3N/4DKashmirNishat Bagh, Srinagar
The largest terraced Mughal garden on Dal Lake
- Type
- Mughal garden
- Location
- Srinagar, Kashmir
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Timings
- Daytime, roughly from morning to sunset
- Entry fee
- A small entry ticket, bought at the gate
- Best time to visit
- April to May for flowers, October to November for autumn chinar colours.
Timings and fees change from time to time. Please confirm locally before you go.
About Nishat Bagh
Nishat Bagh, the garden of joy, was laid out in the 1630s by Asif Khan, the brother of Empress Nur Jahan. It rises in a series of broad terraces from the shore of Dal Lake towards the Zabarwan hills, with a water channel running down the middle over small falls and fountains.
It is the largest of the Mughal gardens in Srinagar and the one most visitors see first. Old chinar trees shade the lawns, and flower beds are planted in season. From the upper terraces you look straight across Dal Lake towards the Pir Panjal range.
The garden is busy on weekends and holidays, especially in spring when the flowers are out. Most travel plans combine it with Shalimar Bagh, Chashme Shahi and, in season, the Tulip Garden, all along the same road. In autumn the chinar leaves turn red and gold, which is another good time to visit.
Things to do at Nishat Bagh
- Walk up the terraces along the central water channel
- Sit under the old chinar trees
- Look out over Dal Lake from the top terrace
- Take photos in local Kashmiri dress, offered near the gate
How to reach Nishat Bagh
- On Boulevard Road along Dal Lake, about 10 km from Dal Gate, about 20 to 30 minutes by car.
Tips before you go
- Go early in the morning to avoid weekend crowds.
- Combine it with Shalimar Bagh, which is a few kilometres further along the lake.
- Agree the rate for dress-up photos before you change.
Packages with a stay or visit in Srinagar
3N/4DKashmir
4N/5DKashmirKashmir Valley Highlights
3N Srinagar · 1N Pahalgam- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹15,900
per person
5N/6DKashmirClassic Kashmir Tour with Houseboat
2N Srinagar (houseboat) · 1N Gulmarg · 2N Pahalgam- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹19,900
per person
Nearby places to visit
Mughal garden · Srinagar
Shalimar Bagh
A formal Mughal garden built by Emperor Jahangir for Nur Jahan in the early 17th century, with water channels, fountains and a black stone pavilion.
Time needed: 1 hourRead more →Mughal garden · Srinagar
Chashme Shahi
The smallest of Srinagar's Mughal gardens, laid out around a natural spring in the 1630s, on a hillside above Dal Lake.
Time needed: 30 minutes to 1 hourRead more →Must visit
Lake · Srinagar
Dal Lake
Srinagar's best-known sight, with houseboats, shikara rides at sunrise and sunset, the floating vegetable market and views of the Zabarwan hills.
Time needed: Half day, plus a houseboat night if you likeRead more →Tulip garden · Srinagar
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
A large tulip garden at the foot of the Zabarwan hills, open for a few weeks in spring, usually from late March to April.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hoursRead more →Nishat Bagh: FAQs
Who built Nishat Bagh?
Asif Khan, the brother of Empress Nur Jahan and father-in-law of Shah Jahan, in the 1630s.
Which is the best Mughal garden in Srinagar?
Nishat Bagh is the largest and has the best lake views. Shalimar Bagh is the most formal, and Chashme Shahi is the smallest, with a natural spring. Most people see all three in one half day.