Mughal Gardens
April 2001 saw the official opening of a unique attraction combining water, vibrant planting and an architectural style developed from 1526 to 1858 by the Mughal Dynasty in what is now Pakistan and northern India. This is the first Mughal Water Garden to be built in the North of England and celebrates the skill and artistry of their original creators.
The Bradford Mughal Garden is not just a copy of a famous gardens such as the Shalamar Gardens at Lahore, but it is as individual as every other Mughal garden - using local materials and familiar plants that suit Bradford’s climate - it was designed to reflect the cultural diversity of the area and fit its location next to Cartwright Hall with its collection of contemporary South Asian art exhibits.
The eye-catching garden is a synthesis between Islamic and Indian architectural styles combining terraces and paths, grassed areas and avenues of trees divided by water channels, cascades and pools in a traditional rectangular design. Plants and trees with a Mughal or Indian connection were chosen wherever possible but the overall approach was to use planting that appeals to the senses - particularly sight and smell - and that creates a harmonious and restful atmosphere and hopefully delight the senses with colour and scent and the bonus of the sounds and sights of the glistening fountains.
