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18th-century Mughal Pleasure Garden

Qudsia Bagh

Also Known As · Qudsia Gardens

New Delhi, Delhi · garden

A shaded remnant of an 18th-century Mughal pleasure garden — an ornate gateway and old trees beside the bustle of Kashmere Gate.

Open dailyEntry Fee: Free EntryOpen daily, roughly sunrise to sunset (about 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM); an informal, non-ticketed heritage garden. Free — no entry fee

Qudsia Bagh is one of the last surviving 18th-century Mughal pleasure gardens in Delhi — a shaded, historic green retreat tucked beside the roar of Kashmere Gate ISBT in Civil Lines. It was laid out in 1748 CE by Qudsia Begum (born Udham Bai), a former court dancer who rose to extraordinary power as the wife of Emperor Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela' and the queen-mother regent for her son, Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur.

Get Directions

Where to Eat Nearby

Nearby Vegetarian Eats

Haldiram's, Kashmere Gate

0.8 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian chaat, thalis and sweets

Bikanervala, Kashmere Gate

0.9 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian sweets and North Indian

Sagar Ratna, Civil Lines

1.5 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian South Indian dosas

About

Qudsia Bagh is one of the last surviving 18th-century Mughal pleasure gardens in Delhi — a shaded, historic green retreat tucked beside the roar of Kashmere Gate ISBT in Civil Lines.

  • It was laid out in 1748 CE by Qudsia Begum (born Udham Bai), a former court dancer who rose to extraordinary power as the wife of Emperor Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela' and the queen-mother regent for her son, Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur.
  • Conceived as a lavish riverside pleasure garden and palace retreat away from the Red Fort, it originally sprawled across an estimated 100 acres in the classic Persian charbagh (four-quadrant) style, complete with a palace, pavilions, fountains and water channels fed from the nearby Yamuna.
  • History pressed hard on it: during the Revolt of 1857 the garden was caught up in the fighting around Kashmere Gate and heavily damaged, and only about 20 acres survive today.
  • What remains — an ornate arched sandstone entrance gateway, a compact three-domed royal (Shahi) mosque that is the garden's best-preserved surviving structure, and fragments of the old stables — makes it a rare and atmospheric layer of late-Mughal Delhi, now functioning largely as a quiet neighbourhood park under ASI protection.
  • For vegetarian travellers the Kashmere Gate area has reliable pure-veg options — Haldiram's and Bikanervala at Kashmere Gate and Sagar Ratna in Civil Lines.

Practical notes

entry is free and the garden is open through daylight hours, informally (roughly sunrise to sunset), with no ticketed gate. It sits right beside the very busy Kashmere Gate ISBT, so the surroundings are noisy and congested; parts of the garden can look neglected, so keep to the open lawns, mind traffic and valuables, and avoid isolated corners, especially alone or after dusk. Nearest metro: Kashmere Gate (Red + Yellow + Violet interchange), about 0.7–1 km. Allow about an hour, ideally on a cool morning.

Timings & Entry Fee

Visiting Hours

  • • Daylight hours (roughly sunrise to sunset)
  • • Informal, non-ticketed garden
  • • Best on a calm morning
Days OpenOpen Daily (daylight)Entry FeeFree EntryTime NeededAbout 1 hour

Entry Fee: Free — a public heritage garden with no ticket counter.

Verified: July 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Sham Nath Marg, near ISBT Kashmere Gate, Civil Lines, New Delhi, Delhi, 110054

On Sham Nath Marg, north-west of Kashmere Gate ISBT, Civil Lines

📍 Get Directions🗺️ View on map

🚇 Nearest Metro: Kashmere Gate (Red + Yellow + Violet lines) — about 0.7–1 km

🚶 Walking from Metro: About 0.7–1 km / a 10–15 minute walk from Kashmere Gate metro via Sham Nath Marg.

Distance from

  • • Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 20 km (~55 min)
  • • Connaught Place: 6 km (~25 min)
  • • Kashmere Gate metro: 0.9 km (~13 min)

Parking

street · Nominal

Street parking near Sham Nath Marg / ISBT; congested — the metro is easier.

🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Autos and cabs reach Sham Nath Marg; a short ride or 10–15 minute walk from Kashmere Gate metro.

How to Reach: Qudsia Bagh is on Sham Nath Marg, Civil Lines, immediately north-west of Kashmere Gate ISBT. Nearest metro: Kashmere Gate (Red + Yellow + Violet lines), about a 10–15 minute walk or short auto ride. The ISBT is about 300 m away for buses; app-cabs and autos serve the area readily.

Things to Do

  • Admire the ornate Mughal entrance gateway
  • View the Shahi mosque and stable remnants
  • Enjoy a quiet shaded garden break
  • Learn the 1857 history of the site
  • Photograph the weathered Mughal architecture

Best Time to Visit

Best SeasonOctober to MarchBest Time of DayEarly morningTime NeededAbout 1 hourCrowd LevelsQuiet inside; the surrounding ISBT area is very busy

History & Significance

History

Qudsia Bagh was laid out in 1748 CE by Qudsia Begum (born Udham Bai), a former court dancer who became the powerful queen-mother regent as wife of Emperor Muhammad Shah and mother of Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur.

