The Royal Spring
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| Type | Mughal garden |
| Location | Srinagar, Kashmir |
| Coordinates | 34°5′10.14″N 74°53′13.79″ECoordinates: 34°5′10.14″N 74°53′13.79″E |
| Area | 1 acre |
| Opened | 1632 |
| Founder | Shah Jahan |
| Owned by | Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department |
| Operated by | Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department |
| Visitors | 100,000 |
| Status | Open March–November |
| Website | |
History
Chashme Shahi originally derives its name from the spring which was discovered by the great female saint of Kashmir, Rupa Bhawani, who was from the Sahib clan of Kashmiri Pandits. The family name of Rupa Bhawani was 'Sahib' and the spring was originally called 'Chashme Sahibi'. Over the years the name got corrupted and today the place is known as Chashme Shahi (the Royal Spring)Establishment
Chasme Shahi
Architecture and the spring
The garden presents Mughal architecture as used in different Mughal gardens. The artistically build garden has Iranian influence in its art and architecture and the design is based on the Persian gardens. It is built around a fresh water spring, discovered by Rupa Bhawani, which flows through its centre in terraces. The topography and the steepness of the land has led the formation of the garden. The main focus of the garden is the spring which flows down in terraces and is divided into three sections: an aqueduct, waterfall, and fountains. A two-storey Kashmiri hut stands at the first terrace which is the origin of the spring. The water then flows down through a water ramp (chadar) into the second terrace. The second terrace serves as a water pool and a large fountain stands at its centre. The water again flows down through a water ramp into the third terrace, which is a square five-fountain pool. It is the lowest pool at the entrance of the garden. The visitors are received through a flight of stairs on both sides of the terraces which leads up to the origin of the spring. The English writer and traveler Amit Kumar wrote about the garden that "the little Chashma Shahi is architecturally the most charming of the gardens near Srinagar". The water of the spring is believed to have some medicinal properties. The former Premier of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, used to get the water of the spring to Delhi.Access
The Chashme Shahi is located within the jurisdiction of Srinagar city, 14 kilometres (9 mi) in the northeast from the Srinagar Airport. It is adjacent to Rajbhawan (Governor's house). The garden is connected by the Boulevard Road which passes along the banks of the Dal lake. There are many hotels and restaurants available for boarding and lodging near the garden. The garden remains open for tourists from March to November. The best time to visit the garden is from April to October. The garden is at full bloom during May and June.Ali Mardan Khan, the Kurdish governor of Kashmir appointed by Shah Jahan, the governor who built Chameshahi Garden, the supposed owner of a philosopher stone got from a dead snake woman, was one night strolling around Shalimar Garden when his eyes suddenly fell on Mahadeo peak and saw something, believed he saw Shiva himself. He went on to write a poem on his experience. No one was to later claim that he must have been smoking or drinking Shiva stuff that night. Huma Aslay Maheshwar Bood Shabshahay Ki Man Didam Gazanfar Charam Dar Barbood Shab Shahay I saw him at night, I am sure it was Maheshwar wearing a Lion skin on him, that night Zee Bhasamsh Jam-e-Bar Tan Zonarsh maar bar gardan Ravansh gang bar sar bood Shab Shahay His body covered in ash, a snake around the neck Ganga was flowing down from his hair, that night Say Chashmash bar jabeen Darad Zee mehroy roshan tar Say Karan Dast Bastah bood Shab Shahay Three eyes on his face, his face all illuminating for that reason, my hands paid him respect, that night B-dastash Aab-e-Kosar V-bekh Nakusee Nilofar Hilalash Taaj bar sar bood Shab Shahay Water of bounty, a lotus conch in hand his head was lit by moon, that night Uma Az Soi-la-Bingar Zi Sad Khursheed Taban tar Svarash Kulib-e-nar bood Shab Shahay Uma to his left, bright like a thousand suns their ride was a Bull, that night Ajab Sanyaas-e-didam Namo Narayan Guftam E-Khakay paye bosidham Shab Shahay I saw a strange renouncer, my lips uttered - Namoh Narayan I kissed the dust flying off his feet, that night Nigahay bar manay Miskeen Namood Az Chashim Tabaan Tar Makanash Laamkan tar bood Shab Shahay He looked deep into me with his shining eyes I saw his house in the uninhabitable infinite, that night Manam Mardaan Ali Khanam Gulam Shah-e-Shaham Ajab Israar may Beenam Shab Shahay I, Ali Mardan Khan, server of King of Kings I witnessed something very strange, that night
Ali Mardan Khan, the Kurdish governor of Kashmir appointed by Shah Jahan, the governor who built Chameshahi Garden, the supposed owner of a philosopher stone got from a dead snake woman, was one night strolling around Shalimar Garden when his eyes suddenly fell on Mahadeo peak and saw something, believed he saw Shiva himself. He went on to write a poem on his experience. No one was to later claim that he must have been smoking or drinking Shiva stuff that night.
Huma Aslay Maheshwar Bood
Shabshahay Ki Man Didam Gazanfar Charam Dar Barbood
Shab Shahay
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