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Enjoy Mughal Gardens in its full splendour

Sandeep Joshi

NEWDELHI: With the harsh winter season already over, the famous Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan are once again in full bloom inviting visitors to come and enjoy the natural splendour. All set to open on February 14, the Gardens draw visitors not only from Delhi and its neighbouring townships but also from India and abroad.

The Gardens, contiguous to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan and spread in an area of 15 acres, were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens drawing inspiration from the beautiful gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the garden around the Taj Mahal and Persian and Indian miniature paintings. It has three parts -- Rectangular Garden, Long Garden, Circular Garden.

The Mughal Gardens derives their evergreen character from trees like moulsri, putranjiva, saru, juniper, china orange, roses and a variety of climbers. The main garden is in full bloom with annual flowers like enlivening roses, lilies, tulips and double pansy. The eye-catching velvet green lawns intercepted with lotus shaped fountains that play "shehnai" music and Vande Mataram add to the beauty of the place. The fountains are also a perfect blend of music, light and water.

The Rectangular Garden is divided into four quarters each with terraced gardens, while the central lawn here forms the venue of receptions hosted by the President. The Long Garden or the "Purdah Garden" has several beds of roses with a dwarf-trimmed hedge giving the effect of coloured knots on a vast carpet. The Circular Garden, also known as the "Pearl Garden" or the "Butterfly Garden" presents a feast of colours with each tier overflowing with annual flowers and in the centre there is a musical fountain.

The Long Garden got its name due to its shape. Enclosed by high walls that lie to the west of the main garden, it has 16 square rose beds hemmed in low hedges. The walls are lined with the resplendent China Orange whose ornamental fruits outnumber the leaves, thus becoming the centre of attraction. The Circular Garden is a huge terraced bowl lined with various fragrant and vibrant annuals. A bubble fountain in the middle of this bowl enhances the grandeur of this place.

There are a lot of other exciting natural things for children and younger generation in the park to enjoy and learn from. For instance, the Bio-diversity Park has deer, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowls, turtles, parakeets, rabbits and migratory birds, while important medicinal and aromatic plants depicting their use can be seen in the educational-cum-conservation Herbal Garden. It also has bio-diesel producing plant Jatropha, Stevia that provides safe sugar for diabetics, Isabgol (plantago), Damusk rose, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Tulsi and Geranium.

Mughal Gardens will remain open for a month between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. except on Mondays. The entry and exit into the Gardens will be via Gate No.35 of the President's Estate while entry for physically challenged people using wheelchairs will be through the Rashtrapati Bhavan's reception.

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Enjoy Mughal Gardens in its full splendour

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