Designed to imitate the heavens, Islamic gardens are lush oases of scent, water and sacred geometry. They are a cool place of rest and a reminder of paradise.
To celebrate the arrival of spring, here are 20 beautiful Islamic gardens from across the world…
1/ Gardens at Alcázar of Seville, Spain
These lesser known gardens are mesmerising in their own right. Built by the Moorish Muslim kings, today the Alcázar of Seville is considered to be one of the world’s most impressive examples of Mudéjar architecture.
Image credit @dralbarjas on IG
2/ Nishat Bagh (Urdu: نشاط باغ) Jammu and Kashmir
Built in 1663, it is the second largest Mughal garden in the Kashmir Valley. ‘Nishat Bagh’ is Urdu, and means the "Garden of Joy," "Garden of Gladness" and "Garden of Delight.
Image credit Pinterest
3/ Le Jardin Secret, Marrakech, Morocco.
Hidden within the narrow Marrakech streets is an extraordinary Islamic garden, its initial foundations dated from the 16th century, restored in 2016, it is now open to the public.
Image credit @thetravellergirl on IG
4/ Naranjestan Garden ( Bagh-e Naranjestan)
Narenjestan garden is one of the 9 Iranian gardens considered a UNESCO world heritage site. This stunning Qatar era garden was used for parties and receiving formal guests by Ghavam family and gets its name from its sour orange trees.
Image credit Repost from @iraneshghe on IG
5/ The Shalimar Gardens, Lahore, Pakistan
Gardens date from the period when the Mughal Empire was at its artistic & aesthetic zenith & are a popular tourist destinations. They were laid out as a Persian paradise garden intended to create a representation of an earthly utopia.
Image credit TripAdvisor
6/ The Great Mosque of Paris Gardens, France
The garden of the Mosque is inspired by the Alhambra in Grenada; and in the patio surrounded by finely sculpted arches. The mosque was built to pay tribute to the 100,000 Muslim fighters who died for France in the First World War.
Image credit Lamia Belkacem
Gardens at Cambridge Central Mosque
A harmonious balance between Islamic structure & relaxed English herbaceous and naturalistic planting. A concern for sustainability, biodiversity & insect-friendly planting is also a constant theme.
Image credit Pinterest
8/ Mughal Gardens, Rashtrapati Bhavan
Spread over 15 acres it has often been portrayed, as the soul of the Presidential Palace. It draws its inspiration from the Mughal Gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the gardens around the Taj Mahal & miniature paintings of India and Persia.
Image credit @himachal_pradesh_news on IG
9/ The Arab Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden
Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a center for botanical research and science education, as well as an oasis in the city of St. Louis. The Garden offers 79 acres of beautiful horticultural display.
Image credit Mansour Zeidan
10/ Topkapi Palace (Sarai) Garden
Built by the Ottoman sultans (after 1453) in a Byzantine olive grove on the Seraglio hill. The form of the gardens appears to have drawn from the paradise gardens of Persia with geometrical pools with flowers and garden pavilions.
Image credit @seeyouturkey on Twitter
11/ Fin Garden (Persian: باغ فین Bagh-e Fin) Kashan, Iran
Historical Persian garden. It contains Kashan's Fin Bath where Amir Kabir, the Qajarid chancellor, was murdered by an assassin sent by King Nasereddin Shah in 1852. Completed in 1590 it is the oldest extant garden in Iran.
Image credit @prime.persia on IG
12/ Dil Aaram Bagh, Jaipur
This Mughal garden was built in 18th century. It is situated on the bank of northern side of Maota Lake and down the side of the Amer Fort. It was constructed like a traditional Mughal garden pattern.
Image credit Pinterest/Unknown
13/ Chashme Shahi Garden, Jammu and Kashmir
A Mughal gardens built in 1632 AD around a spring by Ali Mardan Khan, a governor of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as per the orders of the Emperor, as a gift for his eldest son Prince Dara Shikoh.
Image credit Vargis Khan
14/ The Generalife Alhambra Gardens
The name of the Generalife comes from the Arabic Jinnah al´ Arif – Garden of the illustrious ones. As we enter the Generalife the first part is the Patio de la Acequia. This islamic garden has altered since the 13th century.
Image credit @_inspiredbytravel_ on IG
15/ Gardens of Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Absolutely stunning gardens surrounding the Islamic architecture.
16/ The Taj Mahal garden, India
A green carpet to the mausoleum. This Mughal garden is a four by four garden & is popularly known as Charbagh. The garden is a Persian form. It is believed that the Charbagh is the garden of paradise as mentioned in holy Quran.
Image credit Indragopal Bille
17/ Lalbagh Fort, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Renowned for its tales of love & loss that are more than enough to entertain history fans, the fort’s intricately mosaiced paths, verdant lawns, beautiful roof-top garden & elaborate water fountains have been attracting aesthetes for centuries.
Image credit Pinterest/Unknown
18/ Garden, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 2014
This garden was inspired by an original sketch by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, based on a Turkish carpet. The sketch was given to Emma Clark, who is an expert on Islamic gardens & she developed the final design with Dr Khaled Azzam.
Image credit Marianne Majerus, Andrew Butler and Andrew Lawson
19/ Contemporary Islamic Roof Garden, Aga Khan Centre
This garden uses the traditions of poetry & pattern to summon images of gardens from other places & times. Screens & panels provide protection from wind exposure immersing visitors in an environment with Islamic patterns.
20/ The Mughal Garden, Shangri La Museum
Inspired by the royal gardens found throughout the Indian subcontinent. Located off the entry courtyard, it features a plain white façade with an arched entrance similar to the adjacent entrance leading into the foyer of the main house.
Image credit hisour
Sources of Inspiration & Information