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Prominent Gardens of India

Even the most dedicated and creative gardener can run out of ideas from time to time. Even the best among us are affected. As a result, the next natural step would be to look for inspiration in the big wide world. The good news is that India is one of the world's most diversified countries, with an abundance of gorgeous gardens to choose from.

India has a diverse topography and a rich cultural heritage, resulting in a plethora of majestic monuments, strong fortresses, and magnificent gardens. Many of India’s gorgeous parks and gardens date back to the Mughal period. However, India’s rapidly urbanising cities are increasingly creating public parks and beautifully blooming gardens to provide a respite from the city’s chaos and din. People are looking forward to spending summer evenings or winter afternoons soaking in the fresh air as more green spaces are developed in cities. Moreover, the newer ones are even better in terms of architecture and decor; they are dotted with lovely fountains and generously sprinkled with green trees, and they are certain to entice anyone with their striking beauty. Apart from providing a serene atmosphere for nature lovers in the cities, some of these gardens in India are hot spots for botanical artwork and plant conservation.

List of famous gardens in India

1. Mughal Gardens, Srinagar

One of Srinagar’s most prominent and frequented tourist sites is the Mughal Gardens, which have profoundly changed the face of the Mughal Empire. Exploring the history of these gardens is usually a lot of pleasure.

Timing- 9:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Entry Fees- Adult ₹20 and Children ₹10.

2. Pinjore Gardens, Chandigarh

Pinjore Gardens is a stunning Mughal garden in the city of Pinjore, in the district of Panchkula, Haryana, built in the 17th century. The garden covers 100 acres and is a lovely location to rest with nature in the midst of the ever-growing concrete jungle. The Pinjore Garden, also known as Yadvinder Garden, is well-known throughout the world for its well-kept vegetation, relaxing fountains, and captivating water bodies. The Pinjore Gardens in India are a beautiful example of terrace gardens. It not only has a large expanse of lovely vegetation, but it also has a little zoo, an area dedicated to historic sites, a tranquil Japanese garden, a magnificent nursery, and several picnic areas. As a result, the Gardens cater to both children and adults. Many people think that during their banishment, the Pandava brothers rested here.

Timing- 7:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

Entry Fees- ₹20

3. Lalbagh, Bangalore

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore is a nationally and internationally famous centre for botanical artwork, scientific plant study, and plant conservation. Tipu Sultan imported trees and plants from all over the world and planted them at Lalbagh Botanical Garden, which now contains one of the world’s largest collections of rare species.

Timing- 6:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Entry Fees- Adults ₹25(After 8:00 A.M.)

Children below 12 years free

Camera ₹60

Unique gardens of India

1. Rock Garden, Chandigarh

A sculpture garden with a unique layout may be found in the heart of Chandigarh. Chandigarh’s 40-acre rock garden is one of India’s top eco-gardens. Thousands of sculptures made from scrap and waste materials are a big lure for visitors. Courtyards, man-made waterfalls, pavilions, well-kept walks, and an open-air theatre are all part of the enormous landscape. This is one of the biggest gardens in India.

The rock garden was created by Nek Chand Saini, a lowly transport officer and self-taught artist. He planned and worked on this garden in his own time for nearly ten years, until it was found by city officials in 1975.

This was discovered to be an unlawful structure built on government property. The structure was made legal after much discussion, and the garden was allowed to open to the public.

Nek Chand’s design has expanded from a 12-acre complex to a 40-acre garden kingdom since then. A tour around this garden displays the creator’s artistic ideas and dedication.

If you’re visiting Chandigarh, this charming park should be on your list. The rock garden is around a 15-minute drive from Chandigarh train station, approximately 7 kilometres away.

Timing- 9:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Entry Fees- Adults ₹30 and Children ₹10.

2. Mughal Garden, Delhi

The famed 15-acre Mughal garden is located within the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi. Its design is influenced by Srinagar’s Mughal gardens and Agra’s Mehtab Bagh.

The garden is open to the public during the annual Udyanotsav festival, which takes place in February and March.

It is without a doubt one of India’s most beautiful gardens, featuring over 150 species of roses. Tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, and lilies, among other flowers, beautify this garden complex.

A delightful stroll around this garden during Delhi’s mild winters is completely restorative. The closest metro station to Mughal Gardens is Central Secretariat Metro Station.

Timing- 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Entry Fees- Free

3. Brindavan Gardens, Mysore

Brindavan Gardens, which spans 60 acres within the Krishnaraja Sagar dam (KRS dam) complex, is around 21 kilometres from Mysore city. Mandya district in Karnataka is home to the dam complex.

Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV built the KRS dam over the Kaveri River, one of India’s most important rivers.

Sir Mirza Ismail, the then diwan of the kingdom of Mysore, established this garden to beautify the area around the dam. He designed the garden in 1927, and it took him five years to complete. Brindavan Gardens is considered one of India’s best terrace gardens. It was inspired by Bengaluru’s Lalbagh Botanical Garden.

Timing- 6:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M

Entry Fees- Adults ₹15 and Children upto 10 years ₹5.

Largest Garden in India

ACJ Bose Indian  Botanic Garden, Shibpur

The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, often known as the Indian Botanic Garden, is a massive garden in Shibpur, Howrah, that spans 273 acres. The garden is located near Kolkata City Centre’s west end.

Colonel Kyd established the AJC Bose Indian Botanical Garden in 1786. What began as a garden to produce commercial plants and trees to help make money has evolved into the oldest and largest Botanical Gardens in Southeast Asia, where botanical research is conducted. In fact, it was in this garden that Assam and Darjeeling teas were initially planted and refined.

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, is now patronising the garden. The garden, which includes exquisite artificial lakes, is groomed and manicured to look to be the most vivid and stunning in the country. The garden’s layout gives every visitor a pleasant vibe, and everyone can enjoy some quiet and serene time in nature.

The garden’s main attraction, however, is the world-famous giant Banyan tree. The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Botanical Garden contains one of the greatest palm collections in Southeast Asia, with 153 species divided into 53 genera and eight subfamilies. The Botanical Garden also has 24 artificial lakes that are connected to the river via underground pipes.

The botanical garden adheres to a stringent zero-plastic and zero-littering policy, as the entire property is a no-plastic zone.

Timing- 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Entry Fees- ₹10 for Indian Nationals and ₹100 for Foreign Nationals

Conclusion

Botanical gardens keep a diverse collection of species alive, in seed banks, and in tissue culture. Botanic gardens, on the other hand, house plant collections for educational, scientific, and display purposes. Finally, the botanical garden serves as an important ex situ and in situ conservation location for plants. Plant diversity protection is vital for long-term development, and botanic gardens play an important role as conservation action centres.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

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