Shura
          • 43;Sura Az-Zukhruf
          • 44;Sura Ad-Dukhan
          • 45;Sura Al-Jathiya
        • Sura No 46 to 60 >
          • 46;Sura Al-Ahqaf
          • 47;Sura Mohammad
          • 48;Sura Al-Fath
          • 49;Sura Al-Hujurat
          • 50;Sura Qaf
          • 51;Sura Adh-Dhariyat
          • 52;Sura At-Tur
          • 53;Sura An-Najm
          • 54;Sura Al-Qamar
          • 55;Sura Ar-Rahman
          • 56;Sura Al-Waqia
          • 57;Sura Al-Hadid
          • 58;Sura Al-Mujadilah
          • 59;Sura Al-Hashr
          • 60;Sura Al-Mumtahina
        • Sura No 61 to 75 >
          • 61;Sura As-Saff
          • 62;Sura Al-Jumuah
          • 63;Sura Al-Munafiqun
          • 64;Sura At-Taghabun
          • 65;Sura At-Talaq
          • 66;;Sura At-Tahrim
          • 67;Sura Al-Mulk
          • 68;Sura Al-Qalam\Nun
          • 69;Sura Al-Haqqa
          • 70;Sura Al-Maarij
          • 71;Sura Nuh
          • 72;Sura Al-Jinn
          • 73;Sura Al-Muzzammil
          • 74;Sura Al-Muddathir
          • 75;Sura Al-Qiyama
        • Sura No 76 to 90 >
          • 76;Sura Al-Insan\Ad-Dahr
          • 77;Sura Al-Mursalat
          • 78;Sura An-Naba
          • 79;Sura Al-Naziat
          • 80;Sura Abasa
          • 81;Sura At-Takwir
          • 82;Sura Al-Infitar
          • 83;Sura Al-Mutaffifin
          • 84;Sura Al-Inshiqaq
          • 85;Sura Al-Burooj
          • 86;Sura At-Tariq
          • 87;Sura Al-Ala
          • 88;Sura Al-Ghashiya
          • 89;Sura Al-Fajr
          • 90;Sura Al-Balad
        • Sura No 91 to 100 >
          • 91;Sura Ash-Shams
          • 92;Sura Al-Lail
          • 93;Sura Ad-Dhuha
          • 94;Sura Al-Inshirah
          • 95;Sura At-Tin
          • 96;Sura Al-Alaq
          • 97;Sura Al-Qadr
          • 98;Sura Al-Bayyina
          • 99;Sura Az-Zalzala
          • 100;Sura Al-Adiyat
        • Sura No 101 to 114 >
          • 101;Sura Al-Qaria
          • 102;Sura At-Takathur
          • 103;Sura Al-Asr
          • 104;Sura Al-Humaza
          • 105;Sura Al-Fil
          • 106;Sura Quraysh
          • 107;Sura Al-Ma'un
          • 108;Sura Al-Kawthar
          • 109;Sura Al-Kafirun
          • 110;Sura An-Nasr
          • 111;Sura Al-Masadd
          • 112;Sura Al-Ikhlas
          • 113-114;Sura Al-Falaq & Sura Al-Nas
      • Hadith >
        • Forty Sacred Hadith Qudsi
      • Biography >
        • Brief Biography of Hazrat Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
        • Parents Of Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
        • Umm-al-Momineen
        • Daughters Of Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H)
        • Sons Of Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
        • Companions of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) >
          • Rightly Guided Caliphs >
            • Brief Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq
            • Life of Umar ibn Al-Khattab
            • Life Of Uthman ibn Affan
            • Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib
          • Life of Al-Hussein Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib
      • Articles of Faith
      • Pillars of Islam >
        • Sawm\\Fasting In Islam
        • Zakat\\Alms-giving In Islam
        • Hajj\\Pilgrimage In Islam
      • Holiest sites in Islam >
        • Holy Kaaba
        • Al-Masjid Al-Haram
        • Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi
        • Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa
        • Dome Of The Rock
        • Quba Mosque
        • Masjid E-Zil-Qiblatain
        • Umayyad Mosque
        • Great Mosque of Aleppo
        • Imam Ali Mosque
        • Masjid Al-Kufa
        • Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Mosque
        • Imam Husayn Shrine
        • Al-Abbas Mosque
        • Al-Askari Mosque
        • Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
        • Imam Reza Shrine
        • Abu Hanifah Mosque
        • Zamzam Well
      • Festivals and Events >
        • Eid Milad an-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him)
        • Isra and Miraj
        • Shab-e-Barat
        • Laylat Al-Qadr
        • Eid ul-Fitr
        • Eid ul-Adha
      • Islamic Calendar >
        • About Islamic Calendar
        • 1.Muharram
        • 2.Safar
        • 3.Rabi al-Awwal
        • 4.Rabi al-Thani
        • 5.Jumada al-Awwal
        • 6.Jumada al-Thani
        • 7.Rajab
        • 8.Shaaban
        • 9.Ramadan
        • 10.Shawwal
        • 11.Dhu al-Qidah
        • 12.Dhu al-Hijjah
      • Divine Books In Islam
      • Wonders of Muslim >
        • Wonders Of Muslim (Mosque, Picture hyperlink)
        • 15 World Largest Mosques By Area
        • 15 World Largest Mosques By Capacity
