Achabal garden also referred as “the places of the princess” is a small Mughal garden located in Achabal, a town in Anantnag District of Kashmir Valley. Lies at a distance of 58km South of Srinagar, this garden is considered as one of the best Mughal gardens in India. It is believed to be built by Mughal empress Nur Jahan, wife of emperor Jahangir. Later, the garden was rebuilt on small scale by Dogra King Gulab Singh. The most attractive feature of the garden is that it is watered by one of the sacred monutain spring of the neighbouring hill. The fountain in water spring of the garden represent a romantic history of the ancient era. Resting at a foot of a himalayan hill Achabal gardens covers an area of 6.20 hectares. Rows of majestic Chinar trees offer captivating views of the garden. The stepped terraces, fountains, waterfalls, sparkling shrubs and flowers add to the beauty of the garden. The upper portion of the garden is called “Bag – e – Begum Abad” developed by Malika Nur Jahan in 1616 and renowned as Sahib Abad in which there is a Hamam ( treasure of water ) getting heat from logical lamp ( Tosnag ).

Cascades and fountains have been erected by Mughal emperors. A mosque standing in the garden is believed to have been constructed by Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh. Achabal was once the pleasure retreat of empress Nur Jahan. A trout hatchery is also located nearby.

The Himalayan mountains end in the Sosanwar Hills, where Achabal lies. Considered one of the smaller Mughal gardens in the vale of Kashmir, the site of Achabal Bagh may have formerly been a Hindu sacred site known as “Akkshvala”. After falling into decay, the garden was resurrected on a smaller scale by Gulab Singh ( Maharaja of J&K from the late 1790’s until 1857 ). Today, Achabal is a public garden somewhat smaller in scale than its original incarnation.

Perhaps the most beautiful of all the springs is Achabal which gushes out of the Sonsanwar Hill and was at once enlisted by the emperor Jahangir in the service of beauty and pleasure. It is said that the Brengi Nallah which disappears at Dewalgam in the fissures of limestone is the real source of the Achabal spring. The water of this spring which flows through this garden in three channels, is beautifying and ornamenting this terraced garden beyond imagination. The fountains that have been laid through the water channels add to the charm of this Mughal garden. The health resort of Achabal lies in the south east of the District at a distance of 09kms from the district headquarter.