Saheliyon ki Bari alias 'Garden of Maids', located on the banks of Fateh
Sagar lake is a majestic garden built in the 18th century by Maharana
Sangram Singh for 48 young beautiful girls who were given to royal house
as part of the dowry for his princess. It is also said that the garden
is a present from the Emperor of Delhi as a peace offering. Saheliyon
Ki Bari was once smashed up by the flood in the Fateh Sagar lake but Maharana
Fateh Singh rebuild it in the present form in the late nineteenth century.
One of the best example of Hindu landscape gardening, the beautifully
designed Saheliyon ki Bari with a background of wooded hilly terrains
has lush green lawns, flowerbeds, shady cool walking lanes, marble pavilions
and imposing fountains. At the entrance of Saheliyon ki Bari, there is
a rose garden with hundred varieties of roses which welcomes the visitors.
Within Saheliyon ki Bari, there is a pavilion of rain fountains known
as 'Savan Bhado' which is located on the left and right of the central
square. It was constructed by Maharana Bhopal Singh to create an illusion
of rain dancing in rhythm with dancing maids. The fountains in the form
of sculpted birds that spray water from their beaks producing rain effect
were imported from England in the year 1889. There are also white marble
elephant sculptures made out of single piece of stone, splashing water
into the water pools through their trunks. There is a delightful lotus
pool and a sitting room decorated with paintings and glass mosaics.
Saheliyon ki Bari also houses a museum with large collection of royal
households. The Saheliyon ki Bari museum also domiciles stuffed animals,
such as cobras and ancient pictures of long-gone age.
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