The
Garden of Five Senses
The Garden of Five Senses is not just a park, it is a space with a variety
of activities, inviting public interaction and exploration. The project, developed
by Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation, was conceptualized
to answer to the city's need for leisure space for the public, for people to
socialize and unwind. Such spaces add atmosphere and life to a city and cater
to all sections of the society.
The twenty-acre site, located at
Said-Ul-Azaib village, close
to the Mehrauli heritage area in New Delhi, is spectacular area in New Delhi,
is spectacular. The Garden was inaugurated in February 2003. Majestic rocks
stand silhouetted against the sky, others lie strewn upon the ground in a casual
yet alluring display of nature's sculptural genius. It was the ideal ground
on which to realize the concept of a public leisure space that would awaken
a sensory response and thereby a sensitivity to the environment.
Soaring stainless-steel birds mounted on slate-clad pillars welcome you into
the park. An expansive plaza, set on the natural slope of the site, invites
you up the spiral walkway. Across, a troop of elephants, cut in stone, regaling
in a water bath, tempts exploration.
The garden itself is divided into distinct areas. On one side of the spiral
walkway is the Khas Bagh, a formal garden patterned on the lines of the Mughal
Garden. Slow-moving water cascades in channels along its length, while flowering
and fragrant shrubs and trees line its paths. The Central axis leads to a series
of fountains, some of which are lit up by fibreoptic lighting systems. Encapsulating
the expression here is the sculpture of 'A Fountain Tree".
Secluded, away from the heart of the garden, on the other side of the walkway
is the
food and shopping court. A series of terraces provided with seating
face the food court.
The heady
Trail of Fragrance leads away to a rocky ridge to the north,
where elevated amongst the rocks, a sculpture in stainless-steel, inspired by
a pin-wheel, dances in joyous abandon.
Wander down the meandering paths to
Neel Bagh, a pool of water-lilies
encircled by pergols covered with climbing plants of different colours and textures.
Overhead, hundreds of ceraminc bells chime, whispering secrets to the breeze,
teasing you with their gentle laughter.
There are
Colour Gardens - beautiful compositions of flowering shrubs
and ground covers that have you looking at familiar plants with new eyes.
The
Courts of Specimen Plants display not so frequently seen species - of bamboo,
for instance, or cactii, or herbs.
Nestled amongst the natural slope of the site is the
amphitheatre with
blocks of sandstone to serve as seating. At the rear of the garden is an open
exhibition area for displaying art and for holding art workshops
Almost two hundred varieties of plants are introduced. In addition, there
are large areas where the existing vegetarian , consisting mostly of trees such
as the local Kikar and he thorny Ber bush, has been left untouched.
The Garden has been designed to the imagery suggested by the name Garden of
Five Senses. Colour, fragrances, texture and form all come together in an evocative
bouquet that awakens the mind to the beauty of life and invokes a grateful prayer
for the gift of sight, sound, touch , smell and taste.
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