Mughal Gardens opens

New Delhi: Rashtrapati Bhavan's famous Mughal Gardens, which includes the Musical Garden, the Spiritual Garden, the Herbal Garden and the Biodiversity Park, will open to the public on St. Valentine's Day. The Gardens will be open to the general public till March 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Mondays, being the maintenance day. The Gardens, contiguous to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan, are spread over 15 acres. They were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was inspired by the beautiful gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the garden around the Taj Mahal and Persian and Indian miniature paintings.

The Mughal Gardens comprises three parts: the first is the Rectangular Garden adjacent to the main Rashtrapati Bhavan building, which is divided into four quarters, each with terraced gardens on either side. The central lawn here is the venue of numerous receptions and At Homes hosted by the President. The second is the Long Garden, leading on to the third part, which is the Circular Garden. The Long 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 separated from the next, by a patch of greens having a centrally located fountain.

The Garden derives its evergreen character from trees like Moulsri, Putranjiva, Saru, Juniper, China Orange, roses and a variety of climbers etc. The Garden has numerous varieties of roses like Taj Mahal, Pusa Arjun etc. and "Oklahoma" which is nearest to being black. In blues it has "Paradise", "Blue Moon" and "Lady X" as well as Green Rose. Various annuals are grown in beds and formal borders according to their heights and colours to produce harmonious effect and provide longer period for the bed to be full of blooms. Winter flowers like Calendula, Antirrhinum, Alyssum, Dimorphotheca, Eschscholzia, Larkspur, Gazania, Gerbera, Godetia, Lineria, Mesembryanthemum, Brachycome, Metucharia, Verbena, Viola, Pansy, Stock etc. grow well in flowerbeds. Dahlias, Carnations and Sweet Pea stand out because of their range of colours. Naturalizing effect is created by bulbous flowering plants like Narcissus, Fressia, Zephyranthus, Gladiola, Asiatic Lily and Tulips etc. The Long Garden or the 'Purdah' Garden, so called because of its shape blooms and blooms, enclosed by high walls, lies to the west of the main garden. It has 16 square rose beds hemmed in low hedges. Along the walls are lined the resplendent China Orange whose ornamental fruits outnumber the leaves, which is a centre of attraction.

The Circular ('Pearl' or 'Butter Fly' or 'Sunken') Garden at the western edge is a huge terraced bowl lined with various fragrant and vibrant annuals, which are blooming. A bubble fountain in the middle of this bowl enhances the grandeur of the place. Viola and Dahlia are in praiseworthy state along with other multicoloured attractive annuals separated by lush green grass. The main Mughal Garden is in bloom having annual flowers such as enlivening roses, lilies, tulips, double pansy flowers and eye catching velvet green lawns intercepted with lotus shaped fountains and blue base water canals. The newly added Musical Garden has an enthralling pair of fountains, which play the Shehnai music and Vandemataram. The fountains are a perfect blend of music, light and water with the help of modern technical know-how. Bonsai (dwarf plants), a variety of cactus plants, drift wood, potted plants, sparkling canal water and red stone paths add to the beauty of Rashtrapati Bhavan, besides being Tactile Garden, Peacock Golf Course, other playgrounds and the Health Centre etc.

The entry and exit into the Gardens will be via Gate No. 35 of the President's Estate, which is located at the extreme end of the Church Road, about 300 meters West of Cathedral Church. Entry for physically challenged people using wheelchairs will be through the Rashtrapati Bhavan Reception. Such persons can arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan through Hukmi Mai Marg or Rajpath. Visitors have been requested not to bring any water bottles, briefcases, handbags/ladies purses, cameras, radios/transistors, cell phones, umbrellas, arms/ammunitions and eatables. Such articles, if any, will not be allowed to be carried into the Mughal Gardens and will have to be deposited at the entry point at the owner's risk. Schools wishing to organize a visit for children below the age of 10 years to the Mughal Gardens during this period have been told to contact the President's Secretariat two days in advance so that their entry can be arranged on a priority basis.

The Biodiversity Park, which has deer, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowls, turtles, parakeets, rabbits and migratory birds, is another attraction. This Park is also full of peacocks. Important medicinal and aromatic plants depicting their use can be seen in the educational-cum-conservation Herbal Garden. The biodiesel producing plant Jatropha; Stevia, which provides safe sugar for diabetics, Isabgol (plantago), Damusk rose, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Tulsi, Geranium etc. can be seen in the Herbal Garden.
Feb 13, 2006