Pari Mahal

Pari Mahal
Type	Garden
Location	Dal Lake, Zabarwan mountain Range, near Cheshmashahi, Srinagar
Opened	1650 AD
Founder	Prince Dara Shikoh, son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
Operated by	State Government

Pari Mahal (Hindi: परी महल ) or The Fairies' Abode is a seven terraced garden located at the top of Zabarwan mountain range over-looking city of Srinagar and south-west of Dal Lake. The architecture depicts an example of Islamic architecture and patronage of art during the reign of the then Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is five-minute drive from Cheshmashahi, Srinagar.

History

The Pari Mahal was built by Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh in the mid-1600s. It served as a library and an abode for him. Dara Shikoh was said to have lived in this area in the years 1640, 1645, and 1654. It was further used as an observatory, useful for teaching astrology and astronomy. The gardens have since become the property of the Srinagar government.

See also

• Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
• Mughal Gardens
• Dal Lake

Notes

• Brookes, John. Gardens of Paradise: The History and Design of the Great Islamic Gardens. New York: New Amsterdam, 1987.
• Kak, Ram Chandra. Ancient Monuments of Kashmir. New Delhi: Sagar Publications, 1971.
• Sharma, Suresh K., and S. R. Bakshi. Encyclopaedia of Kashmir. New Delhi: Anmol Publications Pvt Ltd, 1995.
• Temple, Richard. Journals Kept in Hyderabad, Kashmir, Sikkim, and Nepal. London: W.H. Allen, 1887.
• Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Ministry

Pari Mahal

A view of terraced structure of the Mahal  Pari Mahal at night Pari Mahal at night  the board at parimahal the board at parimahal  the details about parimahal-board ner parimahal the details about parimahal-board ner parimahal  upper layar a view upper layar a view  devadar trees at himalayas view form parimahal devadar trees at himalayas view form parimahal  the jail at the top the jail at the top  garden at parimahal garden at parimahal  the garden the garden  garden another view garden another view  srinagar-a view from parimahal srinagar-a view from parimahal  a distant view of parimahal a distant view of parimahal  view of dal lake from parimahal view of dal lake from parimahal  the tank at second floor the tank at second floor