The Afterlife of the Taj Gardens: Changes in the Landscape

Albert Edward Peter Griessen (second row from below, third from the left) was born in London in 1875 and was educated in Paris, Versailles, and London. He entered Kew Guild, London as a student gardener in 1896 and in the same year was appointed subforeman. He was the youngest subforeman that had been appointed up to that time, being little more than 21 years of age.

He was appointed a probationer   at the Government Botanic Gardens in Sibpur, Calcutta in 1888. He was soon transferred to Agra as Superintendent to the Taj and Government Gardens, where he was in charge of restoring the grounds of the Taj Mahal and the surrounding area, including McDonnell Park (today Shah Jahan Garden) and the Circuit House. Under the supervision of Lord Curzon, Griessen replanted and made alterations to the Taj Gardens.

The objects from the archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen consist of plans, maps, letters, reports and photographs of Agra from 1868 to1908. Since the man himself was involved in the restoration of the Taj Gardens between 1902 and1905, his collection reveals the changes in plantation and landscape of the complex and its administration.

Albert Edward Peter Griessen (second row from below, third from the left) was born in London in 1875 and was educated in Paris, Versailles, and London. He entered Kew Guild, London as a student gardener in 1896 and in the same year was appointed subforeman. He was the youngest subforeman that had been appointed up to that time, being little more than 21 years of age.

He was appointed a probationer   at the Government Botanic Gardens in Sibpur, Calcutta in 1888. He was soon transferred to Agra as Superintendent to the Taj and Government Gardens, where he was in charge of restoring the grounds of the Taj Mahal and the surrounding area, including McDonnell Park (today Shah Jahan Garden) and the Circuit House. Under the supervision of Lord Curzon, Griessen replanted and made alterations to the Taj Gardens.

The objects from the archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen consist of plans, maps, letters, reports and photographs of Agra from 1868 to1908. Since the man himself was involved in the restoration of the Taj Gardens between 1902 and1905, his collection reveals the changes in plantation and landscape of the complex and its administration.

Albert Edward Peter Griessen (second row from below, third from the left) was born in London in 1875 and was educated in Paris, Versailles, and London. He entered Kew Guild, London as a student gardener in 1896 and in the same year was appointed subforeman. He was the youngest subforeman that had been appointed up to that time, being little more than 21 years of age.

He was appointed a probationer   at the Government Botanic Gardens in Sibpur, Calcutta in 1888. He was soon transferred to Agra as Superintendent to the Taj and Government Gardens, where he was in charge of restoring the grounds of the Taj Mahal and the surrounding area, including McDonnell Park (today Shah Jahan Garden) and the Circuit House. Under the supervision of Lord Curzon, Griessen replanted and made alterations to the Taj Gardens.

The objects from the archive of Albert Edward Peter Griessen consist of plans, maps, letters, reports and photographs of Agra from 1868 to1908. Since the man himself was involved in the restoration of the Taj Gardens between 1902 and1905, his collection reveals the changes in plantation and landscape of the complex and its administration.

Historically gardens came before architecture for the Mughals. The Mughal gardens have served as residences, a space for camping armies, receiving state visitors and even proclaiming rulers! For Babur gardens marked the extension of territory and a method to bring in a more familiar sense of order to the Indian landscape. While Babur enjoyed the sensuality of the gardens, his son Humayun brought in religious symbolism. A century later architecture under the rule of Shah Jahan reached new heights, as he put greater emphasis on Islamic symbolism while also using architecture to assert power.

This plan of the Taj Mahal shows the design of the Mughal garden in a traditional Persian Charbagh style. It was laid out in a grid and divided into four parts or in multiples of four. The divisions were marked by water channels which met at a large central tank. This layout was to invoke the garden of paradise as described in the Quran.

The main walks of the garden were lined with cypresses, fruit trees and flowering plants—symbolizing life, death and rebirth. Peter Mundy, an East India Company agent, notes various trees like apple, orange, mulberry, coconut and plantain during his visit (1632-33). He also notes flowers like roses, marigolds, poppies and carnations. The garden was intended to appeal to all the senses, especially smell, with fragrant plants, shrubs and trees. 

Historically gardens came before architecture for the Mughals. The Mughal gardens have served as residences, a space for camping armies, receiving state visitors and even proclaiming rulers! For Babur gardens marked the extension of territory and a method to bring in a more familiar sense of order to the Indian landscape. While Babur enjoyed the sensuality of the gardens, his son Humayun brought in religious symbolism. A century later architecture under the rule of Shah Jahan reached new heights, as he put greater emphasis on Islamic symbolism while also using architecture to assert power.

This plan of the Taj Mahal shows the design of the Mughal garden in a traditional Persian Charbagh style. It was laid out in a grid and divided into four parts or in multiples of four. The divisions were marked by water channels which met at a large central tank. This layout was to invoke the garden of paradise as described in the Quran.

The main walks of the garden were lined with cypresses, fruit trees and flowering plants—symbolizing life, death and rebirth. Peter Mundy, an East India Company agent, notes various trees like apple, orange, mulberry, coconut and plantain during his visit (1632-33). He also notes flowers like roses, marigolds, poppies and carnations. The garden was intended to appeal to all the senses, especially smell, with fragrant plants, shrubs and trees. 

Historically gardens came before architecture for the Mughals. The Mughal gardens have served as residences, a space for camping armies, receiving state visitors and even proclaiming rulers! For Babur gardens marked the extension of territory and a method to bring in a more familiar sense of order to the Indian landscape. While Babur enjoyed the sensuality of the gardens, his son Humayun brought in religious symbolism. A century later architecture under the rule of Shah Jahan reached new heights, as he put greater emphasis on Islamic symbolism while also using architecture to assert power.

