Not far from the Bannerghatta Biological Park is a little tropical bubble — complete with humidity control, citrus trees and even a waterfall.
The country's first butterfly park, and also one of the largest, is located on a 7.5-acre plot and nurtures 48 species of butterflies that are bred here. The park comprises a butterfly conservatory, an audio visual room and a museum containing dioramas of preserved butterflies.
Built at a cost of Rs. 5 crore, the park was inaugurated in 2006 and has seen stages of development over the last few years. Now there are a few thousand butterflies on display.
The breeding programme is a rather elaborate one. ‘Host' plants trees containing citrus fruits are grown to attract butterflies. “They lay eggs there, which are then collected and brought to the lab where the butterflies are reared, said R. Raju, Executive Director, Bannerghatta Biological Park.
The park has expanded every year, and has begun to attract many more visitors too.
“When the park was first opened, it seemed like a good idea and I was really fascinated. Once I visited it, I didn't find many unusual butterflies. But now, there are many ,” said Mira Ganesh, a resident of Bannerghatta. “The display in the dome makes it more appealing and the audio visual experience is good as well. The park has developed a lot over the years and is totally worth a visit.” Entry to the park is priced at Rs. 20 for adults and Rs. 10 for children.