        • Largest Mosque By Country In Terms of Area
        • Largest Mosque By City In Terms of Area
        • In Asia >
          • Middle East >
            • In Saudi Arabia >
              • Al-Masjid Al-Haram
              • Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi
              • Quba Mosque
              • Masjid E-Zil-Qiblatain
            • In Iraq >
              • Imam Ali Mosque
              • Imam Husayn Shrine
              • Al-Abbas Mosque
              • Al-Askari Mosque
              • Abu Hanifah Mosque
              • Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
              • Masjid Al-Kufa
              • Great Mosque of Samarra
            • In Syria >
              • Umayyad Mosque
              • Great Mosque of Aleppo
              • Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Mosque
            • Imam Reza Shrine
            • Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa
            • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
            • Al-Fateh Mosque
            • Saleh Mosque
            • Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
            • Grand Mosque of Kuwait
            • Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque
          • South Asia >
            • Faisal Mosque
            • Badshahi Mosque
            • Wazir Khan Mosque
            • Grand Jamia Mosque
            • Baitul Mukarram
            • Wazir Khan Mosque
            • Shah Jahan Mosque, Thatta
            • Bhong Mosque
            • Mohabbat Khan Mosque
            • Masjid-i Jahan-Numa
            • Jamia Masjid, Srinagar
          • Southeast Asia >
            • Crystal Mosque
            • Istiqlal Mosque
            • Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
            • National Mosque of Malaysia
            • Putra Mosque
            • Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque
            • Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
          • East Asia >
            • Id Kah Mosque
            • Great Mosque of Guangzhou
            • Taipei Grand Mosque
            • Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre
          • Central Asia >
            • Nur-Astana Mosque
            • Bibi-Khanym Mosque
        • In Africa >
          • Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi Mosque
          • Al-Azhar Mosque
          • Al-Zaytuna Mosque
          • Great Mosque of Djenne
          • Hassan II Mosque
          • Koutoubia Mosque
          • Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun
          • Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As
          • Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha
          • Mosque of Uqba
          • Uganda National Mosque
        • In America & Europe >
          • King Fahd Islamic Cultural Center
          • Sabancı Merkez Camii
          • Glasgow Central Mosque
          • Blue Mosque
          • Mosque of Rome
          • Qolsharif Mosque
          • Kocatepe Mosque
      • Wonder Of Muslims (Fort,Palace)
    • Islamic Pictorial >
      • Verse from the Holy Quran
      • Saying of The Prophet Mohammad
      • Wise Words
      • The Six Kalimas
      • Masnoon Dua
      • Sisala Azkar Masonna
      • Life of Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
      • Notes
    • Islamic Videos >
      • Verse from the Holy Quran
      • Saying of The Prophet Mohammad
      • Hamds and Naats
    • Islamic Sounds
    • Islamic Wallpapers >
      • Bismillah
      • Kalma Tayyaba
      • Allah
      • Mohammad Peace Be Upon Him
      • Eid ul-Fitr
      • Lailat al-Baraa
      • Hajj
      • Ramadan
  • World
    • Articles >
      • Geography >
        • Continents of the World >
          • About Continents
          • Asia
          • Africa
          • North America
          • South America
          • Antarctica
          • Europe
          • Oceania
        • New Seven Wonders of Nature
        • Earth's Oceans
        • Biggest Bodies Of Water....After Ocean
        • Longest Mountain Ranges Of The World
        • 10 Highest Mountains
        • Seven Summits
        • Volcanic Seven Summits
        • Eight Lowest Points On Earth
        • Lowest Point By Continent (Below Sea Level)
        • Longest River By Continent
        • Largest Lakes by Continent
        • Biggest Desert In The World
      • International Organizations and Groups >
        • International Organizations >
          • United Nations (UNO)
          • Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
          • Interpol
        • Regional Organizations >
          • Arab League
          • OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)
          • South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
