[1][2] The garden is located in the Zabarwan Range, near Raj Bhawan (Governor's house) overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Chashme Shahi originally derives its name from the spring which was discovered by the great female saint of Kashmir, Rupa Bhawani, who was from the Sahib clan of Kashmiri Pandits.

In the east of Chashma Shahi the Pari Mahal (Fairy Palace) lies where Dara Sikoh used to learn astrology and where he was later killed by his brother Aurengzeb.

It is built around a freshwater spring, discovered by Rupa Bhawani, which flows through its centre in terraces.

The main focus of the garden is the spring which flows down in terraces and is divided into three sections: an aqueduct, waterfall, and fountains.

The former Premier of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, used to get the water from the spring to Delhi.