Annual 'Udyanotsav' of Mughal Gardens open for public till March

The Gardens has almost 50 varieties of trees, shrubs and vines including Moulsiri tree, Golden Rain tree, flower bearing Torch Tree and many more.

President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind inaugurated the annual event on Monday. President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady strolled at the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, a day before the opening of the gardens for the public view.The annual attraction Udyanotsav of Mughal Gardens will be opened for public from Tuesday.

This year, there will be 10,000 tulip bulbs in eight colours, brought from the Netherlands. The tulips, which have been flowering since the first week of January, are expected to blossom till the end of February.

Apart from roses, tulips, Asiatic lilies, daffodils, hyacinth and other seasonal flowers beautify the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan. There are more than seventy varieties of seasonal flowers including exotic bulbous and winter flowering plants. The garden also grows 60 of the 101 known types of bougainvilleas. Edging and flowering of flower beds is done with alyssum, daisy, pansy etc. The grass that covers the garden is the doob grass, which was originally brought from Calcutta (now Kolkata) when the Mughal Gardens was being planted.

The Gardens has almost 50 varieties of trees, shrubs and vines including Moulsiri tree, Golden Rain tree, flower bearing Torch Tree and many more. At present over three hundred permanent and casual employees are deployed for the development and maintenance of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday, a day before the opening of the gardens for the public view. PTI photo

President inaugurates the annual 'Udyanotsav'

President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind inaugurate the annual Udyanotsav of the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. Courtesy: @rashtrapatibhvn

Tulips and Primulas are major attractions

The Mughal Gardens will remain open for the public from February 6, 2018 to March 9, 2018 (except on Mondays and March 2, 2018, Holi) between 0930 hrs to 1600 hrs. Entry and exit will be from Gate No. 35 of the President's Estate. The prime attractions of Udyanostav 2016 were Tulips and Primulas. Courtesy: @rashtrapatibhvn

Inspired by Mughal Gardens of Jammu and Kashmir

Spread over a vast expanse of 15 acres, Mughal Gardens has often been portrayed, and deservedly so, as the soul of the Presidential Palace. The Mughal Gardens draw its inspiration from the Mughal Gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the gardens around the Taj Mahal and even miniature paintings of India and Persia.

Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens

Sir Edwin Lutyens had finalized the designs of the Mughal Gardens as early as 1917, however, it was only during the year 1928-1929 that plantings were done. His collaborator for the gardens was Director of Horticulture, William Mustoe. Like the building of Rashtrapati Bhavan have two different styles of architecture, Indian and western, similarly, Sir Lutyens brought together 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.

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