Among many beauties of art that adorn India, Mughal gardens has nothing short of a breath-taking view. It is rightly placed in the heart of the Rashtrapati Bhawan complex, enthralling anyone who walks into the official residence of the President of India. The remarkable period of the Mughal Empire unfolds its name again in the form of gardens that lives today with such liveliness. India and Pakistan have uniquely designed Mughal gardens that outdo their central Asian predecessors.

The Masterminds
In his memoirs, Babur-nama, Babur spills his love for gardens. Charbagh was the kind of garden that suited his taste but for India, this word formed a different meaning as it lacked the fast flowing streams. Babur, who founded the Mughal Empire also is the man behind creating the Agra garden, which is known as Ram Bagh.

Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the Mughal Gardens for Lady Harding. These gardens have touches of the formal Moghul style which blends beautifully with the British designs and European flowerbeds, lawns and privet hedges. The credit of growing shrubs, plants and trees is solely the work of W.R. Mustoe. By 1929, an oasis was created by the coordination of two men of genius. The garden has three distinguishing parts namely, The Rectangular, The Long and the Circular Garden.

The Beauty
Mughal GardensA perfect resort for enlightenment, the garden prides in more than 250 varieties of fine roses that blooms where they are planted. Indian marigold sparks its best with the 60 kinds of bougainvillea. Dahlias of different 13 varieties sprinkle colours of pink, mauve, golden rust, red, white, yellow and white striped which gives hues of shades to the garden. Lutyens also placed special Moulsari trees which are of Indian origin. The bonsai collection is incredible.

Like lotus leaves, the 3-tiered huge red sandstones stands to witness the four waterways from where the unique fountains romance with the garden. The alluring sight of the bed of roses, bougainvillea creeping on the scintillating pergola and the trimmed hedge of ingadulets give the Long Garden a view that of a vast carpet. Butterflies seem to find its home not far away from the Circular Garden as one gets the best view from the tiered flowerbeds.

The Mughal garden breeds everything that catches the sight, serenades the mind, and sounds that are always music to the ears. All that is in it captures one's senses. One of the greatest places to be is to dwell in the beauty of the garden.