Wojciech Fedoruk

Poland - 21-Sep-24 -

Babur's Gardens were founded by Babur, an eminent ruler and warrior, founder of the Mughal dynasty. Babur loved Kabul and the oasis of peace he had created so much that he ordered to be buried there in a roofless tomb, so that after his death the Kabul’s rain and the Kabul’s wind would cool him. At first, the wish was not fulfilled - Babur was buried in Agra, but after a few years his body was moved to Kabul and placed in a white tomb. In addition to the tomb, there is the Shah Jahan Mosque (the builder of the Taj Mahal) and the so-called The Queen's Palace from the 19th century. Babur Gardens suffered terribly during the civil war of 1992-1996, but was later very comprehensively rebuilt.

Babur Gardens is a candidate for inclusion on the UNESCO list in 2026, but I must admit that I am not entirely convinced by this proposal.  There is nothing special about the gardens themselves today, they look like a moderately attractive park. Do constructions like Babur's Grave and other buildings warrant entry? In my opinion, not necessarily. The state party submitted a very extensive description justifying the OUV, based, among others, on the statement that Babur’s Gardens are the first example of Mughal gardens, but is this enough for becoming a WHS? Hopefully we will find out in 2026 and that this proposal will be eventually assessed.