THE SHAH-DARA BAGH 131 



and pilgrims from the north arriving after the 

 city gates across the river had been closed. 



The tomb itself stands in the centre of the 

 second enclosure. Its model was that of I'timad- 

 ud-Daulah at Agra, but it is on an immense 

 scale, and the dome was either never completed, 

 or else has been since destroyed. The garden is a 

 very large one, in plan much resembling that of 

 Sikandarah. A series of raised fountain-tanks 

 form eight large chabutras encircling the mauso- 

 leum. The canals, though still narrow, are 

 wider than the tiny threads of water set in the 

 broad masonry paths at Sikandarah, or those of 

 Humayun's tomb, and are bordered by long 

 parterres lately replanted with cypress trees and 

 flowers. 



On fete days, when the fountains are playing, 

 the view through the great doorway of the serai 

 a building fifty feet high is very fine, and will 

 be still further enhanced when the cypress trees 

 have grown taller. Climbing plants are well 

 established, and wreath the walls and alcoves 

 with graceful garlands ; but the garden itself and 

 the fine court of the serai have the usual bare 

 look, and the avenues that bordered the wide 

 paths and the groves of trees on the grass plots 



