Pari Mahal, ,

The Pari Mahal garden is located atop the Zebanwan Mountain, near Dal Lake, in Srinagar. The place is situated in the midst of greenery and is surrounded by lush green trees and flowers on all sides. The gardens were established in the mid 1600s on the ruins of a Buddhist Monastery by Prince Dara Shikoh who was beheaded in 1659 by order of his brother Aurangzeb.

Pari Mahal which was once also used as an observatory for imparting education on astrology and astronomy, is different from most of the other Mughal gardens in Kashmir, as it contains no water cascades or chadars (ramps transferring water from one terrace to another). The visitors are welcomed into the garden by a beautiful domed double archway. There are seven terraces in the garden each connected and at each corner of the terrace is a flight of steps leading to the lower terrace, all measuring the same. The topmost terrace contains a reservoir which got its water from a spring that has since gone dry. The sixth and the fifth terrace each contain a water tank which is believed to have been filled using an underground system of pipes. The fourth terrace is in a better shape than the above two and has uniform arches and recesses decorating the walls. The lower terraces are very modestly built which leads to the belief that the topmost terraces were reserved for the prince.

Besides the magnificent architecture of the terraces there are many species of flowers and trees planted all over the place that lend it a very calm and serene feel. Another thing that makes Pari Mahal a big tourist attraction is the view it offers. The place gives a magnificent view of the Dal Lake and the chinar trees of the surrounding area. Tourists enjoy the view so much so that they take it in from every level of the terrace in the garden.

The summers are pleasant and ideal for sightseeing with the temperatures lying in the range of 15 – 30 degrees. Winters last from November to February and are generally very cold with temperatures falling to as low as 0 degrees and might experience heavy snowfall.

The best time to the visit Pari Mahal is from the month of April to October.