Difference between TAJ MAHAL & SHALIMAR GARDEN

Submitted by :Moksha Bhatia

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What is a Mughal Garden?

• Mughal gardens are a group of gardens built by the Mughals in the Islamic style of architecture .

• This style was influenced by Persian Gardens and Timurid gardens

• Significant use of Rectilinear Layouts are made within the walled enclosures

Example of rectilinear layouts

Some of the features that can be determined by seeing previous slide are :

• Pools • Fountains• Canals inside the garden• Terraced lawns• Bright flowerbeds• Great pathways• Trees of various sort• Char Bagh planning and many more

Something more about Mughal Garden ….

• Its essential features included running water (perhaps the most important element) and a pool to reflect the beauties of sky and garden

•  Trees of various sorts, some to provide shade merely, and others to produce fruits.

• grass, usually growing wild under the trees

• Flowers, colorful and sweet-smelling

• birds to fill the garden with song• the whole is cooled by a pleasant breeze. • The garden might include a raised hillock

at the center• The Mughals were obsessed with symbol

and incorporated it into their gardens in many ways.

IntroductionTAJ MAHAL SHALIMAR BAGH

• Location : Agra• Shah Jahan built for

his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal

• Location : Kashmir• Emperor Jahangir

built his celebrated Shalimar Bagh, his dream project to please his queen.

Planning• Plan of taj mahal • Plan of shalimar bagh

Area• Out of the total area

of 580 meter by 300 meter of the Taj complex, these gardens alone cover an area of 300 meter by 300 meter distance and are based on geometric arrangements of nature

• The garden covers an enormous 31 acres plot along the Dal Lake. It has three terraces on 31 acres of plot with 587 m of length and 251 m of depth.

Hydrology• total of 24

fountains on all four sides

• The entire garden is divided into four parts, with two marble canals studded with fountains crossing in the center.

•  it has 410 fountains

• It has a central water channel. Shah Nahar is the main water channel in Shalimar which runs from the higher or top terraces to the lower or bottom terraces of the garden.

Trees• The trees of the Taj

garden are either that of Cyprus (signifying death) or of the fruit bearing type (signifying life) and even they are arranged in a symmetrical pattern. 

• The walkways of the garden are decorated with Aspen trees which are planted at a distance of 2 feet apart . Some of the varieties of trees that were planted includes: •ALMOND •APPLE •APRICOT •CHERRY •GOKCHA , etc.

Charbagh concept• The large charbagh (a

form of Persian garden divided into four parts) provides the foreground for the classic view of the Taj Mahal. The garden's strict and formal planning employs raised pathways which divide each quarter of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds.

• This garden built on a flat land on a square plan with four radiating arms from a central location as the water source. Main channel running through the garden axially from top to the lowest point. This layout left out the radial arms and the shape became rectangular, instead of a square plan of the Chahar Bagh.[

Pavillions• Two pavilions

occupy the east and west ends of the cross axis, one the mirror of the other.

• Pavilions at ends

• In the third terrace,  there are two small pavilions or guard rooms (built in Kashmir style on stone plinth).

• Pavilions at third terrace

No. of water bodies• There is one water

body in center depicting char bagh concept.

• There are 3 water bodies in a line as marked in plan.

Sketches

Thank you