This plan of the Taj Mahal shows the design of the Mughal garden in a traditional Persian Charbagh style. It was laid out in a grid and divided into four parts or in multiples of four. The divisions were marked by water channels which met at a large central tank. This layout was to invoke the garden of paradise as described in the Quran.

The main walks of the garden were lined with cypresses, fruit trees and flowering plants—symbolizing life, death and rebirth. Peter Mundy, an East India Company agent, notes various trees like apple, orange, mulberry, coconut and plantain during his visit (1632-33). He also notes flowers like roses, marigolds, poppies and carnations. The garden was intended to appeal to all the senses, especially smell, with fragrant plants, shrubs and trees. 

In 1899, Lord Curzon was appointed as the Viceroy of India. One of his principal goals was to restore the most important historic monuments in India. At the Taj complex, Lord Curzon took an active interest in replanting along with A. E. P. Griessen, the newly appointed Superintendent of Taj Gardens.

Before the restoration efforts, the gardens were much more densely shaded. The foliage was so thick that it partially blocked the view of the minarets and completely obscured the mosque and jawabs flanking the mausoleum. The garden also contained many flowers and produced bountiful fruits for the market.

In 1899, Lord Curzon was appointed as the Viceroy of India. One of his principal goals was to restore the most important historic monuments in India. At the Taj complex, Lord Curzon took an active interest in replanting along with A. E. P. Griessen, the newly appointed Superintendent of Taj Gardens.

Before the restoration efforts, the gardens were much more densely shaded. The foliage was so thick that it partially blocked the view of the minarets and completely obscured the mosque and jawabs flanking the mausoleum. The garden also contained many flowers and produced bountiful fruits for the market.

'In my opinion, Cypruses should be replanted every twelve years so as to retain them within the lines of proportion so as not to dwarfen the appearance of the building.'

'If you refer to the photographs in the museum you will notice that prior to 1900 only a glimpse could be obtained on one of the mosques and one had to go up to the first story of the main gate to obtain the vista which can with little care be obtained from the gate platform as one passes through it.'

'In my opinion, Cypruses should be replanted every twelve years so as to retain them within the lines of proportion so as not to dwarfen the appearance of the building.'

'If you refer to the photographs in the museum you will notice that prior to 1900 only a glimpse could be obtained on one of the mosques and one had to go up to the first story of the main gate to obtain the vista which can with little care be obtained from the gate platform as one passes through it.'

This handwritten document by Griessen shows the annual expenditure of the Taj and Government Gardens in Agra for the year 1913. Look at the various cost heads like salaries, coolie labour, purchase of seeds and plants.

In 1905, Lord Curzon resigned. After that only minor changes to the planting were proposed, such as the reduction in number of exotic species like palms. Once Griessen was transferred to Delhi in 1913, the period of active change in the planting policy of Taj came to an end. 

This handwritten document by Griessen shows the annual expenditure of the Taj and Government Gardens in Agra for the year 1913. Look at the various cost heads like salaries, coolie labour, purchase of seeds and plants.

In 1905, Lord Curzon resigned. After that only minor changes to the planting were proposed, such as the reduction in number of exotic species like palms. Once Griessen was transferred to Delhi in 1913, the period of active change in the planting policy of Taj came to an end. 

The Taj Gardens were profoundly altered at the hands of the British. By the time Curzon left, the garden had transformed into an English park with large expanses of lawns dotted with occasional trees and only modest beds of flowers, primarily roses. The garden is no longer the one Shah Jahan had planted or intended it to be. But there exists a mirror image of the Taj garden on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River—the Mahtab Bagh or Moon Garden. It is a typical riverfront garden with a raised terrace overlooking Yamuna and a lower charbagh in the rear. This garden was apparently abandoned when it proved to be prone to flooding. It was only recently, between 1996 to 1999, that it was re-discovered by Elizabeth Moynihan and her colleagues .

The excavation put an end to the myth of it being the site for a black Taj Mahal. Instead, it is now widely accepted that Mahtab Bagh was a pleasure garden from where Mughal nobles could gaze at the Taj. Two views of the mausoleum would have been possible from the Mahtab Bagh: one the view of the actual building itself, and the other an inverted reflection in an octagonal pool on a raised terrace placed at the centre. What an extraordinary view it must have been!

The Taj Gardens were profoundly altered at the hands of the British. By the time Curzon left, the garden had transformed into an English park with large expanses of lawns dotted with occasional trees and only modest beds of flowers, primarily roses. The garden is no longer the one Shah Jahan had planted or intended it to be. But there exists a mirror image of the Taj garden on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River—the Mahtab Bagh or Moon Garden. It is a typical riverfront garden with a raised terrace overlooking Yamuna and a lower charbagh in the rear. This garden was apparently abandoned when it proved to be prone to flooding. It was only recently, between 1996 to 1999, that it was re-discovered by Elizabeth Moynihan and her colleagues .

The excavation put an end to the myth of it being the site for a black Taj Mahal. Instead, it is now widely accepted that Mahtab Bagh was a pleasure garden from where Mughal nobles could gaze at the Taj. Two views of the mausoleum would have been possible from the Mahtab Bagh: one the view of the actual building itself, and the other an inverted reflection in an octagonal pool on a raised terrace placed at the centre. What an extraordinary view it must have been!