EDUCATIONAL TOUR REPORT

Submitted by

[ A.ARSATH RAHMAN ]

(110217251015)

In partial fulfilment for the award of the degree

of

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

AALIM MUHAMMED SALEGH ACADEMY OF

ARCHITECTURE, CHENNAI 600 055.

ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

MAY 2021
SRINAGAR

Srinagar city, located in the heart of picturesque Kashmir valley, is one of the
most beautiful cities in Indian subcontinent in terms of natural splendor. The
city embodies the poetry of nature, which no human language can interpret in
words, natural beauty of the city not only lies in Majestic ice capped mountains,
invigorating climate, verdant woods, lively rivers and freshwater lakes which
form the landscape of this wonderland, but the tourist attraction equally lies in
its cultural heritage as well. The Mughal emperor Jahangir was so captivated by
the beauty of this land that he exclaimed “Gar firdaus, bar ruhe zamin ast, hamin
asto, hamin asto, hamin ast”. (If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, and
it’s here). It has achieved fame as a paradise on earth because of its scintillating
natural beauty numerous, Mughal gardens, crystal clear springs, and historical
monuments. Undoubtedly, one of the most attractive scenic spots of the city is
Dal Lake. It is the main source of attraction for tourists, it has been described as
the “Lake Par excellence” and “Jewel in the crown of the valley” of Kashmir. Dal
Lake is also known for its magnificent house boats which provide a fascinating
tranquil environment to tourists.
PARI MAHAL
The Pari Mahal garden is located atop Zabarwan mountain, southwest of Dal Lake and
approximately 5 km west of the center of Srinagar. It consists of six terraces aligned roughly
north-south, with its uppermost point at its southern end, and arched retaining walls
supporting the terraces against the mountain. Yet unlike other Mughal gardens in Kashmir,
this garden contains no water cascades or chadars (ramps transferring water from one
terrace to another). Its water tanks, which may have formerly contained fountains, are found
on different terraces, but they were filled via underground pipes rather than by a flow of
water above ground. The overall measurements of the garden are 122 meters long by 62.5
meters wide at its widest point; its terraces vary in width.

HISTORY

Pari Mahal was built in the mid-seventeenth century on the ruins of a Buddhist monastery by
Prince Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan. Prince Dara, a follower of the Qadiri order
of Sufi Islam, had a great interest in mysticism, and he built the garden for his Sufi tutor,
Mullah Shah Badakhshi. It was used as an observatory for the teaching of astrology and
astronomy. Prince Dara was assassinated in 1659 by his younger brother, Aurangazeb, who
went on to take control of the empire.

The approach to the Pari Mahal is via a recently made dirt road leading northwest, where the
garden is entered on its fourth terrace (counting from the bottom up). The visitor enters the
gardens through a domed double archway in the center of an entrance complex. Additional
rooms within the complex are entered from the garden side and from within the gateway
proper. Their use has been conjectured to include a hammam (north of the entrance gate)
and a kitchen (one of two chambers south of the gate). Traces of water pipes have been
found in at least three of the rooms in the complex, and the possible hammam is the most
highly ornamented room within the structure.

ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

The terraces themselves are accessed via sets of steps on their corners. Each flight of steps
measures 6.7 m by 1.3 m. At the center of the sixth, or uppermost, terrace, a water tank with
an arched wall is set against the mountain slope. This water tank, which
measures 3.43 meters long by 1.52 meters wide on the inside, received water
from a water spring located above it that has since gone dry. Previously, the
water entered the tank via an arched drain in front of the wall. From the sixth
terrace, a baradari, or pavilion, overlooks the lower terraces. This baradari is built
on two levels, projecting out over the retaining wall between the fifth and sixth
terraces; the upper level is entered from the sixth terrace, while the lower is
entered on the fifth terrace.

The fifth terrace has a water tank built of white marble and measuring 12 meters
by 8.07 meters; this tank is centered on the axis of the baradari on the sixth
terrace. Since no water canals are evident on the site, it appears that the tank
received its water through an underground system of pipes. The retaining wall on
the fifth terrace has twenty-one arches of rough masonry construction, which
decrease in size moving from the center of the terrace outwards. Above the
arches is a series of smaller arches, set back closer to the retaining wall. These
upper arches increase in size towards the outer corners of the terrace, visually
balancing the decreasing size of the arches below. Only the central arch of this
wall, which also forms the lower part of the baradari from the sixth terrace, is
plastered.

The entrance complex is found on the fourth terrace, which also features an
arched rough masonry retaining wall in somewhat better repair than that
between the two upper terraces. This wall is further ornamented with niches
within each arch. Unlike the retaining wall between the fifth a

and sixth terraces, the arches of this wall are all uniform in height. Above them, a
series of shallow rectangular niches, recessed behind the level of the arches,
decorates the upper part of the retaining wall. A plastered baradari with openings
on all sides sits on the edge of the terrace; its northern side projects beyond the
terrace retaining wall between the fourth and third terraces.

