NISHAT GARDEN OF KASHMIR

Nishat Garden happens to be the prominent Mughal Garden of Kashmir situated on Banks of DAL LAKE. The garden is a typical Mughal / Central Asian Garden in its lay out and fountain display. Designed by ASAF KHAN bother of NUR JAHAN the Mughal queen in 1633, It is just 8 kms from the Srinagar city . The ZABARWAN mountain range forms the backdrop of this picturesque garden while the gate on front opens towards the scenic DAL LAKE. The garden is terraced in the typical central Asian style with a beautiful water channel flowing right in the middle with fountains . .Within the garden are some ruins of Mughal period one of them is a double storyed Pavillion enclosed on two sides with latticed windows. There is small spring behind the garden known as GOPI TIRTHA ( Source RAJTARINGINI) . It is a source of supply of crystal clear water to the garden. The garden has CHINAR trees adding to its grandeur. It has blooming flower beds , fruit trees , fountains and is a favourite picnic spot . It finds mention in poems of scores of poets of the subcontinent and travel diaries of all the prominent and famous visitors to the valley. .The garden has been widely picturised by Hindi film industry . Mehjoor the wordsworth of Kashmir says

BAGHE NISHAT KE GULO

NAAZ KARAAN KARAAN WALO
( HEY THEE FLOWER OF NISHAT GARDEN
COME DANCING IN STYLE )
Ghulam Rasool Santosh the poet /painter from valley
 Myonuy Nishaata Shalamara
( My country is Nishat and Shalimar )
A Popular Kashmiri Song goes as under :-
BAHAAR AAV BHEIY SAMIKH NAVI PREIN DILBER
NISHATS MANZ KHULIV AZ HUSNUK DAFTAR

( The spring has come and all old and new friends have started assembling
Lo and behold ! the Nishat garden has opened its office of Beauty )

A K Mota

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