Nishat Bagh is a twelve-terrace Mughal garden on the eastern bank of Dal Lake, laid out in 1633 by Asif Khan, brother of Empress Nur Jahan. It is the second-largest of the Srinagar gardens and the one with the best sightline: the terraces drop straight towards the water, with the Pir Panjal range closing the far end.
Duke Kashmir Travels is a Srinagar travel agency, registered with the J&K Department of Tourism as JKTA00003978 since 2011. This garden sits on the Srinagar sightseeing day of our Kashmir packages, which begin near ₹6,350 per person, two sharing a room.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- Twelve terraces, each a step down towards Dal Lake.
- Built 1633 by Asif Khan; his sister Nur Jahan already had Shalimar Bagh from Jahangir.
- Rectangular rather than square: the hillside forced a change to the Persian plan.
- Chinar and cypress line the central channel the whole way down.
- Allow 45 minutes to an hour; longer if the fountains are running.
- Sits between Shalimar and Chashme Shahi on the same lakeside road.
Who built Nishat Bagh, and why the name?
Asif Khan, brother of Empress Nur Jahan and father-in-law of Shah Jahan, laid it out in 1633. Nishat means delight, and the garden is also called the Garden of Bliss, Joy or Gladness.
The design is Persian in origin, but the slope down to the lake would not take a square charbagh, so the water channels were set in a long rectangle instead. That single compromise is what gives Nishat its view.
What will you see inside?
A central channel running the full length, twelve stepped terraces, stone-lined pools with fountains, and avenues of chinar and cypress on both sides.
The upper terraces were the private quarters, the lower ones open to visitors. From the top step the eye follows the water down the whole garden, across Dal and on to the snow line of the Pir Panjal.
When is the best time to visit Nishat Bagh?
April to October. Spring brings the beds into flower, and late October turns the chinars.
| Season | Months | In the garden | Worth knowing |
|---|
| Spring | March to May | Beds replanted, fountains switched on | Overlaps the tulip weeks at Tulip Garden |
| Summer | June to August | Full flower, shade under the chinars | Busiest hours are 11am to 4pm |
| Autumn | September to November | Chinar colour from late October | The photographers' season |
| Winter | December to February | Bare terraces, water off | Quiet, and the structure of the design is clearest |
How do you reach Nishat Bagh?
It stands on the eastern shore road around Dal Lake, roughly 11 km from Lal Chowk and about half an hour from Srinagar airport in normal traffic.
Every Kashmir package we run uses a private vehicle, so Nishat, Shalimar and Chashme Shahi are covered in one continuous drive instead of three separate trips.
What else is close by?
Shalimar Bagh is a few minutes north along the same road, and Chashme Shahi with Pari Mahal lie south on the ridge.
Tulip Garden and the Botanical Garden are on the same side of the lake, and the whole Srinagar list is worth a look before you fix the day. Kashmir tour ideas has the ready-made itineraries.
Booking this with us
Behind the itineraries: Duke Kashmir Travels, a Srinagar agency carrying tourism registration JKTA00003978 from March 2011, IATO membership ALD150928 and a seat in the JK Tourism Council. Details on About Us.
Give us the dates and the number of travellers; the itinerary and the quote come back the same day. +91 9018 44 0000, info@dukekashmirtravels.com, or the contact page.
About the founder
Duke Kashmir Travels is owned and run by its founder, Rayies Ahmad Zargar, who set it up in Srinagar in 2011 and checks these destination pages himself. LinkedIn.