Shalimar Bagh also known as Shalimar Garden is a
Mughal garden located on the banks of
Yamuna river in
Delhi,
India. It was named as Aizzabad Bagh when the garden was laid by
Izz-un-Nissa wife of
Mughal emperorShah Jahan in 1653 as a tribute and replica of
Shalimar Bagh, Kashmir, laid by erstwhile Mughal emperor
Jahangir in 1619, the Shalimar Bagh of Delhi is now abandoned but still houses
shade trees, majestic
parterre and structure such as Sheesh Mahal and the garden pavilion.
History
In 1653
Izz-un-Nissa popularly known by the title "Akbarabadi Mahal" the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned Aizzabad Bagh ("later renamed as Shalimar Bagh") in the then vicinity of
Shahjahanabad (present-day
Old Delhi). Within the Shalimar Bagh, Shah Jahan constructed "Sheesh Mahal" (crystal palace).[1]
This pavilion was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Like most Mughal gardens, it had channels of water culminating in ornate tanks and several fountains. The layout is designed in the mughal style of chaharbagh style. The pavilion has patches of wall-paintings that survived till date.[1]
The Sheesh Mahal (crystal palace) is built on a high plinth facing the parterre with 25 fountains and the surrounding garden consisted of fruit orchards. The archways are circular, the central hall consists with a compartment at either end and an arched hall at the rear. Attached to the main building are vaulted rooms. Painting marks exist on the ceiling.[1][7][8]