Mughal Gardens Also show Stevia

[Sourabh Agarwal]

Mughal Gardens a hit with visitors

The Hindu
Sunday, Feb 20, 2005
By Our Staff Reporter



NEW DELHI, FEB. 19. A record 1.31 lakh people have so far visited the sprawling Mughal Gardens -- adjacent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan here -- since it was opened for public viewing on February 11.

The Mughal Gardens along with the Herbal Garden and the Spiritual Garden is open to the public on all days except on Mondays when maintenance takes place. The public viewing will remain open till March 13. The Gardens are open for public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are attracting people of all ages and groups. Not only Delhiites but also tourists both Indian and abroad are turning up in huge numbers.

According to Rashtrapati Bhavan sources, a huge crowd of over 44,000 people visited the Gardens on February 13. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has given a personal touch to the Herbal Garden and the Spiritual Garden that have been thrown open to public so that the people could enjoy and understand their significance.

The main Mughal Gardens is in bloom having annual flowers such as roses, lilies, tulips and double pansy flowers. Then there are eye-catching velvet green lawns intercepted with lotus shaped fountains and blue base water canals. The special feature of the Spiritual Garden -- that was opened only this year -- are plants and trees that are mentioned in religious texts. To promote communal harmony, religious heads were consulted before work on this garden began. This garden wishes to spread the message of inter-habitability of people in the same way, as various plants co-exist with one another.

Important medicinal and aromatic plants depicting their use can be seen in the educational-cum-conservation Herbal Garden.

The bio-diesel producing plant, Stevia that provides safe sugar for diabetics, tea plants (beverage), Isabgol (plantago), Damusk rose, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Tulsi and Geranium can also be seen in the Herbal Garden.