The Hindu : Front Page : Tourist spots being spruced up for autumn season

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Tourist spots being spruced up for autumn season

D. Radhakrishnan

Plant protection measures in full swing
Work on renovating Davis Park nearing completion

Udhagamandalam: With the second season (autumn) in this hill station just a few weeks away, work on enhancing the beauty of popular tourist attractions is in full swing.

Following some of the plants in Centenary Rose Park being affected by intermittent rains, humidity, fungus and pests, plant protection measures are now in full swing. Expressing confidence that the measures would help the bushes recover, Assistant Director of Horticulture A.J. Jagadeesh Kumar told The Hindu here on Tuesday that about 60 to 70 per cent of the plants were expected to be in bloom by the time the curtain went up on the second season in September. Preparations for the international rose convention scheduled to be held here during January 2009 will not affect the appearance of the park during the autumn season.

“Tourists can look forward to a treat provided the weather remained favourable,” Mr. Kumar added. Assistant Director of Horticulture in charge of the Government Botanical Garden Prakasam said the absence of incessant rains during the current South-West Monsoon had benefited flower beds. Blooming was expected to commence in about 15 days. Stating that some parts of the garden would present a new look, Mr. Prakasam said the wooden benches, an integral part of the garden, would be replaced with concrete ones. Tourist attractions in other parts of the district like Sim’s Park in Coonoor and Nehru Park at Kotagiri are also getting ready for the season. Work on renovating Davis Park is nearing completion, Udhagamandalam Municipal Commissioner Seeni Ajmal Khan said.

Meanwhile, some in the hospitality and travel trade wondered why the Department of Tourism had over the years been neglecting the autumn season.

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