Chandigarh Botanical Garden with 150 different species inaugurated

Chandigarh, Jan 2 (UNI) With an objective of research and promotion of eco-tourism, and awareness of floral heritage, the UT Administration has developed a Botanical Garden and a Bamboo Valley here.

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gen S F Rodrigues (retd) today, after inaugurating Botanical Garden at village Sarangpur, went round the different infrastructural components created in the garden in an area of 176 acres of land.

The garden has 15 botanical sections with 150 species of medicinal plants, shrubs and herbs besides different species of trees - ficus trees, palms, conifers, and some ornamental flower plants. The garden has various other supporting infrastructure, including office-cum-nature interpretation center, equipped with library and other informative material, a lake developed on 8 acres of land, 5 more water bodies, meditation huts-cum-rain shelters, a nursery-cum-research block, cafeteria and other public utility services.

Later, after inaugurating the Bamboo Valley in Sector 23 and the fountain with a water body, General Rodrigues appreciated the speed at which the work of this park was completed. It was done in a record time of four months by the Engineering Department of Chandgiarh Administration.

This park, set up on a 27.5 acres of land, has 15 species of trees, besides bamboo groves along the 'choe' (seasonal stream).

This valley also has a variety of other rare trees which include Marror fali, Amla, Akash Neem, Silver oak, Inter lobium, Amaltas, Chakrassia, Acacia aurculiformis, Behera, Kathal, Mango, Pipa, Kankchampa, Mohagani and Dek. It has other bamboo structures including a restaurant, rain-shelters, food kiosks, milk bar.

This spot has also some other highlights including five feet bridges, three-kilometer-long walk ways, sand pit, labyrinth, slopping walls from the children, rest rooms and two tubewells for irrigation.

The whole area has been landscaped by grass, bamboo plantation and elegantly designed 30 concrete benches.

UNI