Machine summary:
Together with the erection of forts, palaces and mosques went the lay-out of gardens and courts and, in all, provision on a lavish scale was made for water-precious alike for its life-giving refreshment, its cool, soothing beauty and its symbolism.
·· It r:as been said that a garden, whether it contains flowers or not, must include masonry, trees, sward and running water in its composition in order to become a satisfying work of art.
By the skilful use of running water, confined and conveyed by a modicum of mason's work, and relieved by, sometimes a very restrained quantity of vegetation, Muslim garden planners have undoubtedly succeeded in creating delightful, sequestered oases of refreshment in the most unpromising corners of a parched and thirstv land.
Among the remains of an extensive garden-house built here by the Em eror jchangir can be seen the masonry works of a water-Iilt intender to raise the water to the heights of Taraqarh, which, if completed would have been an engineering feat of wonder for all times.
An excellent example of the practical craftsmanship of bygone Muslim plumbers can be seen in the Sath Manzili or seven-storey building, just within the south wall of Bijapur city, which had an elaborate lay-out of piping providing water to the bath on each floor and to its numerous - ~ cisterns.
A fountain seems to have stood on the floor of the third storey and when all the jets were spouting and the whole building was running with sparkling water dripping into the tank below it must have presented a very enchanting spectacle entirely after its designer's heart.