Designed to attract the Indian diaspora, Jehangir’s restaurant in Al Ain sought to open a Dubai branch and contracted Top Rock Interiors to bring the concept to life.
Taking five months from conception to execution, the new outlet is a 2.0 of the original in Al Ain, which is itself inspired by the legacy and culinary traditions of the late Mughal Emperors.
The emperors’ palaces from this early Modern era were noted for their splendour and gardens with pools and fountains. In fact, the most visited tourist spot in India, the Taj Mahal, was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a tomb for his favourite wife.
Top Rock Interiors sought to capture this grandeur by using these ornate gardens as the main theme. CEO S. C. Murali Kumar told us how:
Paintings sourced from India
Although plans for a water body were later omitted from the restaurant’s design, the ambience is enhanced by the subtle interplay of black and gold hues with a tasteful distribution of intricate Mughal motifs and authentic paintings sourced from India.
For the interior’s company, the key challenge was the amalgamation of fine dining concepts and Mughal cuisine in a contemporary setting.
A central sculpture was to be executed in a mashrabiya pattern linking local Islamic and Mughal architecture. However, this was modified due to practical challenges.
Instead, we see an eye-catching central tree sculpture. Other design highlights include the symmetrical layout, floral patterns and seating niches.
Mughal gardens
Mughal gardens’ style was influenced by the Persian gardens, particularly the Charbagh structure – a quadrilateral garden is divided by walkways or flowing water into four smaller parts. They are commonly found in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, amongst other South Asian countries.
Like Persian and Central Asian gardens, the water became the central and connecting theme of the landscaping. The fountain was the symbol of the ‘life cycle’ which rises and merges and rises again.