          • Commonwealth of Nations
          • Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
          • Economic Cooperation Organization (E.C.O)
          • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
      • Extreme Engineering >
        • Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
        • New Seven Wonders of the World
        • Biggest,Largest Structures In World----Man Made
        • Tallest Structures In The World ---- Man Made
      • House of Records >
        • Biggest Bodies Of Water....After Ocean
        • Longest Mountain Ranges Of The World
        • 10 Highest Mountains
        • Seven Summits
        • Volcanic Seven Summits
        • Eight Lowest Points On Earth
        • Lowest Point By Continent (Below Sea Level)
        • Longest River By Continent
        • Largest Lakes by Continent
        • Biggest Desert In The World
        • Top 10 Largest Countries By Area
        • Top 10 Smallest Countries By Area
        • Top 10 Most Populated Countries
        • Top 10 Most Less Populated Countries
        • Biggest,Largest Structures In World----Man Made
        • Tallest Structures In The World-------Man Made
      • Festivals and Events >
        • Valentine's Day
        • International Mother Language Day
        • International Women's Day
        • Earth Hour
        • April Fools' Day
        • International Workers' Day
        • Mother's Day
        • World No Tobacco Day
        • Father's Day
        • International Friendship Day
        • Cricket World Cup
        • Summer Olympic Games
      • National Symbols >
        • National Trees
        • National Fruits
        • National Sport
        • National Birds
      • World languages >
        • Arabic
        • Balochi
        • Pashto
        • Punjabi
        • Sindhi
        • Urdu
      • Games And Sports >
        • Archery
        • Badminton
        • Cricket
        • Weightlifting
      • Scouting >
        • Boy Scouts
        • Girl Guides
      • Days and Months >
        • Days of the Week
        • April In History?
        • May In History
        • Calendar >
          • Islamic Calendar >
            • About Islamic Calendar
            • 1.Muharram
            • 2.Safar
            • 3.Rabi al-Awwal
            • 4.Rabi al-Thani
            • 5.Jumada al-Awwal
            • 6.Jumada al-Thani
            • 7.Rajab
            • 8.Shaaban
            • 9.Ramadan
            • 10.Shawwal
            • 11.Dhu al-Qidah
            • 12.Dhu al-Hijjah
          • Gregorian Calendar >
            • About Gregorian Calendar
            • 1.January
            • 2.February
            • 3.March
            • 4.April
            • 5.May
            • 6.June
            • 7.July
            • 8.August
            • 9.September
            • 10.October
            • 11.November
            • 12.December
      • The Solar System (Planets & Dwarf Planets)
      • Introduction and History Of Money
    • Pictorial Series >
      • Did You Know?
      • Wise Words
      • Landscape & Landmark
    • Videos >
      • Did You Know?
      • Universe
      • Human Body
  • Pakistan
    • Articles >
      • Geographical >
        • 5 Highest Peaks In Pakistan
        • Rivers In Pakistan
        • Deserts Of Pakistan
        • Lakes In Pakistan
      • Cities In Pakistan >
        • Islamabad
        • Karachi
        • Lahore
        • Quetta
        • Peshawar
        • Faisalabad
        • Multan
        • Murree
      • Places of Interest >
        • Mosque >
          • Faisal Mosque
          • Badshahi Mosque
          • Grand Jamia Mosque
          • Wazir Khan Mosque
          • Shah Jahan Mosque, Thatta
          • Bhong Mosque
          • Mohabbat Khan Mosque
        • Mausoleum >
          • Tomb of Jahangir
          • Tomb of Nur Jahan
          • Mazar-e-Quaid
          • Tomb of Allama Mohammad Iqbal
        • Walled City of Lahore
        • Pakistan Monument
        • Minar-e-Pakistan
        • Lahore Fort
        • Iqbal Manzil
        • Shalimar Gardens
        • Hiran Minar
      • Languages of Pakistan >
        • Urdu
        • Punjabi
        • Sindhi
        • Pashto
        • Balochi
      • Mode of Transport >
        • Motorways of Pakistan
        • Karakoram Highway
        • Grand Trunk Road "Or" GT Road
      • National Events >
        • Lahore Resolution
        • Pakistan Day
        • Youm-e-Takbir
        • Pakistan's Independence Day
        • Defence Day
      • Scouting In Pakistan >
        • Scout
        • Girl Guide
      • Nishan-e-Haider
      • National Symbols of Pakistan
      • Pakistani Currency
      • Guinness Book of World Records In Sport By Pakistan
    • Pakistani Videos
  • Links
  • Feedback
  • Site Map
  • InfopediaPk blog

