The Mughal Empire constructed many Persian gardens across South Asia. These gardens featured elaborate fountains and waterworks to simulate the fast-running mountainous streams of Afghanistan — in an era without hydraulic machinery or electric pumps, how did these work and how were they made?

by AwesomeAhmad1213

Here’s an article detailing examples of waterworks in Mughal gardens, to give context to my question:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156328?seq=6#metadata_info_tab_contents

There are accounts mentioned, for example, of hundreds of fountains gushing water 12 feet into the air, and pressurized water-chutes used in irrigation; this was a technology that had developed earlier in Iran, also.

CheraCholaPandya

Great question and even I'd always been intrigued by the Char-bagh style of gardens the Mughals built all across South Asia and Afghanistan.

Check out this paper on early water system in the Mughal India.

u/Jalal-ud-deeeen you might find this interesting.

Also check out this video on how the British left their mark on the gardens.