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Ever heard of a Shalimar Garden in Delhi? Perhaps not. Just like its cousin in the Valley of Kashmir, there is a Shalimar Garden in Delhi too, laid by emperor Shah Jahan. The Archaeological Survey of India will soon start work to revamp this historical garden that today lies in North Delhi and restore it on the lines of the Shalimar and Nishat Baghs of Kashmir. The ASI is trying to turn it into a tourist attraction. It was in this Garden that Aurangzeb crowned himself in 1658.
The place looks desolate but it was not like this always. There were many buildings at the time of emperor Shah Jahan but all of them except Sheesh Mahal have lost into oblivion. Even the Sheesh Mahal that boasted of unspeakable grandeur in past is somehow depleted. The beautiful central pavilion built by Shah Jahan is now in a state of decay. Some of the original painted flower decoration and carvings are left to be admired. The garden, which has been renovated and re-laid in 2006 with imported grass and crystal clear water bodies, was earlier known as ‘AizzabadBagh’. There is no authentic account of it but it is believed that Shah Jahan perhaps built it in the memory of his mistress Aizzu’n-Nisa Begum. Aurangzeb used it as his summer retreat. European travelers such as Francis Bernier and Alfred Cotrou have mentioned that one Sir David Ochterlony, the British resident commissioner of Delhi, used Shalimar Bagh as his residence.
As part of the elaborate plans, the Shalimar Garden area is currently looked after by the Delhi Development Authority. It will be transferred to the ASI for upkeep and proper maintenance. Thereafter, a compound wall will come up around the garden and a new entrance will be made for visitors connecting the garden directly to the main road. At present, visitors have to go through the narrow lanes of the adjacent Shalimar village to be able to enter the garden.
All the work in the garden is being done with the cooperation of the local MLA and residents, who are keen to see the garden gets a facelift. The ASI blames the village locals for misusing the monuments particularly the 17th century Sheesh Mahal.
Says a senior ASI official, “The area of the garden has been encroached from all sides as it is located near the Shalimar village. The residents deface the monuments too. We plan to put up railings all around the garden.”
Added industry minister Mangat Ram Singhal, who is actively involved in the conservation plans: “The idea is to declare the entire Shalimar Garden a protected zone. This way, it will be more easy to develop the garden into a new tourist spot. Not many people come here right now but it has enormous potential for attracting visitors.”
There are also plans to carry out some excavations as a lot of old fountains and other historical structures are buried in the garden area.
Dating back to the 17th century, Shalimar Bagh is one of the most important Mughul gardens in the city. According to historians, it was once the first-night staging post for the Mughals on their way to Kashmir and Lahore.
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