New Delhi: The iconic Mughal Gardens that was rechristened as ‘Amrit Udyan’ was opened to the public on January 31. Amrit Udyan will remain open for visitors until March 26 between 10 am and 4 pm. Thereafter, the gardens will be open for special categories from March 28 to 31. For farmers on March 28, for differently-abled persons on March 29, for defence, paramilitary forces, and police personnel on March 30, and for women, including tribal women’s self-help groups, on March 31.
Amrit Udyan is spread over 15 acres and includes over 150 varieties of roses, tulips, Asiatic lilies, daffodils and other ornamental flowers.
To walk around this horticultural paradise with family and friends, follow these steps:
How To Book Slots Online
- People can book their slots well in advance online at rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in or rb.nic.in.
- Click on ‘Explore and Tour’, and enter Circuit 3.
- Now, click plan your visit. Follow the steps accordingly.
Walk-in visitors can also get entry into the gardens. However, they will have to register themselves at the facilitation counters as well as at the self-service kiosk near gate no 12 of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- Registration charges of Rs. 50/- per visitor.
- Exemption for visitors below the age of 8 years.
- Entry and exit for all visitors will be from gate number 35 of the President’s Estate, close to where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- The Gardens are closed on Mondays.
Attractions
Roses remain the main attraction of the garden, as there are around 159 celebrated varieties of roses which blossom between February and March. These include Adora, Mrinalini, the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Modern Art, Scentimental, and Oklahoma (also called black rose). Several roses are named after famous personalities Jawahar Lal Nehru, Queen Elizabeth, and Christian Dior.
Take special note of the flower beds which are planted with alyssum, daisies, and pansies, around 60 of the 101 known types of bougainvillaeas. As well as the doob grass, which was originally brought from Calcutta (now Kolkata) when the Mughal Gardens were being planted.
Visitors should look out for the two different horticulture traditions together for the gardens, the Mughal style, and the English flower garden. Mughal canals, terraces, and flowering shrubs are beautifully blended with European flowerbeds, lawns and private hedges.
The Garden has almost 50 varieties of trees, shrubs, and vines, including the Moulsiri tree, Golden Rain tree, flower-bearing Torch Tree, and many more. Currently, over 300 permanent and casual employees work on developing and maintaining the gardens.
History
Sir Edwin Lutyens had finalised the design of the gardens as early as 1917, the planting was done during the year 1928-1929. His collaborator for the gardens was the Director of Horticulture, William Mustoe.
Originally, the garden at Rashtrapati Bhavan included East Lawn, Central Lawn, Long Garden and Circular Garden.
During the term of former presidents Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and Ram Nath Kovind, more gardens were developed, namely, Herbal-I, Herbal-II, Tactile Garden, Bonsai Garden and Arogya Vanam.
This time, the gardens — Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden, Central Lawn, Long Garden and Circular Garden — will be open to the public for about two months.