THE PLANTING OF A MUGHAL GARDEN 147 



cades, rising one above the other, was seen on 

 entering the enclosure, the various terraces were 

 only discovered as it were one by one as each 

 level was successively reached. The present ap- 

 proach, which leads directly through the rooms 

 of the Sultana's pavilion on the upper terrace, 

 certainly detracts from the general effect and 

 character of the gardens. 



To-day the whole enclosure may be described 

 as one large mango grove; and it is difficult 

 to say how much of the original Mughal design 

 is left. The Badshah-Namah, a history of the 

 Emperors compiled during Shah Jahan's reign, 

 mentions these gardens. The upper terrace is 

 described as a continuous flower-bed with plane 

 trees and aspens planted at regular intervals at 

 the sides. Under each tree a platform or grass 

 chabutra was built where the Emperor and the 

 ladies of his zenana could recline at ease. An 

 account is given of Shah Jahan himself planting 

 an aspen between two plane trees on the banks 

 of the Shah Nahr or principal canal. 



The description of the Shalimar given in the 

 Badshah-Namah is long but not very lucid. A 

 better idea of the planting of this and similar 

 gardens can, I think, be gathered from a con- 



