The worthy and noble Moghuls, encouraged art and architecture which found expressions in the beautifully laid out gardens and mosques.

Moghul Gardens -

Shalimar - the pleasure of love

The garden was built by Mughal Emeror Jehangir in the year and called it " Farah Baksh" ( the delightful). Eleven years later Zaffer Khan the governor of Kashmir during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign extended the garden and called it "Faiz Baksh" (the bountiful). The garden was graded in three sections. The out garden known as the Diwan-I-Aam, the central garden the Emperor's garden called as the "Diwan-I-Khas" and the uppermost by far the best garden was meant for the Empress and her ladies. The romantic effect of numerous fountains in large tanks and central water channel, cascades, monumental pavilions, mighty chinars, lush lawns laden with colour and fragrance speak volumes for the taste of Great Mughals. The Garden covers an area of 12.4 ha.

Nishat - the pleasure of delight

The Garden of Delight, - the largest Mughal Garden on Dal Lake was laid out by Asaf Khan, brother of Nur Jahan, wife of Jahangir, in the year 1632 AD It is located on the shore of Dal Lake about 2.5 km to the south of Shalimar and commands a magnificent view of the Dal and Naseem Lake in the west and has a panoramic back drop of mountains in the East. The garden has originally 12 terraces. Enchanting central water channel, rippling fountains in large tanks and channels and sparkling cascades amidst bountiful colours, lush lawns and mighty chinars are principal features of this pleasure garden. The garden is spread over an area of about 20 ha.

Cheshmashahi - garden of royal spring

The Garden of the Royal Spring was built in 1642 A.D, by Ali Mardan Khan, the governor of Kashmir during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. It is a terraced garden situated 9 kms away from Srinagar and about 2 kms up from the main road in a mountain side over-looking Dal, Naseem and Nageen Lake. Fountains play in the central water channel starting from the famed spring located in the upper most terrace. It is famous for its pure, sparkling and cool mineral water.

Pari Mahal

The name Pari Mahal appears to be a distorted version of "PeerMahal" built by Prince Dara shikoh, eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan in the year 1640 A.D. for his tutor Peer Mullah Shah. It is a seven teraced garden located on the base of Zabervan mountain range over looking city of Srinagar and the lakes. The Mahal built for the meditation and summer residence of Peer Mullah Shah is a replica of typical Moughal architecture in garden layout, water effects ete. Till recently it was in ruins, but has now been restored to its glory with captivating terraced gardens, motorable road upto the garden and wounderful lighting effects which look marvellous and captivating at night. It covers and area of about 3.2 ha.

Achabal

The garden was probably laid by Nur Jahan wife of Jahangir in 1620 A.D. It is situated about 62 kms south of Srinagar on the old srinagar - Jammu route. It is watered by an ancient and once sacred spring from the adjacent hillside. All its pavillions are Kashmiri in character. Fountains in water channels spray and splash and cascades tumble presenting a romantic view. The garden covers and area of about 6.20 ha.

Verinag

The present name Verinag is probably the deformed version of Virah-Nag in Sanskrit. It is located about 61 kms south of Srinagar at the foot of Bahinal hill range. The gushing spring of Verinag is the source of the river Jhelum in Kashmir. Mughal Emperor Jahangir was highly impressed by the natural beauty of this irregular spring and its surroundings and built an octagonal tank of sculptured stones around it in 1620 AD. Seven years later his son Shah Jahan constructed cascades and fountains in straight lines in front of the spring and also hot and cold baths of which only ruins are now left. Its bountiful gushing water, open lawns, mighty chinars, colour and fragrance of flowers against the backdrop of a green forest are the bounties of the nature one can be proud of. The garden covers an area of about 5.3 ha.

Botanic Garden

Cheshmashahi - The beautiful landscape garden was born in the year 1969 on the enchanting mountain slopes near famous cheshmashahi Mughal Garden overlooking the panorama of the lakes. This pleasure garden complex extends over an area of about 80 hectares and consists of several styles of gardens with unending joy for seekers of solace on informal and undulated landscape. It comprises of four components - Recreational Botanic Garden, Research Section, Plant Introduction section and an orchard area. The garden provides a 3.5 kms joyride, a pleasant water garden, inspiring colour feast of spring, fragrance and colour pageantry of roses, riot of colours in summer, changing autumn colours and captivating twitter of water fowls.

Kokernag - The pleasure garden of serene beauty against the backdrop of high and thick pine forests existed earlier on about 0.8 ha., in front of the famous springs of pure, cool mineral water. In 1969 the garden was extended to an area of about 26 ha. And converted into a Botanic garden besides being a pleasure garden. New lawns have been laid and about one lakh ornamental plants, trees, bushes, roses, as well as flora from the wild niches of higher range has been planted. A separate section comprising of wild flora of the valley is maintained in this garden. Modern effects like Japanese bridges over the gushing water stream, water ponds, live garden seats, topiary work etc are points of attraction the garden.