India has historically been called the ‘Golden Bird’. It has been conquered, ruled, and pillaged by foreign invaders throughout history. However, the irony remains that these periods of foreign rule have provided India with several architectural and cultural marvels.
Ram Bagh, also known as 'Aram Bagh' or 'Bagh-i-Gul Afshan’, is one such marvel in Agra. The garden was founded by Babur, the first Mughal emperor of India, and later developed by the well-known Mughal queen, Nur Jahan. Its essence and inspiration can be felt in these lines from The Holy Qur’an:
'Here is a Garden of the Paradise
Which the righteous are promised:
In it are rivers of water incorruptible;
Rivers of milk of which the taste never changes;
Rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink;
And rivers of honey purified.
In it there are for them all kinds of fruits;
And Grace from their Lord'
Join us on this early morning heritage walk across one of the first Mughal gardens in India, and delve into the history of how the Persian garden, or ‘Char Bagh’ (the ‘four paradisiacal gardens’), has evolved over time.
This guided tour is free.