The year 1619 marked the transformation of a modest ancient garden into the Shalimar Bagh. Emperor Jahangir enlarged the existing grounds to create Farah Baksh, meaning the delightful, establishing a summer residence that would host the entire Mughal court for months at a time.
In 1630, Emperor Shah Jahan ordered Zafar Khan, the governor of Kashmir, to extend the garden. This expansion transformed the space from a private imperial retreat into a grander public spectacle and renamed it Faiz Baksh, or the bountiful.
The Shalimar Bagh divides the space into three distinct terraces rather than four radiating arms. The first terrace serves as a public garden ending in the Diwan-e-Aam, the second terrace houses the Diwan-e-Khas, and the third terrace is the Zenana garden.
The Black Pavilion is a structure of black marble built by Shah Jahan that serves as the architectural climax of the garden. This baradari is encircled by a fountain pool that receives its supply from the higher terraces, creating a double cascade that falls against a low wall carved with small niches known as chini khanas.
The garden features 410 fountains that supply the pools of the Diwan-e-Khas, the Diwan-e-Aam, and the Zenana terrace in succession. These fountains were fixed into large water troughs, creating a symphony of sound and movement that was designed to cool the air and soothe the senses of the imperial court.
The garden covers an area of approximately 31 hectares, with a length of 600 meters on the main axis channel and a total width of 500 meters. The layout includes trellised walkways lined by avenues of aspen trees planted at regular intervals, creating a sense of order and symmetry that guides the visitor through the space.