The Gardens,
contiguous to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan covers
an area of 15 acres. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens inspired
by the beautiful gardens of Jammu & Kashmir, the garden
around the Taj Mahal and Persian and Indian miniature paintings.
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The Gardens
comprise three parts: the first is the rectangular garden adjacent
to the main Rashtrapati Bhavan building, which is divided into
four quarters, each with terraced gardens on either side. The
central lawn here is the venue of numerous receptions and At
Homes hosted by the President. The second is the long garden,
leading on to the third section which is the circular garden.
The long garden has separate beds of roses with a dwarf-trimmed
hedge, giving the effect of ‘coloured knots on a vast carpet’.
The circular garden, also known as the ‘pearl garden’ or the
‘butterfly garden’, presents a feast of colours, with each tier
overflowing with flowers and separated from the next, by a patch
of green.
The Garden
derives its evergreen character from trees like Moulsri (Mimusops
Elengi), Putranjiva Roxburgi, Cypress, Thuja Orientalis, China
Orange, shrubs of roses and a variety of climbers.
The Garden
has numerous varieties of roses like "Bonne Nuit"
and "Oklahoma" which are nearest to being black. In
blues it has "Paradise", "Blue Moon" and
"Lady X". Various annuals are grown in beds and formal
borders according to their heights and colours to produce harmonious
effect.
Varieties like
Calendula, Antirrhinum, Alyssum, Dimorphotheca, Eschscholzia,
Larkspur, Gazania, Gerbera, Godetia, Lineria, Mesembryanthemum,
Brachycome, Metucharia, Verbena, Viola, Pansy, Stock etc. grow
well in flowerbeds. Dahlias, Carnations and Sweet Pea stand
out because of their range of colours. Naturalizing effect is
created by bulbous flowering plants like Narcissus, Fressia,
Zephyranthus, Gladiola, Asiatic Lily etc.
The Long Garden
or the ‘purdah’ Garden, so called because of its shape and being
enclosed by high walls, lies to the west of the main garden.
It has 16 square rose beds hemmed in low hedges. There is a
red sandstone pergola over the central pavement covered with
Rose, Petrea (Purple wreath), Bougainvillea and Grape Vine.
Along the walls are lined the resplendent China Orange trees
whose fruits outnumber the leaves.
There is a
circular (or ‘pearl’ or ‘butter fly’ or ‘sunken’) garden at
the western edge. It is a huge terraced bowl lined with various
fragrant and vibrant annuals. A bubble fountain in the middle
of this bowl enhances the grandeur of the place.
The
entry and exit into the Gardens is regulated from Gate No.35
of the President’s Estate, which is located near North Avenue,
at the Western end of Church Road.
Visitors are
requested not to bring any handbags, brief cases, cameras, radios/transistors,
cell phones, arms/ammunition, lunch boxes and eatables etc.
Such articles, if any, will not be allowed to be carried into
the Mughal Gardens and will have to be deposited at the entry
point at the owner’s risk.
Schools desirous
of organizing a visit of children below the age of 10 years
to the Mughal Gardens during this period may contact Section
Officer (Invitation), Rashtrapati Bhavan (Tel: 23012960 &
23015321 Extn.4229), two days in advance so that their entry
could be arranged on priority basis.
The entry will
be from 0930 hrs. to 1530 hrs. only. No entry will be possible
after 1530 hrs. though the Garden will remain open upto 1600
hrs.
The special
feature this year will be display of thirty to forty varieties
of Bonsai plants some as old as 50 to 70 years.
