Srinagar Mughal Gardens: Timings, Ticket Prices, Distances & Guide

Srinagar Mughal Gardens: Visitor Guide for the Royal Heritage Parks

The world-famous Mughal Gardens of Srinagar are situated on the eastern and southeastern shores of Dal Lake along the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountain Range. Spanning a scenic lakeside stretch of 15 kilometers along Boulevard Road and Foreshore Road, these Persian-style terraced gardens—primarily Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Chashme Shahi, and Pari Mahal—represent the pinnacle of Islamic horticultural design and royal imperial heritage in Kashmir.

Built during the 16th and 17th centuries by Mughal Emperors Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Prime Minister Asif Khan, the gardens follow the classic Persian Chahar Bagh (fourfold garden) layout: cascading water channels, carved stone fountains (chabutras), terraced lawns, and giant century-old Chinar trees (Platanus orientalis) that burst into brilliant orange and crimson leaves during autumn.

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Mughal Gardens Timings & Ticket Prices (2026 Tariff)

All public Mughal Gardens in Srinagar are administered by the Jammu & Kashmir Department of Floriculture. Entry fees are standardized across the monuments:

Garden Name	Entry Ticket Fee (Adults)	Entry Ticket Fee (Children)	Summer Timings (Apr–Oct)	Winter Timings (Nov–Mar)
Nishat Bagh	₹24 per person	₹12 per child	9:00 AM – 7:00 PM	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Shalimar Bagh	₹24 per person	₹12 per child	9:00 AM – 7:00 PM	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Chashme Shahi	₹24 per person	₹12 per child	9:00 AM – 7:00 PM	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pari Mahal	₹24 per person	₹12 per child	9:00 AM – 7:00 PM	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Note: Tickets are purchased at the entry counters at each gate. Cash and UPI payments are accepted. Commercial filming and professional video tripods require separate municipal permits.

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Distance Matrix: How Far are Mughal Gardens from Key Spots?

Starting Point	Distance to Nishat Bagh	Distance to Shalimar Bagh	Distance to Chashme Shahi	Distance to Pari Mahal
Lal Chowk (City Center)	11 km	15 km	9 km	11 km
Dal Lake (Dalgate / Ghat 1)	8 km	12 km	6 km	8.5 km
Dal Lake (Boulevard Center)	3.5 km	7.5 km	4 km	6.5 km
Srinagar Airport (SXR)	23 km	27 km	21 km	23 km
Tulip Garden	3.5 km	7 km	1.5 km	3.5 km
Chashme Shahi to Nishat Bagh	5 km	9 km	—	3 km (uphill)

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Overview of the Four Major Gardens

1. Shalimar Bagh (The Royal Abode of Love)

Covering 12.4 hectares, Shalimar Bagh is the largest and grandest of the Srinagar Mughal gardens. Built in 1619 by Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Empress Nur Jahan, it features four magnificent ascending terraces. The highest terrace (Zenana garden) houses the famed Black Pavilion (Farah Baksh) supported by black marble pillars and surrounded by 410 bubbling fountains fed by the mountain stream of Harwan.

2. Nishat Bagh (The Garden of Gladness)

Covering 18.2 hectares, Nishat Bagh is the second largest garden, built in 1633 by Asif Khan (Nur Jahan's elder brother). Designed with 12 distinct terraces rising dramatically from the shores of Dal Lake toward the Zabarwan cliff face, Nishat offers panoramic vistas overlooking Dal Lake with Pir Panjal peaks mirrored on the water.

3. Chashme Shahi (The Royal Spring)

Built in 1632 by Mughal governor Ali Mardan Khan under Emperor Shah Jahan, Chashme Shahi is built around a natural fresh mineral-water spring emerging from the limestone hillside. Shah Jahan famously had the sweet, digestive mineral water of Chashme Shahi transported daily to Delhi for his royal drinking supply.

4. Pari Mahal (The Palace of Fairies)

Perched 3 kilometers uphill from Chashme Shahi, Pari Mahal was built circa 1650 by Prince Dara Shikoh as an astronomical observatory and library. It features seven stone-arched terraces overlooking Dal Lake, offering the finest sunset views in Srinagar.

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