Evolution and

Development of
Landscape during the
Mughal period in India.

Soumini, Dhar, 3-D, 2019, SSAA, 160BARCHI163

2019
ABSTRACT:

The identity of a society and its culture can be represented through its distinctive form of
architecture. Thus, this is the interfacing component, in terms of design, for transferring meaning
and identity to the nation and the further generations to come. Persian gardens have evolved
throughout history and have been reshaped with regard to the culture and beliefs of the society. The
intent of this research is to develop a fresh synthesis of understanding the transformation of a
Persian gardens in India, during the Mughal Reign, and the changing concept of cultural spaces
represented by gardens. It would focus towards the origination and development of gardens in
Indian subcontinent and the significance of this element in both the styles, the original and
transformed. This research would also retrace the evolution of Mughal garden arts from their
antecedents in fifteenth-century Central Asia, through the expansion of the Mughal empire in the
sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, and its ultimate collapse in the mid-nineteenth century.
I. INTRODUCTION:

Gardens have generally been considered as worldly paradise but at the same time they were the
manifestation of political ascendancy and power. The history of garden architecture in India dates
back to the Vedic period, when nature was realized as an element of aesthetical factor, and gradually
became a part of the architecture and usually acted as a space for recreation and retrospection.
Though more attention was always provided towards the man-made architecture rather than the
naturally present landscape around it, it was until the 6th century, when the Persian gardening
methods evolved. Persians realized that the beauty of nature incorporated into buildings and act as a
„paradise‟ would provide a pleasant result. And this simple idea of an ideal garden evolved into a
complex systematic gardening layout which still has a long lasting impression in the history of
gardens in the world. The origin of the English word 'paradise' can be traced back via the Latin and
the Greek to the Old Persian paira (around) and daeza (wall), and so has its roots in the simple
concept of a walled garden (Moynihan 1979).

Paradise gardens, which were constructed in Central and southern Asia during the fifteenth
throughout till eighteenth centuries constitute as one of the most distinguished chapters in the
history of garden and landscape. The Mughal gardens have been coined the term "charbagh" or the
four squares gardens. At the scale of an individual garden, this typology of gardens has likewise
evoked a common spatial image – square enclosures, symmetrically divided into four equal parts
delineated by slightly elevated walks and water channels that create the garden type. In addition to its
iconic form, the char bagh has a strong symbolic association with paradise gardens, “gardens
underneath which rivers flow,” that await all faithful Muslims who have done good works at the Day
of Judgment.” (Johnstone,2003)

Garden in Mughal India was conceived not merely as an „image of paradise‟ or simply a „place of
pleasure‟, rather as a center of multi-faceted activities. The charbagh stood as a benchmark for
gardens due to its advantages as not only aesthetics but also containing design value which generated
climatic responses. Though, Mughal gardens were immensely influenced through political
movements, yet they remain one of the crucial garden typologies in an urban space. Although the
Mughals did construct rectilinear enclosed gardens with paradisiacal symbolism, the charbagh had a
range of forms and was complemented by other major garden forms that included irregular and
terraced sites as well. These garden typologies could be seen vastly in the northern region of India,
where the Mughal Raj prevailed. Even after the declination of Mughal power, the garden impulse in
the northern region of India and others continued to develop further transforming into colonial
style gardens. While retaining the overall Mughal geometry, they took on selected asymmetrical
forms, elaborate parterres, and exquisite water features. These gardens were further characterized by
increasing articulation of ornamental details. What they lost in spatial scale and imperial allusion,
they sought to regain through heightened intimacy and taste. The intend of this research is to
analyze the synthesis of the evolution of a charbagh in India, and the major transformations it
underwent in different regions, with a close focus on the landscaping patterns and geometry, and to
study the evolution of Mughal garden in Northern India.
II. AIM:

To study the evolution and development of a Paradise garden in India followed by the
characteristics of landscape design features in different regions of Northern India and the ideology
behind these developments.

III. OBJECTIVES

1. To establish the background idea of Paradise gardens and its relevance in architecture.
2. To study the development of the Persian Charbagh in India by the Mughals and the reason of
bringing this garden typology.
3. To understand the association of these gardens with politics and climatic responses.
4. To examine the importance of natural space or a landscape in Indian context prior to the influence
of the Mughals.
5. To analyze the various garden typologies in the different regions of India under the Mughal rule.
6. To have an overview of the „idea‟ of a garden in Indian subcontinent before, during and after the
Mughal Raj.

IV. METHODOLOGY:

The initial requirement of this study is to examine the characteristics of Mughal garden and its
significant role as an element of landscape, not just for the aesthetics in geometry and patterns, but
also as a specific symbol, for representing a society. Following this procedure, we would understand
how a garden was considered as a cultural identity and a symbol for its people. We would be able to
comprehend the philosophy of creation of a Persian charbagh in relation to the design and
architecture.

