Rashtrapati Bhavan Udyanotsav

Mughal Gardens to Be Opened for Public Viewing From February 15th

This Year's Attraction - Vertical Garden & Bonsai

The annual opening of the Mughal Gardens in February for public viewing is from this year being rechristened as the Rashtrapati Bhavan Udyanotsav. This year along with the opportunity to visit the Mughal Garden, the Musical Garden, the Spiritual Garden, the Herbal Garden and the Biodiversity Park, visitors will also be able to get information through an audio-visual presentation on the President's environmental initiative - the 'Roshni' Programme. Vermi-compost and organic-compost would also be available for sale at a stall run by Self Help Group (SHG) members under the 'Roshni Programme'. Vegetables grown in the President's Gardens will also be on display. An added attraction will be a Curio Shop, where a variety of souvenirs will be available for sale, ranging from key chains to ties, caps and t-shirts, all etched with the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt and building.

The Gardens will be open to the general public on all days from 15th February to 16th March 2011 from 1000 hrs. to 1700 hrs. except on Mondays being maintenance days. Entry into the Gardens will be open only upto 1600 hrs. Last year more than three and half lakh persons visited the Gardens.

February is the time of year when the Mughal Gardens are in bloom with annual flowers such as Roses, Lilies, Tulips and Double Pansies. This year the special attraction will be the Vertical Garden which is a new concept of developing a green/ floral wall and a Bonsai Garden. The Bonsai Garden has a variety of styles, with about 200 such plants. A Cactus corner has also been created

The Mughal Gardens combine the geometrical decorum and play with water - the soul of a Mughal garden, along with the organized style of a British Garden. Canals and terraces at different levels and flowering shrubs - the hallmark of the Mughal style fuse with European style flower beds and lawns. The Gardens cover an area of 15 acres and consist of three parts. The first part is the Rectangular Garden, divided into four quarters, each with terraced gardens on either side. The Central Lawn is the venue of numerous receptions and 'At Homes' hosted by the President and provides a breathtaking view of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Central Lawn is covered by Doob grass which was originally brought from the Belvedere Estate in Kolkata, when it was initially laid. This grass still maintains its sheen. The Rectangular Garden also has several winter seasonal bulbous and flowering beds, with a variety of Roses such as Mrinalini, Taj Mahal, Modern Art, Oklahoma, John F. Kennedy, Mr. Lincoln and Folklore.

The second part is the Long Garden which is enclosed inside walls of about 12 feet high and is predominantly a Rose garden with 16 square rose beds, encased in low hedges. Some of the prominent and popular roses here are Christian Dior, Queen Elizabeth, Iceberg, Pasadena, Montezuma, Summer Snow, First Prize, Century Two, Amalia and Bush Rose. The walls are covered with creepers like Bignonia Vanista, Tecoma Grandiflora, and Adenoclym. Ornamental China Orange trees are planted along the walls.

The third part is the Circular Garden. This is a huge terraced bowl, lined with various fragrant and vibrant annuals. A bubble fountain in the middle of this bowl enhances its grandeur. fragrant varieties like Phlox of different colours, Merigold, Stock, Pitunia in different colors, Calendula, Sweet Willium, Poppy, Clarkia, Ring of White Allisum and Viola cab be seen. Dahlias along the periphery attract butterflies that flutter over them.

The Biodiversity Park, which has deer, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowls, turtles, parakeets, rabbits and migratory birds, is another attraction. The Park also has peacocks. Important medicinal and aromatic plants depicting their use can be seen in the Herbal Garden. The bio-diesel producing plant - Jatropha; Stevia, which provides safe sugar for diabetics, Isabgol (plantago), Damask rose, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Mints, Tulsi, Geranium and other 33 types of herbs are housed in the Herbal Garden.

This release issued at 1115 hrs.