The Shalimar Gardens was built by Emperor Jehangir for his wife Nur Jehan in 1619. The garden is built in 3 different terraces with fountains and canals lined with polished stones. On either side of the fountains are the huge Chinar trees The leaves of the chinar trees are just starting to turn yellow and fallen leaves yellow, orange and brown all beckoning the autumn.The center canal runs through first the terrace for the public audience(Diwan e aam) and the next terrace is for private audience with the emperor(Diwan e khas) and higher to that is the terrace for the royal ladies. Since the summer was over and fountains being repaired the gardens did not look its best but I could imagine how it used to be. The best part is the mountains which is seen in the distance . It adds to the calmness and romance of the whole place. The lawns are embedded with bright colors of flowering plants to enhance the beauty of the garden.
The black pavillion at the top of the garden has the famous inscription in persian meaning' If there is paradise on earth ,it is this,it is this,it is this' written by persian poet Amir Khusrau.
My painting posted today is a small attempt to memorise that paradise in my mind.
