Loving beautiful scenery, flowers, and gardens as Nur-Jahan did, under her sway the Valley of Kashmir-'the Terrestrial Paradise of the Indies'-became nearly every year the summer quarters of the Court. The journey over the Himalayas was long and difficult, occupying so much time each spring and autumn that Delhi was practically deserted, and during part of Jahangirs reign the capital was transferred to Lahore, the city in the Indian plains lying nearest to the mountain barrier.
The royal palace in the citadel, like those of the other Mughal capitals, was built in a series of garden courts along the ramparts overlooking the river. In the square in front of the Shish Mahal, on one side of which stands the lovely little Nau Lakha pavilion, there are the remains of a very elaborate fountain, and several old fountain-tanks and chabutras are still to be found in the various other courts. At present the palace is partly used as a barracks; some of the buildings have been restored, but, like the royal palace of Agra, it sadly lacks its fountains and its flowers.
