Mehtab Bagh
Mehtab Bagh | |
---|---|
Type | Garden |
Location | Agra, Uttar Pradesh |
Coordinates | 27°10′47″N 78°02′31″E / 27.17972°N 78.04194°E |
Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
Created | 1652 |
Operated by | ASI |
Open | Year round |
Status | Open |
Mehtab Bagh (lit. 'Moonlight Garden') is a
History
The Mehtab Bagh garden was the last of eleven
Frequent floods and villagers extracting building materials nearly ruined the garden. Remaining structures within the garden were in a ruinous state. By the 1990s, the garden's existence was almost forgotten and it had degraded to little more than an enormous mound of sand, covered with wild vegetation and alluvial silt.[4][8]
Site plan
Inscriptions on the site of Mehtab Bagh mention that it adjoins other gardens to the west; these are called "Chahar Bagh Padshahi" and "Second Chahar Bagh Padshahi".[9] A compound wall surrounded the garden; it was made of brick, lime plaster, and red sandstone cladding. Measuring about 289 metres (948 ft) in length, the river wall is partially intact. Built on platforms, there were domed towers of red sandstone in an octagonal shape, which may have stood at the corners. A 2–2.5 metres (6 ft 7 in – 8 ft 2 in) wide pathway made of brick edged the western boundary of the grounds, covering the remains of the boundary wall to the west.[4] Near the entrance is a small Dalit shrine on the riverside.[10] Of the four sandstone towers, which marked the corners of the garden, only the one on the southeast remains. A large octagonal pond on the southern periphery reflects the image of the Mausoleum.[2] There is a small central tank on the eastern side. Water channels enrich the landscape and there are baradaris on the east and west. There is a gate at the northern wall.[2][3] The foundations of two structures remain immediately north and south of the large pond, which were probably garden pavilions. From the northern structure a stepped waterfall would have fed the pool. The garden to the north has the typical square, cross-axial plan with a square pool in its centre. To the west, an aqueduct fed the garden.[11] Other structures which are not in keeping with the original landscape plan include nurseries owned by private individuals, a temple in place of a gazebo, a statue of B. R. Ambedkar holding the Constitution of India in the courtyard, and relics of a water supply network to the park.[2]
Restoration
Restoration of the Mehtab Bagh began after the ASI survey, setting new standards for Mughal garden research. This included a surface survey, historical documentation, paleobotanical assessment, archaeological excavation techniques, and requirements coordination with the Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Planning.[12] Restoration began in the 1990s, aided by the Americans, during which barbed-wire fencing was added to the Mehtab Bagh site.[13] The garden's original ambiance was restored as ASI insisted on having plants that the Mughals had used in their gardens. Though the
A common list of plants was suggested. ASI landscape artists meticulously planned the replanting of trees, plants and herbage to match the original Mughal gardens, replicating the riverside gardens brought to
Archaeology
Archaeological excavations in the Mehtab Bagh site have been described as "setting new archaeological standards for Mughal garden research", using paleobotanical and excavations techniques.[12] Excavations to the extent of 90,000 cubic metres of earth, were carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in 1994. The excavations unearthed a large octagonal tank with 25 fountains, and a garden, divided into four compartments. Mumtaz Mahal's tomb was found to be situated halfway between the Taj Mahal complex's main entrance and the ends of the Mehtab Bagh site.[2] This is corroborated by a letter from Aurangzeb addressed to Shah Jahan in which he referred to the condition of the garden after the flood event in 1652 AD.
Black Taj Mahal
The Black Taj Mahal is a legendary
References
- ^ "Ticketed Monuments, Uttar Pradesh, Mehtab Bagh". Archaeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Avijit, Anshul (7 August 2000). "Nursery of History: The ASI's efforts to restore the Taj Mahal's fabulous medieval garden are bearing fruit". India Today Weekly Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Places of Interest". Mehtab Bagh. Official website of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Department of Tourism. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d "ANNEXURE Il GARDENS A. Mahtab Bagh A Development Plan". Archaeological Survey of India. 1996. pp. 16, 17, 23. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Mehtab Bagh". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-7112-2386-8. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-14-310265-6. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-74179-151-8. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ISBN 978-90-04-10872-1. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-84836-555-1. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ Leoshko, Janice (2002). "Book review - The Moonlight Garden: New Discoveries at the Taj Mahal". Persimmon - Asian Literature, Arts and Culture. p. 1. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-88402-269-5. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ISBN 978-81-7022-786-1. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ "Black Taj Mahal Myth". Retrieved 11 June 2013.