THE IMPERIAL PALACE LAHORE 129 



re-marry, after which, for more than twenty 

 years, she virtually ruled India. 



Loving beautiful scenery, flowers, and gardens 

 as Nur-Jahan did, under her sway the Valley 

 of Kashmir " the Terrestrial Paradise of the 

 Indies "-became nearly every year the summer 

 quarters of the Court. The journey over the 

 Himalayas was long and difficult, occupying so 

 much time each spring and autumn that Delhi 

 was practically deserted, and during part of 

 Jahangir's reign the capital was transferred to 

 Lahore, the city in the Indian plains lying 

 nearest to the mountain barrier. 



The royal palace in the citadel, like those of 

 the other Mughal capitals, was built in a series 

 of garden courts along the ramparts overlooking 

 the river. In the square in front of the Shish 

 Mahal, on one side of which stands the lovely 

 little Nau Lakha pavilion, there are the remains 

 of a very elaborate fountain, and several old 

 fountain-tanks and chabutras are still to be 

 found in the various other courts. At present 

 the palace is partly used as a barracks ; some of 

 the buildings have been restored, but, like the 

 royal palace of Agra, it sadly lacks its fountains 

 and its flowers. 



17 



