The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Brindavan Gardens to get a facelift for Dasara

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 14, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Brindavan Gardens to get a facelift for Dasara

By Our Staff Correspondent

Brindavan Gardens near Mysore is being spruced up for the coming Dasara festivities.

MYSORE, AUG. 13. Brindavan Gardens at Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir, near here, will be in full bloom during Dasara festivities with new flowering plants.

The garden is expected to regain its glory and thousands of visitors are expected to throng the place during the festivities. With the Horticulture Department undertaking a massive facelift at the gardens, hundreds of new flower plants, creepers and other plants are being planted, and fountains in both north and south Brindavan spruced up.

Among those plants that are being introduced for the first time are foliage plants such as Duranta plumaria and Euphorbia, flowering plants such as a large variety of Neeriums and Alamandas, Marigold, Salvia, Zannias, Coxcombs, Celosia and Fire Bushes.

New varieties

Besides these, some of the Cyprus variety and Ficus panda and Ficus starlite will be introduced, and topiary works are being undertaken. New shapes in the form of animals will be introduced through topiary works.

An additional attraction is the introduction of Shubra, a new variety of bougainvillea.

Speaking to The Hindu , the Senior Assistant Director of the Horticulture Department at KRS, Shanmukhappa, said: "During full bloom, the gardens will look like never before with the introduction of plants that blossom in bright colours. Though the thrust is on strengthening the irrigation system, several major changes have been incorporated to give a facelift to the gardens."

Some of the plant varieties had been raised in the nursery already and they were awaiting transplantation, while a number of plants were being sourced from places such as West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

In view of the limited time that the authorities had before the commencement of Dasara festivities, many plants on the verge of blossoming had been procured and laid out in the gardens, he said.

Laid out on the principles of the famous Mughal Gardens, the Brindavan Gardens has pergolas (creeper-covered walkways) and gazebos (shelters).

Mr. Shanmukhappa said that barring some replacements of dead plants and trees, the gardens had not witnessed major changes since it was laid out in 1932.

Along with the introduction of new varieties of plants, he said that the landscaping would be changed.

The soil would be replaced and it would be fortified with fertilizers.

Tree surgery

To provide a good view of the newly laid-out gardens, Mr. Shanmukhappa said that "tree surgery" would be conducted, which involved pruning and trimming of tree branches aesthetically. Most of the nearly 110 trees in the gardens were more than 50 years, and they had not been pruned so far, he said.

Plan formulated

The Horticulture Department authorities are also developing a conceptual plan for the comprehensive development of Brindavan Gardens. The plan is being formulated as several works cannot be undertaken immediately. Development of the gardens can be taken up in stages as and when money is released for the works.

The conceptual plan envisages renovation of lawns, computerisation of the water supply system with single-point operation, development of water bodies such as artificial waterfalls and lotus ponds and also the waterfront garden near the boating area, Mr. Shanmukhappa added.

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