Thousands of tulips, hundreds of lilies, beds full of roses, and acres of dahlias — if there is one place that defines spring, it is the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and inspired by the Mughal gardens of Kashmir, these gardens, spread across 15 acres, on the northern side of the building, have ushered in spring in the capital for decades. This year is no different. While these lush lawns, with the President’s house standing tall behind, are a must-visit every year, we bring you some highlights from this year.
- Know before you go
- Mughal Gardens are open to the public until March 10 every day (from 9 am to 4 pm), except Mondays. Only wallets and mobile phones can be carried inside the premises, and you can take photographs, though selfies are discouraged. Entry only through Gate No 35, on North Avenue Road. Online booking can be done a week in advance via the Rashtrapati Bhavan website rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx This is advisable, as is wearing walking shoes.
Horticulturally speaking
Tulips dominate the gardens this year. Over 10,000 of them in nine varieties have been brought in from the Netherlands. Planted in autumn, the bulbs have already started blooming and are at their prime now. The highlight this year, however, is not only their vibrant shades — red, yellow, pink, white — but also their height, which, according to officials, has reached upto two feet — an unprecedented feat in the gardens until now.
Spread across the main lawns in small beds, the flowers are bright and beautiful, and the centre of attention. You must hurry up though, for they last only two weeks after flowering and start wilting as temperatures rise.
Another special flower this year, Matthiola incana , has been brought in from Japan. Also called the night-scented stock, it grows on a single stem, blooms in shades of blue, white, and pink, and serenades the whole campus with its fragrance. Known best for its shade of white, which contrasts beautifully with the red sandstone of the walls, the flower can be found blooming in big bunches in the main garden, lining the steps of the circular garden and running along flowerbeds.
Spring loaded A view of the gardens in bloom
Ranunculus , a temperate flower, which resembles a tiny rose, blooms in many pastel shades in smaller beds, as do cyclamen , a small plant found mainly in the hills. Phlox, candytufts, daisies, pansies, hyacinth and alyssum , can be found corralling larger beds and adorning small corners. The season, say staff members, is ideal for these smaller plants, which last only until the onset of March. That is also why the gardens have opened earlier than usual this year.
Spring loaded A view of the gardens in bloom
Mughal grandeur meets English design
Inspired by the gardens in Kashmir and in the Taj Mahal, the Mughal Gardens also include many elements of British garden art. Mughal canals and terraces blend with European flowerbeds, lawns, and hedges. The Persian stylisation is seen in the geometrical layout and the play with water, while elements like hedges and flowers are essentially British.
Spring loaded A view of the gardens in bloom
The three main gardens include the main Mughal Garden, the Long Garden, and the circular or the Butterfly Garden. While the main garden has water channels, fountains, and hedges dividing the lawn, the Long Garden runs along a central pavement and the Circular Garden is designed like an amphitheatre.
Home to over 140 varieties of roses, many of them named after famous personalities, the Long Garden is fragrant and enchanting. The central pavement with tall walls is home to vertical gardens, creepers like flame vine, with bright orange blooms, and bougainvillea, bursting with flaming reds and blushing pinks.
The circular garden, also the last part of the trail, is where everything culminates. Arranged in order of height, the plants range from a few inches in height to about several feet. The large circular water body with a fountain makes the centrepiece, and potted plants arranged on the steps create an illusion of a huge butterfly with its wings spread out. Tulips, marigold, stock, viola, sweet william, phlox, clarkia, and alyssum form the inner rings; tall dahlias, Matthiola incana , chrysanthemums, and daisies make the outer periphery. Just so you don’t miss any part of it, do watch out for sections dedicated to bonsai and cactus.
