Aurangzeb's Sheesh Mahal

For other gardens of the same name, see Shalimar Gardens.

Aurangzeb's Sheesh Mahal Garden^{[1][2][3][4][5]} is a Mughal garden located in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, India. It was named as Aizzabad Bagh when the garden was laid by Izz-un-Nissa wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1653 as a tribute and replica of Shalimar Bagh, Kashmir, laid by erstwhile Mughal emperor Jahangir in 1619, the Shalimar Bagh of Delhi is now abandoned but still houses shade trees, majestic parterre and structure such as the Sheesh Mahal and the garden pavilion. The imposing palace known as Sheesh Mahal served as the site where emperor Aurangzeb’s coronation ceremony took place in 1658,^[6][7] giving it the current name owning to the emperor's fame and his exceptional reign. As there are other Sheesh Mahal's throughout India this one is distinguished by Aurangzeb’s name used as a prefix with it as his coronation ceremony marked a significant event there.

Shalimar Bagh, Delhi
Aurangzeb's Sheesh Mahal Garden
Shalimar Gardens, Delhi in 1814, showing the majestic Parterre and Diwan Khana (visitors pavilion) in the background.
Type	Mughal garden
Location	Delhi, India
Coordinates	28°43′14″N 77°09′15″E
Area	6 hectares (15 acres)
Opened	1653 (1653)
Founder	Izz-un-Nissa wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
Owned by	Archaeological Survey of India
Operated by	Archaeological Survey of India

History

In 1653, Izz-un-Nissa popularly known by the title "Akbarabadi Mahal" the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Aizzabad Bagh ("later renamed as Shalimar Bagh") in the then vicinity of Shahjahanabad (present-day Old Delhi). Within the Shalimar Bagh, Shah Jahan constructed "Sheesh Mahal" (crystal palace).^[8]

The Shalimar Bagh had witnessed events of historical significance such as in 1658 the coronation ceremony of Aurangzeb took place at the Sheesh Mahal. In 1738, Nadir Shah and his army encamped there on his route to Delhi. In 1803 Sir David Ochterlony a British Resident to the Mughal court at Delhi, selected Shalimar Bagh as his summer residence. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 a battle was fought in very place when Delhi was sieged by the troops of East India Company.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}

In the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmad Shah Durrani stayed there.

Design

This pavilion was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Like most Mughal gardens, it had channels of water culminating in ornate tanks and several fountains. The layout is designed in the mughal style of chaharbagh style. The pavilion has patches of wall-paintings that survived till date.^[8]

The Sheesh Mahal (crystal palace) is built on a high plinth facing the parterre with 25 fountains and the surrounding garden consisted of fruit orchards. The archways are circular, the central hall consists with a compartment at either end and an arched hall at the rear. Attached to the main building are vaulted rooms. Painting marks exist on the ceiling.^[8][14][15]

Further reading

• 

  Remains of the water channel leading to the fountain area

  The meaning of "Shalimar", The Express Tribune, Khaled Ahmed, 25 January 2012
• इतिहास की कहानी सुनाता शीशमहल, (in Hindi) Navbharat Times, 13 November 2010

Gallery

Shalimar Bagh gallery

• 
  The Sheesh Mahal at Shalimar Bagh, Delhi.
• 
  The Parterre and shade trees.
• 
  The garden pavilion.
• 
  The Badli Sarai were Caravanserai in the vicinity of Shalimar Bagh a kilometre away at Badli-ki-Serai.
• 
  A tomb Maqbara-E-Paik (messenger's mausoleum) 2.5 kilometres away in the vicinity of Shalimar Bagh.

See also

• List of parks in Delhi