  • Conceived as a riverside pleasure garden and palace retreat, it originally sprawled across an estimated 100 acres in the Persian charbagh style with a palace, mosque, pavilions and Yamuna-fed water channels.
  • It was heavily damaged during the 1857 Revolt around Kashmere Gate; only about 20 acres survive today, with an ornate entrance gateway, the Shahi mosque and stable remnants as the principal surviving structures, now protected by the ASI.

🏛️ Architect: Originally a Mughal charbagh (four-quadrant) garden with symmetrical water channels and fountains, it today retains a decorated western entrance gateway with a lofty arched portal and a compact three-domed red-sandstone Shahi mosque, the best-preserved surviving structure in the garden.

Significance

Qudsia Bagh is one of the last surviving 18th-century Mughal pleasure gardens in Delhi and a rare tangible reminder of Qudsia Begum, an unusually powerful woman of the late Mughal court; as a witness site of the 1857 Revolt around Kashmere Gate, it carries layered historical value beyond its origins as a royal garden.

Places to Visit Nearby

Dara Shikoh Library

1 km away

The Mughal prince's library building, now Delhi's Partition Museum, at Kashmere Gate.

Red Fort (Lal Qila)

3 km away

The Mughal capital's mighty red-sandstone citadel.

Chandni Chowk

2.5 km away

Old Delhi's grand historic market avenue.

Family & Accessibility

Kid Friendly3of 5Stroller AccessPartialWheelchair AccessPartialChanging RoomNoPet PolicyPartial

Family Highlights

  • • A surviving 18th-century Mughal garden
  • • An ornate arched sandstone gateway
  • • Old shade trees and open lawns
  • • A quiet green break by Kashmere Gate

Photography & Drone

Drone PolicyProhibited

💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal photography.

📍 The Golden Spot: The ornate arched entrance gateway framed by old trees in morning light.

🌅 Best Light Time: Early morning, before the ISBT area fills up.

Tips & Safety

⚠️ Common Scams

Busy ISBT surroundings

The garden abuts the crowded Kashmere Gate ISBT, and some corners are quiet and poorly maintained.

Official AdviceKeep to the open lawns, mind traffic and belongings, and avoid isolated areas alone or after dusk.

💡 Insider Tips

🌅 Secret View: The lofty arched sandstone gateway is the finest surviving fragment — its scale hints at how grand the original 100-acre riverside garden once was.

🎯 Crowd Hack: Come at opening on a weekday morning for a calm, near-empty garden before the ISBT bustle peaks.

💎 Secret Fact: It was laid out in 1748 by Qudsia Begum, a former court dancer who became queen-mother regent; British residents sheltered here during the 1857 Revolt before retreating to Flagstaff Tower.

⚡ Express Tour

30 minutes — the gateway, the Shahi mosque and a lawn stroll.

🔭 Deep Dive Tour

Half day — Qudsia Bagh, the Dara Shikoh Library and a Kashmere Gate heritage walk.

🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code

Do's

  • Admire the ornate 18th-century Mughal entrance gateway
  • View the three-domed Shahi mosque and stable remnants as heritage architecture
  • Enjoy a shaded, quiet green break from the city bustle
  • Read up on the 1857 history of the site
  • Photograph the weathered Mughal structures among old trees

Don'ts

  • Do not visit isolated corners alone or after dusk
  • Do not expect much upkeep — parts can look neglected
  • Do not lose track of belongings near the busy ISBT
  • Do not climb on the fragile heritage structures

👕 Dress Code: Comfortable clothes; carry water and sun protection in summer.

📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is welcome; the gateway and old trees are the draw.

Good to Know

💳 Money & Connectivity

UPINoCardsNoCashYes

🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs around Kashmere Gate / Civil Lines (within 1 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Qudsia Bagh timings and entry fee?

Entry is free and the garden is open through daylight hours, informally (roughly sunrise to sunset), with no ticketed gate.

Which is the nearest metro to Qudsia Bagh?

Kashmere Gate (the Red + Yellow + Violet interchange) is nearest, about 0.7–1 km / a 10–15 minute walk via Sham Nath Marg.

What is Qudsia Bagh known for?

It is one of Delhi's last surviving 18th-century Mughal pleasure gardens, laid out in 1748 by queen-mother Qudsia Begum; its ornate gateway and Shahi mosque are the main surviving structures.

Who was Qudsia Begum?

She was a former court dancer who rose to become the wife of Emperor Muhammad Shah and the powerful queen-mother regent for her son Ahmad Shah Bahadur, laying out this garden in 1748.

Is Qudsia Bagh worth visiting?

Yes, as a quiet, atmospheric heritage garden and a stop on a Kashmere Gate heritage walk — though it is not always well maintained, so keep to the open lawns and visit in daylight. Allow about an hour.

Where can I eat vegetarian food near Qudsia Bagh?

The Kashmere Gate area has reliable pure-veg options — Haldiram's and Bikanervala at Kashmere Gate and Sagar Ratna in Civil Lines.

Categories

Heritage & CultureNature & Outdoors

Related

Ancient ArchitectureFree EntryPeacefulSightseeingMorning Walk
#mughal-garden#qudsia-begum#charbagh#civil-lines#kashmere-gate#free-entry
Qudsia Bagh, New Delhi — TasteYatra