Questions about Chashme Shahi

Short answers, pulled from the story.

Who discovered the spring that became Chashme Shahi?

Rupa Bhawani, a Kashmiri Pandit woman of the Sahib clan, discovered the freshwater spring in the Zabarwan Range and named it Chashme Sahibi. This spring was believed to possess medicinal properties before the site became a Mughal garden.

When was Chashme Shahi built and by whom?

The Mughal governor Ali Mardan Khan transformed the site into a formal garden in 1632 at the command of Emperor Shah Jahan. The emperor commissioned the garden as a gift for his eldest son, Prince Dara Shikoh.

Where is Chashme Shahi located and what are its dimensions?

Chashme Shahi is located in Srinagar within the Zabarwan Range and spans 108 meters in length and 38 meters in width. The garden covers one acre of land and is the smallest of the three Mughal gardens in Srinagar.

Why is the spring at Chashme Shahi famous?

The spring is famous for its believed medicinal properties that drew attention from across the region. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, regularly had the spring's water transported to Delhi for his personal use.

How is the water structured within the terraces of Chashme Shahi?

The spring flows through three distinct terraces with water cascading down ramps known as chadar from the first terrace to the second. The lowest terrace features a square pool with five fountains that forms the garden's entrance.