Babur Garden: A Mughal Oasis in Kabul

Bagh-e Babur is a historic garden in Kabul, Afghanistan, established around 1528 by Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire [8, 9]. The garden served as Babur's final resting place, reflecting his deep appreciation for nature and garden design [2, 8]. After his death in 1530, Babur's body was moved from Agra to be buried in the garden, fulfilling his wish to be laid to rest in his beloved Kabul [2, 9].Designed as a pleasure garden, Bagh-e Babur later became a symbolic and venerated site for the Mughal dynasty [3]. His successors, including Jahangir and Shah Jahan, contributed to the garden's development [3, 4]. Jahangir ordered the construction of walls around Kabul's gardens and the placement of a prayer platform and inscribed headstone at Babur's grave [4]. Shah Jahan erected a marble screen around Babur's tomb and built a mosque in 1647 on the terrace below, which still stands today [3, 4, 12].The garden is arranged in 15 terraces along a central axis, offering visitors a magnificent vista over the Kabul River and the snow-covered mountains [3]. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) restored the garden, replanting trees mentioned in the Baburnama, including walnut, cherry, quince, mulberry, and apricot [4, 14]. The restoration also included rebuilding the garden walls and a caravanserai, which serves as a visitor center [14, 18]. Today, Bagh-e Babur is a popular recreational space for families and tourists, hosting cultural and artistic festivals [9, 18].