Through a consistent study of Pahari and Nagaur style paintings, specifically the paintings of
Ramayana from the Jodhpur collection, it will become easier to analyze the representation of nature
during the 16th to 19th century in paintings in India and we would have a clearer understanding of
how the Rajput's perceived the importance of a garden and in comparison, how the Mughals
perceived the garden as. This would help to create a drastic comparison between the two typologies
of the Mughal garden. Furthermore, through the method of case study areas in northern region of
India, which consist of a strong influence of Persian charbagh garden, and the forts located in old
Delhi and Agra, which consist of Persian gardens, we will document the styles of gardens in both
the styles of architecture and comprehend the similarities and adapted features from one another

After analyzing the important aspects of the different styles of gardens, we can try to understand the
construction methods of the architecture of a Mughal garden and an initiation for deriving a
relationship between the symbolism of elements of the gardens, through literature and case studies
to understand that the developed style containing features and symbols which were similar yet
different from the original Persian charbagh.

V. LIST OF CONTENTS

CHAPTERS :

CHAPTER 1: THE IDENTITY OF A PERSIAN CHARBAGH

a. Origin of the design of a paradise.
b. Recognizing the physical role and impact of Persian charbagh.
c. Utilization of gardens as a recreational space.
d. Development of a new architectural ideogram.

CHAPTER 2: DEVELOPMENT OF PERSIAN CHARBAGH BY MUGHALS

IN INDIA
a. The emergence of the Persian charbagh in central Asia
b. The political background of the development of the landscape typology
c. Influence of cultures: Invasions and Adaptations
d. The “four-square” garden adaptation by Mughals in the 15th century.
e. Various transformations of gardens to adapt to particular functions.
 CHAPTER 3: TRANSFORMATION OF A MUGHAL GARDEN IN
DIFFERENT REGIONS OF INDIAN
a. Visualization of nature prior to the advent of Persian charbagh in India
through Rajput paintings.
b. The idea of the language of charbagh according to each region
c. An amalgamation of different cultural identities influencing garden architecture.
i. Study of fort architecture in Nagaur.
ii. Study of fort architecture in Amber.
d. Understanding the major transformations taken place during the period of Rana
Ratan Singh II.

VI. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS:

1. Scope

The scope of this study would primarily focus on primitive representation of gardens
and landscape features in Northern region of Indian under Mughal influence
(Northern India and Lahore) and significantly the study of the typology of gardening
systems as a derivation of Mughal Charbagh system in these regions and the political
reasons behind them. The study will be focusing on the time period when the
Mughal rule prevailed in India (15th to late 18th century).

2. Limitations

The study will be containing limited research on architectural design values other
than landscape since the study primarily focuses on the landscape like a component
of architecture. The research will not be highlighting the key Persian features of
gardens and landscapes in areas other than Central Asia.
VII. LITERATURE REVIEW

“the Water Garden" by Geddes Brown, Leslie, provides an in-depth vision of the
traditional gardening systems all over the world followed by a focus on the traditional
gardening systems and the incorporation of water as a master feature in the garden in
India. The author provides a detailed analysis and survey of different typologies of
gardens prevalent in the cultural contexts in South Asia. The importance of depiction of
a typical culture is discussed in these writings. He identifies the driving factors for a
successful design of a garden and the aesthetics associated with it which further
translates into the understanding the impact of cultures in the design of a garden.

“Gardens of India” by Bhagwat, Prakhar provides extensive field research of the

traditional gardening systems prevalent in India. In the fourth chapter, he explains the
evolution of gardens under different periods of rulers in Northern India and exemplifies
the reasons for the origin of such a shape a characteristic feature of landscapes. This
helps in understanding the various contexts and the emergence of the idea of a “garden”
or a landscape feature incorporated in architecture in different styles of architecture
prevalent in India.

Literally, the Charbagh or Chahar Bagh means rectangular gardens cross-axial divided
into four parts by pathway or water channels. According to Dickie, (1985) as he referred
to the book entitled „Some ancient garden of Lahore' by Dr. Dar, courtesy of Lahore
Museum, distinguishes four kinds of gardens: gardens attached to palaces or havelis,
gardens which serve as substitute royal residences, for the emperor to put up at when on
a journey; funerary gardens surrounding purpose-built mausoleum; and, lastly, pleasure
gardens with baradari in the middle. These derivations would help to understand the
various garden typologies which were adopted by the Mughals for garden architecture.
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 WEBSITE

7. About Histoy (2019). Features and Developments of Architecture during the Mughal Period.
Available at: [Link]
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[Link] [Accessed 2 Mar. 2019].