Gardens of Bābur

The Gardens of Babur, located in Kabul, Afghanistan, are a historic park commissioned by Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. These gardens are a prime example of the traditional Mughal garden layout, characterized by high walls, geometric planning, and the char bagh (four-part garden) design, where water channels divide the garden into quadrants.12

Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur, was known for his love of nature and his practice of constructing gardens wherever he went. The Bagh-i Babur, or \"Garden of Babur,\" near Kabul, is one of the best-preserved examples, illustrating the formal quadripartite layout that became a hallmark of later Mughal garden design. These gardens drew inspiration from the Timurid garden traditions of Samarkand. Babur faced challenges in recreating the well-irrigated gardens of Central Asia in the drier conditions of northern India, often settling for locations near rivers and using underground canals called qanats for water.12