Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh is a historic Mughal charbagh garden complex located on the north bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, directly opposite the Taj Mahal. Originally built by Emperor Babur and later rebuilt by Emperor Shah Jahan, it is noted for its precise alignment with the Taj Mahal. The garden is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and is valued for its landscaped grounds, ruins, and views of the Taj Mahal.

Visitors can expect a large, square charbagh garden laid out in the classic Mughal four-quarter pattern with walkways, water channels, fountains, and planted trees and flower beds. The site contains ruins of pavilions, walls, and a large octagonal tank. Located on the floodplain of the Yamuna, it offers an unobstructed, direct view of the Taj Mahal across the river. The environment is open, quiet and landscaped, suitable for leisurely walks, photography and viewing the monument, especially at sunset.

Mehtab Bagh was originally built as Bagh-e-Mehtab by Emperor Babur in the early 16th century as the first Mughal garden in Agra. It was later rebuilt and expanded by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a moonlit garden integrated with the Taj Mahal complex. Designed as a charbagh, it was intended to be an extension of the Taj Mahal garden across the river and is associated with the legend that Shah Jahan planned a black marble mausoleum for himself here.

The garden represents the classic Mughal charbagh tradition symbolizing paradise and demonstrates Mughal landscape architecture, symmetry and water management. Its precise alignment with the Taj Mahal reflects the Mughal aesthetic of visual harmony and riverfront garden planning. It is part of the Taj Mahal's buffer landscape and is protected as a monument of national importance.