Amongst all the gardens of Kashmir, the Shalimar garden is the most important and the second in chronological order. It is believed that the site of Shalimar garden was exploited in ancient times, by a ruler of Kashmir, Pravarasena. Pravarasena constructed here a pleasure resort in the sixth century AD calling it Shalimar, the abode of love. Later, Jahangir realized the importance and beauty of the site, and Shalimar was conceived by him as a paradise within a paradise.
Here in the centre of running water, a water pavilion, vividly called Jal Mahal, Khas Mahal, Aram Gah, or appropriately a Khwabgah, was built on a raised platform having rooms for rest and a covered open space. The verandah of the palace is resting on fluted polished grey columns having an ornamental base. The roof of the palace is made of wooden beams and planks to allow the free flow of snow. The rooftop is made of shingle.
Originally the entire complex of Shalimar garden was divided into two parts – Aam and Khas or royal area and zenana enclosure. When Shah Jahan ascended the throne he also added the buildings in the zenana enclosure and made them more attractive. After the Mughals, the Shalimar and its serenity were also cherished by Afghans and Dogras, though they did not maintain these edifices the way the Mughals did. Gradually changes occurred and the profusion of fruit-yielding trees, grapes, apples, almonds and peaches, dwindled. During the political turmoil, many structures fell down. Between 1960 and 1970 entrance baradaries were pulled down to make way for the lay visitors, totally disregarding the efforts of the Great Mughals who created the art of gardening in Kashmir, a Kashmiriat.
Inside the garden, traces of painting were noticed in the corners of the water pavilion, an indication that the pavilion was originally embellished with paintings. In these painted rooms, R.C. Kak noticed among other inscriptions the celebrated legend: agar firdaus bar ru-e-zamin ast, hamin ast o hamin ast o hamin ast – if there be a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this1.
1R.C Agrawal, Kashmir and its Monumental Glory (New Delhi: Aryan Books International, 1998), 179-181.