164 GARDENS OF THE DAL LAKE 



sisting of two shallow terraces with the Diwan-i- 

 Khas (the Hall of Private Audience) in the 

 centre. The buildings have been destroyed, but 

 their carved stone bases are left, as well as a fine 

 platform surrounded by fountains. On the north- 

 west boundary of this enclosure are the royal 

 bathrooms. 



At the next wall, the little guard-rooms that 

 flank the entrance to the ladies' garden have been 

 rebuilt in Kashmir style on older stone bases. 

 Here the whole effect culminates with the beauti- 

 ful black marble pavilion built by Shah Jahan, 

 which still stands in the midst of its fountain 

 spray ; the green glitter of the water shining in 

 the smooth, polished marble, the deep rich tone 

 of which is repeated in the old cypress trees. 

 Round this baradari the whole colour and per- 

 fume of the garden is concentrated, with the 

 snows of Mahadev for a background. How well 

 the Mughals understood the principle that the 

 garden, like every other work of art, should have 

 a climax. 



This unique pavilion is surrounded on every 

 side by a series of cascades, and at night when 

 the lamps are lighted in the little arched recesses 

 behind the shining waterfalls, it is even more 