The lower three terraces are simpler in design than those above, which has led to
conjectures that the uppermost terraces were reserved for the prince. The third
terrace has a water tank which possibly was housed within a since-collapsed
baradari. This water tank also projects beyond the terrace wall, and is supported
by arcades on the second terrace below. The walls of this projection contain
niches on two levels: blind arcades on the lower level and rectangles on the
upper level. These rectangles are subdivided into small squares, probably
intended to host pigeons. The upper arcade here forms a colonnade that runs in
front of its retaining wall. The first terrace holds only a rectangular water tank, on
an axis with its centerline; it has no retaining wall below it.

After being left in a state of ruin for many years, the garden recently underwent
minor renovations, such as the plastering and painting of arcades on the retaining
walls. In addition, the side windows of one baradari were closed. As of 2008, the
garden was still open to the public.

CHASHMA SHAHI

Chashma Shahi or Chashma i Shahi (translation: the royal spring), also called
Chashma Shahi, is one of the Mughal gardens built in 1632 AD around a spring

by Ali Mardan Khan, a governor of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as per the
orders of the Emperor, as a gift for his elder son Prince Dara Shikoh. The

garden is located in the Zabarwan Range, near Raj Bhawan (Governor‘s

house) overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir.

HISTORY

The garden was constructed around the spring by the Mughal Governor Ali
Mardan Khan in 1632. It was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
for his eldest son, Dara Sikoh. In the east of Chashma Shahi the Pari Mahal (Fairy

Palace) lies where Dara Sikoh used to learn astrology.The garden is 108 m long
and 38 m wide and is spread over one acre of land. It is the smallest garden

among the three Mughal gardens of Srinagar; the Shalimar garden is the largest
and the Nishat garden is the second largest. All the three gardens were built at

the right bank of the Dal Lake, with Zabarwan mountains (Zabarwan Range) at
the backdrop.

ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

The garden presents Mughal architecture as used in different Mughal

gardens. The artistically built garden has Iranian influence in its art and

architecture and the design is based on the Persian gardens. It is built around
a fresh water spring, which flows through its centre in terraces. The

topography and the steepness of the land have led to the formation of the
garden. The main focus of the garden is the spring which flows down in

terraces and is divided into three sections: an aqueduct, waterfall, and

fountains. A two-storey Kashmiri hut stands at the first terrace which is the

origin of the spring. The water then flows down through a water ramp
(chadar) into the second terrace. The second terrace serves as a water pool

and a large fountain stands at its centre. The water again flows down through
a water ramp into the third terrace, which is a square five-fountain pool. It is

the lowest pool at the entrance of the garden. The visitors are received
through a flight of stairs on both sides of the terraces which leads up to the

origin of the spring. The water of the spring is believed to have some
medicinal properties. The former Premier of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru,

used to get the water of the spring to Delhi.

 ACCESS

The Chashme Shahi is located within the jurisdiction of Srinagar city, 14

kilometres (9 mi) in the northeast from the Srinagar Airport. It is adjacent to Raj

Bhavan (Governor’s house). The garden is connected by the Boulevard Road

which passes along the banks of the Dal lake. There are many hotels and

restaurants available for boarding and lodging near the garden. The garden
remains open for tourists from March to November. The best time to visit the
garden is from April to October. The garden is in full bloom during May and
June.

HARI PARBAT FORT

Hari Parbat, also known as Kooh-e-Maran, lies on the west of Dal Lake in

Srinagar, in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. This Mughal structure was built by an
Afghan Governor Atta Mohammed Khan in the 18th century. Later a long wall was
constructed in 1590 by Emperor Akbar. Surrounded by commendable structures

from all religions, this fort sits at the top giving a spectacular view of Dal Lake.
This fort is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and still stands

impressive with old apartments and tall pillars. Hari Parbat provides a top view of
Makhdoom Sahib shrine.
DAL LAKE

Dal is a lake in Srinagar (Dal Lake is a misnomer as Dal in Kashmiri means lake),
the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The urban lake is integral to tourism
and recreation in Kashmir and is named the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or
“Srinagar’s Jewel”.The lake is also an important source for commercial operations
in fishing and water plant harvesting.
The shore line of the lake, is about 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi), is encompassed by a boulevard
lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats and hotels. Scenic views of the lake can be
witnessed from the shore line Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh built
during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir and from houseboats cruising along the lake in
the colourful shikaras. During the winter season, the temperature sometimes reaches −11 °C
(12 °F), freezing the lake.
The lake covers an area of 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) and is part of a natural
wetland which covers 21.1 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), including its floating
gardens. The floating gardens, known as “Raad” in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus
flowers during July and August. The wetland is divided by causeways into four
basins; Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin (although Nagin is also considered
as an independent lake). Lokut-dal and Bod-dal each have an island in the
centre, known as Rup Lank (or Char Chinari) and Sona Lank respectively.The
houseboats are closely associated with Dal Lake which provides accommodation
to tourists in Srinagar.