Increasing levels of sophistication in the design of Gardens of Paradise over time has led to the creation of terraces and the construction of water channels running along a central spine, thereby making use of the natural gradient to create flow. Additions that followed over time, other than purpose-built pavilions, include a feature known as a chador, a chute made of decorated stone through which an accelerated water flow produces a white rush.

Although a new creation, many of the features of the park are reminiscent of traditional elements associated with the Gardens of Paradise, including terraces, pavilions and a central water channel with a chador. In addition, entirely new elements were introduced such as an amphitheatre, restaurants, exhibition space and a children’s playground.

In contrast to the past, when access to Gardens of Paradise by the public at large was only possible at invitation or during specially designated days, Al Azhar Park and the eight other parks that the Trust has created since, do not pose any restriction in terms of the number of park visitors that can enter. With more than 2 million visitors annually, this causes a major dilemma for park operations such as Al Azhar: the serenity that a Garden of Paradise should offer can be compromised by the large number of visitors who show up daily. A partial solution to this problem may be found in the compartmentalisation of smaller sections of a park, thereby restoring an element of privacy. This would particularly apply to sections of the garden that have strong historic significance. Lahore Fort in Pakistan, one of the latest projects in which the Trust has become engaged, would lend itself particularly well to this approach. Erstwhile private gardens in the quadrangles created by different Mughal rulers could be partially recreated in form (by bringing back the notion of partitions at critical points) and in spirit (by regulating and managing the flow of visitors in manageable numbers).