The Shalimar Gardens are located near Baghbanpura along the Grand Trunk Road some 5 kilometers northeast of Lahore city center.
They were built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1641-2. The garden is symbolized by enclosing walls, a four-sided layout of paths and features, and huge amplitude of flowing water. It has a covered area of 16 hectares, and consists of three terraces descending from the south to the north.
The Garden impact is amazing at its entrance, a line of fountains in water channels are stretched to a distance. The arcaded pavilion which marked the end of the upper terrace is entirely built with white marble. Water is flowing under the pavilion, cascading down over a carved marble slab mimicking a waterfall effect. During night, all pavilions glitter with lights and whole place transformed into fairyland.
Shalimar Gardens of Lahore are one of the best specimens of the art of landscaping introduced by the Mughals in the South Asian Sub-Continent.