City Guide: Garden of Five Senses

The Garden of Five Senses is a breath taking and enamoring experience. It is not just a park - it is a celebration of aesthetic expression and appreciation, a seamless dialogue between the creations of man and nature that invites interaction and exploration. It is an ideal ground to realize the twin objectives of the need for a public leisure space as well as awakening of human sensitivity to the environment.

It is an intricate blend of nature’s bounty and subtle human creation. Amidst the concrete jungle and the hustle and bustle of the city, the garden of five senses comes across as a welcome breath of fresh air and serene quietude. True to the imagery suggested by its name and with its beautiful, lush green landscapes, the garden of five senses stimulates all the five senses in an evocative bouquet that awakens the mind to the beauty of life and invokes a grateful prayer for the gift of touch, sight, sound, smell and taste.

Visitors are encouraged to touch the rocks and displays, the fragrance of flower for the nose, the landscape appeals to the eyes - the sight, the ceramic bells and the water falls create a soothing sound - pleasing to the ear and the food courts serve a variety of cuisines - to please the tongue. Thus, justifying its nomenclature - Garden of Five Senses!

The garden is located at Said-ul-Aizab village, close to the Mehrauli heritage area in New Delhi. The garden is built on a large expanse of land, 20 acres to be precise. It was inaugurated in February 2003 by Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, coinciding with the beginning of the 16th garden festival which is showcasing seasonal flowers, hanging baskets and animal figures sculpted from the plants.

The garden is a visual treat, esp. for the photographers. The geometric arrangement of plants, the meandering pathways and lotus pools with beds of green leaves covering clear waters and with pink lotuses peeping out every now and then transporting a person straight to heaven. A brief walk in the garden serves as a great stress reliever. Stainless steel birds mounted on slate -clad pillars soar indignantly in the air, as if, trying to welcome the visitors.

Nestled among the natural slope of the site is the amphi-theatre with blocks of sandstone serving as seating. At the rear of the garden is an open exhibition area for displaying art and holding workshops. Pools of water lilies, bamboo courts and herb gardens are some of the other attractions. The garden is a wonderland for children and adults alike, who are virtually starved of this bountiful nature’s gift.

The mountainous landscapes and rocks strewn in every here and there give a casual trekking experience. Majestic rocks stand silhouetted against the sky; others lie strewn upon the ground in an alluring display of nature’s sculptural genius.

The garden festivals theme this year is Decorative Accents in Landscaping. A competition will be held in 24 classes consisting over 175 sections. There will also be competitions in Dahlia varieties, display sections, the tray garden class and nursery stalls. Such similar competitions and shows would be held every year.

To add more interest, are the toy solar cars imported from Taiwan for use in the amusement section of the Garden of Five Senses. Each solar car cost Rs 60,000 each.

During the garden festival, free battery bus rides up to the garden would be available from Qutab Minar and the deputy commissioner’s office near Anupam Apartments in Saket.

An integral part of the garden is the solar Park set up with the assistance of the Ministry of Non-conventional Renewable Energy sources. The aim is to promote awareness of renewable source of energy. A 20KW solar power plant is installed to meet the requirement of the park.