Naseem Bagh Srinagar is the oldest Mughal garden around Dal Lake, laid out in 1586 and now inside Kashmir University. History, when to go, how to get in and how it compares with Nishat.
Want a quiet chinar morning?
Tell us your dates. We plan a Srinagar day with a local driver who knows the gardens.
In This Article
- What is Naseem Bagh and why do locals love it?
- Naseem Bagh history: from Akbar's grove to a university campus
- When is the best time to visit Naseem Bagh Srinagar?
- How do you get into Naseem Bagh?
- Naseem Bagh vs Nishat Bagh: which chinar garden suits you?
- What else is near Naseem Bagh?
- Frequently asked questions
Quick Answer: Naseem Bagh Srinagar is the oldest Mughal garden around Dal Lake, laid out in 1586 under Emperor Akbar on the lake's northwestern shore. Today it sits inside the University of Kashmir campus near Hazratbal, with around 700 old chinars. There is no ticket, and late October to mid-November is when its leaves turn red and fall.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. By Kashmir Pulse Editorial. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by locals.
Most visitors drive past Naseem Bagh Srinagar without knowing it is there. It has no terraces, no fountains and no ticket counter, just rows of chinars so old and wide that students sit between their roots to read. For many Srinagar families it is where autumn really happens: the place we walk on a cold November morning to hear the leaves crunch.
- ✓Best time to visit: late October to mid-November for red and gold leaves; early morning for soft light
- ✓Getting there: northwestern shore of Dal Lake near Hazratbal, about 10 km north of Lal Chowk by road
- ✓Budget range: free entry; budget only for a local cab or auto
- ✓ViaKashmir link: plan a Srinagar day with us
What is Naseem Bagh and why do locals love it?
Naseem Bagh means the garden of breeze, named for the wind that comes off Dal Lake through the trees. It covers about 25 hectares and holds around 700 chinars, many of them several centuries old. Unlike Nishat or Shalimar, it was never built as a showpiece of water channels. It was laid out as a shaded grove, and that is what it still is: a place to walk slowly under very large trees.
The chinar (we call it bouyn in Kashmiri) turns from green to gold to deep red in late October, then drops its leaves in a few windy days. Naseem Bagh is one of the few places in Srinagar where you can stand under dozens of them at once without a crowd.
Naseem Bagh history: from Akbar's grove to a university campus
- ✓1586: laid out during Emperor Akbar's reign, making it one of the oldest Mughal gardens in Kashmir.
- ✓Shah Jahan's era: by most accounts over 1,200 chinars were planted in a grid, some in the four-tree char chinar pattern.
- ✓World Wars: used as a transit camp for wounded soldiers and refugees.
- ✓1950s: handed over for the new University of Kashmir; an engineering college began here in wooden barracks.
- ✓1964: Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah held talks here.
- ✓2010: the university designated the grove for heritage protection as a chinar park.
Outlook India reported in 2023 that new hostels, eateries and parking have eaten into the open ground since then. The trees that remain are worth seeing while they stand.
Related reading: Shallabugh Wetland: Kashmir's Winter Bird Refuge Near Srinagar
When is the best time to visit Naseem Bagh Srinagar?
Late October to mid-November is the season. The leaves peak in colour in the last week of October and the first week of November in most years, then fall fast after the first cold wind. Go between 8 and 10 in the morning, when the light comes in low off the lake and the paths are quiet. In winter the bare branches against snow have their own beauty, and in spring the grove is green and full of students.
How do you get into Naseem Bagh?
Naseem Bagh lies within the University of Kashmir's Hazratbal side, on the northwestern shore of Dal Lake. Any Srinagar driver knows it; from the Boulevard it is a short drive towards Hazratbal. There is no ticket. It is a working campus, so keep to the paths, keep your voice low near classrooms and expect to be asked at the gate where you are going. Access can change with university rules or exams, so check the same morning. Our local cabs can fit it into a Srinagar sightseeing day.
Related reading: Sanasar: The Cup-Shaped Meadow and Lake Near Patnitop
Book for this trip
Naseem Bagh vs Nishat Bagh: which chinar garden suits you?
| Naseem Bagh | Nishat Bagh | |
|---|---|---|
| Built | 1586, under Akbar | 1633, by Asif Khan |
| Style | Flat chinar grove, no terraces | Twelve terraces, fountains, water channel |
| Ticket | None | Yes, at the gate |
| Crowds in autumn | Students and a few locals | Busy with tour groups |
| Best for | A slow walk under old trees | Mughal design and lake views |
If you have time for both, do Naseem Bagh first thing in the morning and Nishat after. Our Nishat Bagh guide and where locals see chinar colour cover the rest of the route.
What else is near Naseem Bagh?
Hazratbal Shrine, with its white dome on the lake, is a few minutes away; see our Hazratbal Shrine guide. The northern shore of Dal is quieter than the Boulevard, and a shikara from the Hazratbal side to Char Chinar makes a good end to a chinar day.
Via Kashmir plans Srinagar stays with verified hotels, houseboats on Dal and Nigeen, Kashmir packages and local cabs. Tell us your dates and we will build a chinar-season day around them.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee for Naseem Bagh?
No. Naseem Bagh is not a ticketed garden. It lies inside the University of Kashmir, so visitors walk in as guests of a working campus and should follow the gate staff's instructions.
Who built Naseem Bagh in Srinagar?
It was laid out in 1586 during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, which makes it one of the oldest Mughal gardens in Kashmir. Its chinar grid is credited to the time of Shah Jahan.
How many chinar trees are in Naseem Bagh?
Around 700 today, from more than 1,200 planted in the Mughal period according to most accounts. Some have been lost to age, disease and construction on campus.
When do the chinar leaves turn red in Naseem Bagh?
Usually in the last week of October and the first half of November. The exact days shift each year with the first cold nights, and the leaves fall quickly after a strong wind.
How far is Naseem Bagh from Dal Lake's Boulevard?
It sits on the northwestern shore of Dal Lake near Hazratbal, about 10 km north of Lal Chowk. From the Boulevard houseboats it is a short drive by cab or auto.
Planning a trip to Kashmir? Via Kashmir offers custom itineraries, verified hotels, and local cab services, planned by people who live here.
Planning more than this? Get a full itemised Kashmir quote