When looking to give your garden a makeover, you may not know exactly what you want, so it’s important to look around for inspiration.
But with so much inspiration around us, it can be easy to get confused and feel at a loss of what to pick. One way to create a beautiful garden for your Indian home is to take a look at some of India’s most famous gardens.
These gardens are designed to be attractive as well as making the most of some of India’s natural plants and flowers, so why not consider using them to influence your own?
Here are some of the most famous gardens in India and how you could use their elements as part of your own garden or yard.
Brindavan Garden – Mysore
The Brindavan Garden in Mysore was created in Mughal style and is known for its pathways that circle central lawns, decorated with plants and flowers.
You’ll find plenty of variety at the park, ranging from colourful, blooming flowers to carefully shaped shrubs.
Create the look in your own garden by featuring a central focal point of plants of your choice, surrounded by a simple path that will allow you to enjoy them close up.
Hanging Gardens – Mumbai
The Hanging Gardens in Mumbai are a popular tourist attraction and are most known for the outstanding views of the Arabian Sea. Its pathways are kept simple, although they are enhanced with lots of green, sculpted plants and topiaries in different shapes.
Try shaping some plants of your own to create your own take on the Hanging Gardens.
Lal Bagh – Bangalore
Lal Bagh – also known as the Red Garden – is a botanical garden in Bangalore. It is home to the largest variety of tropical plants in India and is also a major tourist attraction in the city.
If you’re a fan of Lal Bagh, recreate it for yourself by using a selection of tropical and exotic plants in some bright hues.
Another element of the Red Garden is that many of its walls are painted red, while you’ll also find green and yellow brick steps. Try painting some of your own walls and brickwork too!
Lodi Gardens – Delhi
Lodi Gardens in Delhi is a park with a lot of history, as it is home to Mohammed Shah and Sikander Lodi’s Tombs. The park is full of greenery, yet it’s the historical buildings that stand out and make it unique.
Use rustic styled garden decor such as pots and slab paving to create the look of an older location, but bring it to life with lots of healthy green plants.
Pinjore Garden – Panchkula
Pinjore Garden – also known as Yadavindra Gardens in Panchkula is a great place to visit, and it’s easy to see why. Although featuring a sleek and modern concrete pathway, this central area is surrounded by lush green lawns, palm trees and shrubs, as well as some large water fountains that stand out.
Try adding some modern landscaping to your garden, but complement it with plenty of greenery – including smaller shrubs and some tall palms. If you can, a water feature would look the part as well.
Rock Garden – Darjeeling
The Rock Garden of Darjeeling (also called the Barbotey Rock Garden) is a well-known tourist attraction in the area and is known for – of course – its rocks.
Visitors can meander across the paths while taking in the natural rocky scenery, including the streams that run through it and the surrounding green trees.
Rock features are easy to recreate in your own garden, and can easily be surrounded by green trees or shrubberies for a similar look, especially if you add a water feature too.
Sarita Udyan – Gandhinagar
Gandhigarh city is known as the Garden City and is one of the ‘Green Cities’ of India. Sarita Udyan, Gandhinagar, is known for its well kept, mown lawns and winding pathways surrounded by neat, squared-off edges.
If this is the garden you’re taking inspiration from, consider creating a winding path of your own, passing through freshly cut grass and some perfectly sculpted plants.
Shalimar Bagh – Kashmir
Shalimar Bagh is not far from Srinagar and was built by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir as a gift for his wife. It is an iconic part of Mughal horticulture and is home to well-cut grass, water features, pastel pink buildings and lots of colourful flowers in reds, purples, oranges and pinks.
If you can’t repaint your house or install a water feature, you can still get a very similar look with a cared for lawn and a colourful array of plants.
Tulip Garden – Srinagar
This one is relatively easy to recreate or take inspiration from, as it’s obvious what the main focal point of the garden is. The Tulip Garden in Srinagar (officially known as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden) is located in the Zabarwan Hills and is the biggest tulip garden in Asia.
Get the look by adding a variety of tulips to your garden in an array of different colours.
The Tulip Garden also provides incredible views of the famous Dal Lake, so if you have space, you could also include a water feature or small pond for effect.
Whether you choose to go all out and recreate these gardens or just pick and choose your favourite elements from each one, they’re a great starting point when looking to grow a beautiful Indian garden.
Which of the gardens in your favourite? Will you be using any of these ideas in your own garden this spring or summer? We’d love to hear what you think, so share your thoughts in the comments section below!