Babur's Garden: A Mughal Oasis in Kabul

Bagh-e Babur, also known as Babur's Garden, is a significant historical site in Kabul, Afghanistan, established around the 1520s by the first Mughal Emperor, Babur [2, 5]. The garden is located in the Sher Darwaza hillside, southwest of Shahr-e Naw [3]. Covering approximately 11 acres, the garden is arranged in fifteen terraced levels along a central axis [2, 12]. Babur, who deeply appreciated nature, personally designed the garden as a place for recreation and pleasure [3, 5]. After his death in 1530, he was buried here, and the garden became his tomb [2, 13]. Over time, it evolved into a symbolic place for the Mughal dynasty [12]. Babur's successors, including Jahangir and Shah Jahan, contributed to the garden's development [3]. Jahangir ordered the construction of walls around all Kabul gardens and the placement of a headstone at Babur's grave [3]. Shah Jahan erected a marble screen around the tomb and built a mosque on the terrace below in 1638 [3]. In the late 19th century, Amir Abdur Rahman Khan constructed a pavilion and residence for his wife, Bibi Halima; this Queen's Palace was destroyed during the wars of the 1990s and later renovated by the Agha Khan Foundation [2]. In 1933, the garden was converted into a public recreation space with pools and fountains [3]. Extensive restoration efforts began in 2002 under the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, revitalizing the site [5]. Today, visitors can explore the terraced lawns, historic architecture, and panoramic city views [4]. The garden also hosts cultural and artistic festivals [2].