THIS YEAR'S ATTRACTION AT THE MUGHAL GARDENS TO BE MINIATURE CACTUS GARDEN AND BONSAI

(PIB NEWS) The Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan including the Musical Garden, Spiritual Garden, the Herbal Garden and the Biodiversity Park, are being opened for viewing by the general public from February 13 to March 11. The Gardens will be open to the general public on all days from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., except on Mondays being maintenance days. Entry into the Gardens will be open only upto 4 P.M. 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. This year the special attraction will be the Cactus Corner and a Bonsai Segment. Bonsai (dwarf plants), and a variety of cactus plants will add to the beauty of Rashtrapati Bhavan this year. Bonsai lovers will be able to enjoy a collection of such plants, which are on special display. Visitors while walking into the Gardens will also be able to experience how the green surroundings and water bodies can add to an eco-friendly environment by attracting fauna. The Mughal Gardens, contiguous to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan cover an area of 15 acres. They were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens inspired by the beautiful gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the garden around the Taj Mahal and Persian and Indian miniature paintings. The Mughal Gardens comprise 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 Rectangular Garden has several winter seasonal bulbous and flowering beds, with a prominence of variety of Roses which are at full bloom and are a centre of attraction. They include Adora, Mrinalini, Taj Mahal, Modern Art, Oklahoma, John F. Kennedy, Virgo, Mr. Lincoln and Folklore. In addition, Dahlias, Tulips, Asiatic Lilies, Daffodils, Ranunculus, Hyacinth and other seasonal flowers suitably incorporated add beauty to Central Garden. This central part is followed by the Long Garden, having some prominent and popular roses like Christian Dior, Queen Elizabeth, Iceberg, Pasadena, Montezuma, Summer Snow, First Prize, Century Two, Diri's Tysterman, etc. The next part of the garden is the Circular ('Pearl' or Butter Fly' or 'Sunken') Garden at the Western edge. This 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 the place. One can see Violas and Dahlias, Phlox, Poppy and Larkspur here. The Garden derives its evergreen character from trees like Moulsri, Putranjiva, Saru, Juniper, China Orange, Roses, Tulips, Oriental and Asiatic Lilies and varieties of Climbers. Winter flowers like Calendula, Antirrhinum, Alyssum, Dimorphotheca, Larkspur, Gazania, Gerbera, Lineria, Mesembryanthemum, Brachycome, Metrucaria, Verbena, Viola, and Pansy grow well here. 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 attractive rose beds hemmed in low hedges. Along the walls are lined the resplendent China Orange whose ornamental fruits outnumber the leaves. It attracts every visitor including The President. 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 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 can be seen in the Herbal Garden. Organically grown winter seasonal vegetables are also on display.
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