Shahdara

By the time Princess Jahanara arrived at the dwelling of her grandaunt Mehrunnisa, Empress Nur Jahan, the cool winter night had flung its cloak over the city of Lahore and the village of Shahdara.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

Shahdara itself was on the northern bank of the Ravi River, and here, some twenty years earlier, Emperor Jahangir had given the land to his favorite wife, Mehrunnisa, who had landscaped, planted lavishly, and created terraces, pathways, and fountains for a new garden so lush and pleasing that it had since been called the Dilkusha garden—that which gladdens the heart.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

By the time Princess Jahanara arrived at the dwelling of her grandaunt Mehrunnisa, Empress Nur Jahan, the cool winter night had flung its cloak over the city of Lahore and the village of Shahdara.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

Shahdara itself was on the northern bank of the Ravi River, and here, some twenty years earlier, Emperor Jahangir had given the land to his favorite wife, Mehrunnisa, who had landscaped, planted lavishly, and created terraces, pathways, and fountains for a new garden so lush and pleasing that it had since been called the Dilkusha garden—that which gladdens the heart.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

North and west of the walled city of Lahore—the main and massive stronghold of the Empire that Emperor Akbar had built and Emperor Jahangir had added to—lay the village of Shahdara.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

North and west of the walled city of Lahore—the main and massive stronghold of the Empire that Emperor Akbar had built and Emperor Jahangir had added to—lay the village of Shahdara.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

Shahdara itself was on the northern bank of the Ravi River, and here, some twenty years earlier, Emperor Jahangir had given the land to his favorite wife, Mehrunnisa, who had landscaped, planted lavishly, and created terraces, pathways, and fountains for a new garden so lush and pleasing that it had since been called the Dilkusha garden—that which gladdens the heart.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

By the time Princess Jahanara arrived at the dwelling of her grandaunt Mehrunnisa, Empress Nur Jahan, the cool winter night had flung its cloak over the city of Lahore and the village of Shahdara.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

It was a desolate land in many ways—as was much of the Mughal Empire itself away from the seat of the imperial court—even though Shahdara was just across the river from the greater, walled city of Lahore, and the imperial fort cut into the northwestern corner of the city.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010

It was a desolate land in many ways—as was much of the Mughal Empire itself away from the seat of the imperial court—even though Shahdara was just across the river from the greater, walled city of Lahore, and the imperial fort cut into the northwestern corner of the city.

Shadow Princess Indu Sundaresan 2010