The exhibition is taking place till April 2013. At its peak the Mughal empire encompassed most of present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The Mughals dominated much of the subcontinent for more than three centuries, ruling in South Asia from 1526 – 1858.

The Mughals were descended from the Central Asian ruler Timur, founder of the Timurid dynasty, who was born in modern day Uzbekistan. Babur, a descendent of Timur, was the first Mughal Emperor and the first of six Mughal rulers referred to traditionally as the ‘Great’ Mughals.

The Mughals were highly cultured. One of their greatest accomplishments was to initiate a new tradition of painting. They also actively cultivated the sciences and made significant advances. Study of India’s flora and fauna was reflected in descriptive writings, and accurate artistic depictions such as those found in the memoirs of Babur. Babur was both a poet and a diarist, and started the tradition of the Mughals’ patronage of literature and learning.