Mughal Gardens to open on Friday

Roses named after iconic personalities like Mother Teresa, Queen Elizabeth and John F Kennedy are all set to welcome lakhs of visitors to the sprawling Rashtrapati Bhawan's Mughal Gardens, which opens for public this Friday. Besides the rose varieties, about 12,000 tulips, said to be among President Pranab Mukherjee's favourites, and primulas will be main attraction. The horticulture delight this year include, 135 varieties of roses, some of them named -- 'Raja Ram Mohun Roy', 'Jawahar', 'Mr Lincoln', 'Arjun' and 'Bhim'. Other rose varieties worth mentioning are Christian Dior, Granada, American Heritage, Happiness, Kiss of Fire, Iceberg and Double Delight, Rashtrapati Bhavan officials said. President Pranab Mukherjee will tomorrow inaugurate 'Udyanotsav 2016' -- the period of annual opening of Mughal Gardens to the public. "The weather is always unpredictable. We had a warm winter, followed by a cold patch and now it is warm again. But, as of now the tulips look wonderful. "Lot of effort has been invested in the last 3-4 years in the maintenance of the gardens. The 'Udyanotsav' attracts lakhs of visitors during this period and special efforts have been put into the upkeep of the iconic gardens to ensure that the visitors are delighted when they come here," said Venu Rajamony, Press Secretary to the President. Spread over 15 acres, the Mughal Gardens has more than 70 varieties of seasonal flowers, including exotic bulbous and winter flowering plants. The design of the iconic gardens at the President's Estate draws inspiration from Mughal, Persian and British garden art. The gardens will be open to the public from February 12 to March 19 (except on Mondays which are maintenance days) between 9.30 am to 4 pm, officials said. About 4.68 lakh people had visited Mughal Gardens last year. Last year, 10,000 tulips were planted but this year the President, an admirer of these flowers, wanted the number to be increased, an official of the Horticulture Department at the President's Estate said. 'Calceolaria herbeohydra' or the 'Lady's Purse' is another interesting variety consisting of amazing flowers which are spotted with contrasting colours and are shaped like a lady's purse. The Central Lawn, the Rectangular Garden and the Circular Garden -- which comprise the Mughal Gardens -- are filled with splendid colours of winter seasonal flowers, roses, exotic bulbous plants, shrubs, variety of creepers and flowering trees. Flower carpets in magnificent designs will also be on display on the Central Lawns reflecting the skill and craft of the gardeners of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The dominant colour scheme of this year's ornamental flowers is yellow, red and orange. Exhibition stalls will be set up near the Spiritual Garden displaying models of organic cultivation farms as well as organic fresh vegetables and fruits grown on the President's Estate Organic Farm. There will also be a vermicompost and 'masala' stall set up by women self-help groups of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. For the first time, a curio shop will sell souvenirs and books on the Rashtrapati Bhavan, an architectural icon built during the British era as the Viceroy's Palace. People can also visit the Spiritual Garden, Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden and Musical Garden as part of the annual 'Udyanotsav'.