Question

Why do you think the fourth Terrace in Shalimar Bagh was reserved for the royal ladies?
Give the answer in 5 to 7 sentences .​

Answer 1

Answer:

The Shalimar Bagh was built not merely as garden but also served as the summer residence of the Mughals. ... The fourth terrace area is the Zenana Garden that was reserved for the royal ladies of the court with small guard-rooms on the entrance.

Explanation:

The Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar is considered to be the finest Mughal-style hill garden and was made by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619 for his beloved wife, Nurjahan. The Shalimar Bagh was built not merely as garden but also served as the summer residence of the Mughals. The water canals and fountains cover a major area of the garden and the gurgling sound of soothing water canals, lovely fountains, vibrant flowers and the old architecture makes this garden a wonderful place to spend a fine sunny day just relaxing or flipping over the pages of your favorite book.

The garden features a canal, lined with polished stones that run through the middle of the garden, which has four main areas/terraces. One is the lower area which is connected with the road, the second is the outermost area with a pavilion that was used as a public garden and also as the Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience. This area still has a small black marble throne. The third area is somewhat wider and has two shallow terraces with the Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of Private Audience in its middle.

The fourth terrace area is the Zenana Garden that was reserved for the royal ladies of the court with small guard-rooms on the entrance. This part of the garden is considered to be the most beautiful section as it has an exquisite marble pavilion that still stands amidst fountains and the surround of cypress trees with a background of snow covered peaks. Much of the buildings are now gone, but the carved stone podiums still reminds visitors of its glorious past.

The Shalimar Bagh with its numerous fountains, tree lined pathways, ancient architecture with stunning background of snow capped mountains forms an ideal picture perfect sight that is unforgettable.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Shalimar Bagh is during autumn and spring season (September-October and mid-Feb till mid-April). The Chinar trees change their colours from green to orange and yellow which gives a warm glow to the garden.

Trivia

The name Shalimar means ‘abode of love.’ Emperor Jahangir called it ‘Farah Baksh’ which means ‘the delightful.’

Timing

From April to October the garden is open from 9:00 am till 7:00 pm and from November to March it opens from 10:00 am till 5:00 pm.