Chashm-e-Shahi in Srinagar, Kashmir || Another Architectural Marvel Commissioned by the avid builder Shah Jahan
Chashme Shahi or Chashma i Shahi (translation - the Royal Spring) is a Mughal Garden that has been built around a natural spring in the Zabarwan Range in Srinagar, Kashmir. The spring was discovered by the famous female saint of Kashmir, Rupa Bhawani from the Sahib clan of Kashmiri Pandits.
The Garden was built in the year 1632 by Ali Mardan Khan, who was an army general of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The Garden was built at the order of Shah Jahan for his favorite son Dara Shikoh, along with the lavish Pari Mahal, which is located about 2 kilometers from Chashme Shahi.
Related Blogpost - Indians don't need to plan Holland's Keukenhof Gardens, as we have our own splendid Tulip Garden in Kashmir, surrounded by Grand Himalayan Mountain Ranges
Like most of the Gardens on Zabarwan Range, Chashme Shahi too offers beautiful views of the Dal lake. When compared to the Shalimar Bagh or Nishat Garden, the Chashme Shahi is considerably smaller with only three terraces. It is spread across just one acre of land.
The Garden is built in terraced style, typical to Mughal Gardens. The water from the spring flows down these three terraces, through a two-storey Kashmiri hut on the top most terrace where the spring originates. Water from the string flows down a ramp (chadar) to the second terrace where there is a pool with a large fountain at the center. From the second terrace, the water flows down another ramp to the third and the last terrace. There is a five-fountain pool at this terrace.
The water of the spring, as is the case with almost all natural springs, is considered holy and medicinal. You will find many tourists filling their containers or drinking from the spring. The water is supposed to heal several illnesses.
Chashme Shahi is definitely a pretty place and worth a short visit. We do not know much about the healing properties of the water, because we haven't tried it. But it is conveniently located and en route to the beautiful Pari Mahal, so you should probably go and tick it off your list.
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