The gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan's famous Mughal Gardens will be thrown open for the general public on February 14.
Every year after the Republic Day celebrations, the President's exclusive gardens are opened to the public to have a glance at the best-maintained garden in India.
"The Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, including the Musical Garden, the Spiritual Garden, the Herbal Garden and the Biodiversity Park, are being opened for viewing by the general public from February 14. The Gardens will be open to the general public on all days from February 14 to March 14 from 10 am to 4 pm except on Mondays, which were being reserved for maintenance," said a Rashtrapati Bhavan press communiqué.
The Gardens, contiguous to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan, covers an area of 15 acres.
Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was entrusted with the task of construction of New Delhi, was so inspired by Nishat Gardens and some other gardens of Jammu and Kashmir that he thought that the head of the state should have similar gardens in his palatial residence.
The Mughal Gardens comprises of 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, which has several beds of roses with a dwarf-trimmed hedge, giving the effect of 'coloured knots on a vast carpet.'
- The third part is the Circular Garden, also known as the 'Pearl Garden' or the 'Butterfly Garden', presents a feast of colours, with each tier overflowing with annual flowers and separated from the next, by a patch of greens having a centrally located fountain'.
Special arrangements have been made for the visually handicapped children and children below 10 years who are expected to arrive in groups, accompanied by their teachers.
