Garden of Five Senses

The Garden of Five Senses is a park spread over 20 acres, in Saidul Ajaib village, opposite Saket, near the Mehrauli heritage area in Delhi, India. The park was developed by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTDC), Government of Delhi at a cost of Rs 10.5 crore, over a period of three years and open in February 2003. Partly built over a rocky terrain, the garden has various theme areas, including a section on the lines of Mughal Gardens, plus pools of water lilies, bamboo courts, herb gardens and solar energy park.[1][2][3]

Contents

Overview

Located just off the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, in Said-Ul-Azaib village, close to the Mehrauli heritage area, The Garden of Five Senses is an attractive park developed by Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation. Visitors can relax, enjoy the park's amenities and take a break from the daily routine of their hectic lives, as well as develop a greater sensitivity to the environment. Inaugurated in February 2003, the garden is designed to stimulate our five senses with its beauty and attractions and give us a chance to touch, smell, hear and see our natural surroundings. The garden serves as one of the prominent cultural venues of the capital, as programs are organized here round the year. The Garden tourism festival, food festivals, different melas, Dandiya festivals and other cultural programs are held here at different times.

Though the 20-acre (81,000 m2) garden has numerous attractions, however the prime attractions of the park are the Khas Bagh, a beautiful garden, Food and shopping court, Neel Bagh, Color Gardens, the Courts of Specimen Plants, amazing sculptures and the interesting Solar Energy Park.

Khas Bagh is developed on the pattern of Mughal Gardens though with a series of modern water channels and fountains, some fitted with a lighting system enhancing the whole beauty of the garden. Walking the spiral walkway will lead to the food as well as the shopping court where visitors can taste the different delicacies and shop for unique curios. Then there is awe-inspiring Neel Bagh, a pool of water lilies, surrounded by a bower like structure covered with colorful plants. There are also numerous wind chimes in the park, which add to the ambience with their tinkling sound.

Further attractions are the Color Gardens and the Courts of Specimen Plants; the former is an extraordinary collection and combination of ordinary flowering shrubs and ground covers while the latter is a display of rare species of plants and herbs. The not-to-be-missed features of the garden are the twenty-five different sculptures and murals by the popular craftsmen and artisans of India and the Solar Energy Park. The Solar Park was set up with the assistance of the Ministry of Non-conventional Renewable Energy Sources with the aim of promoting awareness about renewable sources of energy. The main exhibits of the solar park are the two solar-powered buses, bicycles, cars, and a computer, among other things.

A visit to the Garden of Five Senses is sure to leave you feeling quite refreshed. The sight of the plants and flowers, the sound of the melodious wind chimes, the aroma and taste of different cuisine and the feel of the sun-warmed rocks and stone benches in the amphitheatre, where you can sit and rest after a tour of the park, will leave your senses feeling pleasantly fulfilled.

Presently, the Garden of Five Senses is managed by Sh. V K Jatav, Manager, DTTDC.

In August 2005, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Limited (DTTDC) signed an agreement with ITE India Pvt Ltd for operating 31 commercial food and craft outlets for 10 years at the Garden of Five Senses, as a result the park also has several restaurants, and liquor serving bars. [4][5][6]

Transport

The garden is serviced by the Saket station of the Delhi Metro.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ Garden of Five Senses at Vigyan Prasar, Govt. of India
  2. ^ "Splash of colours in new garden". The Times of India. Feb 19, 2003. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-19/delhi/27288168_1_colours-garden-chime. 
  3. ^ "A treat for the senses". The Times of India. Feb 22, 2003. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-22/delhi/27269034_1_garden-festival-flowers-in-full-bloom-landscaping. 
  4. ^ "Commercialized Garden of Five Senses defeats public purpose". The Times of India. Sep 6, 2011. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-06/delhi/30118667_1_termination-notice-cag-report-food-stalls. 
  5. ^ "Lounge Review: The Zoo, Garden of Five Senses, New Delhi". Mint (newspaper). Jan 8 2010. http://www.livemint.com/2010/01/08200431/Lounge-Review--The-Zoo-Garde.html. 
  6. ^ "New Delhi: Power and Paradox". New York Times. November 8, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/fashion/09iht-luxmag16.html. 

External links