Shalimar Gardens

Picture

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
To see virtual tour of Shalimar Gardens please click on Word
Live Long Pakistan

The Shalimar Gardens (Punjabi\Urdu: شالیمار باغ), sometimes written Shalamar Gardens, is a Persian garden (Tradition and style in the garden design) and it was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in Lahore,Pakistan. 
The Shalimar Gardens are located near Baghbanpura along the Grand Trunk Road some 5 kilometers northeast of the main Lahore city. There are five geographical sources of inspiration for Shalimar Gardens: Central Asia, Kashmir, West Punjab, Persia, and the Delhi Sultanate.They are not to be confused with the Shalimar Gardens (Jammu and Kashmir).

In 1981, Shalimar Gardens was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Lahore Fort, under the UNESCO Convention concerning the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage sites in 1972.

History

Picture
Shah Jahan
The site of the Shalimar Gardens originally belonged to one of the noble Zaildar families in the region, well known as Mian Family Baghbanpura. The family was also given the Royal title of 'Mian' by the Mughal Emperor, for its services to the Empire. Mian Muhammad Yusuf, then the head of the Mian family, donated the site of Ishaq Pura to the Emperor Shah Jahan, after pressure was placed on the family by the royal engineers who wished to build on the site due to its good position and soil. In return, Shah Jahan granted the Mian family governance of the Shalimar Gardens. The Shalimar Gardens remained under the custodianship of this family for more than 350 years.
It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.Construction began in 1641 A.D. (1051 AH) and was completed the following year. The project management was carried out under the superintendence of Khalilullah Khan, a noble of Shah Jahan's court, in cooperation with Ali Mardan Khan and Mulla Alaul Maulk Tuni. 

Architecture

Picture
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

Picture
Blueprint of Shalimar Bagh, Lahore
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. 

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.