ComCom: What was the idea behind setting up the garden of five senses and why has it been named so?
FiveSenses: The garden of five senses 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 and in doing so, reaffirms the essential sensual nature of man. It is a novel concept and goes far beyond the normal definition of a park. The five senses garden was started in order achieve the twin objectives of the need for a public leisure space and also to aquaint man with nature, to evoke his sensory responses to the beauty of flora and art. It was meant to enhance the quality of life of the city-bred individual and his sensitivity to the environment.. The beauty and elegance of the garden is spectacular .Majestic rocks stand silhouetted against the sky, others lie strewn upon the ground in a casual, yet alluring display of nature's sculptural genius. An expansive plaza, set on the natural slope of the site, invites you up the spiral walkway. Sculptures , wall-paintings, murals and a huge collection of works of art makes it art lovers paradise. Across, a troop of elephants, cut in stone , regaling in a water bath, tempts exploration. The beautiful lotus and lily pools and an amazing collection of of rare species of flowers and plants make it a wonderful experience.
The nomenclature "five senses garden" comes from the fact that it appeals to all five senses of sound, touch, sight, taste and smell.
The concept of appealing to all the five senses is the most important highlight of the garden.
To soothe the ears there are wind chimes which are placed near the lily pool. The clinking sound of the bells with every gush of wind soothe the ears.
To evoke the sense of smell there are fragrance zones which have been specially created. .There are also fragrant flowers like Rat ki rani, ratka raja,champa,chameli and also lavender . There some very rare flowers and plants which one does not get to see very often.
For taste buds there is good food. A lot of food melas are also organised every now and then to cater to a variety of tastes.
To please the eyes there are magnificent works of art from the best artists of India and abroad. The sculptures and murals are something to marvel at and they are appealing to the eyes.The sandstone pathways and the sculptures of modern art are a feast for the eyes. Beautiful lily lakes and exotic flowers in different colours give a rainbow effect in the eyes. The colourful display of flowers to match with the geometric display of plants makes one want to be in the garden till eternity. The statues of peace give universal meaasge of peace and prosperity.
Touch is a sensory response which makes a person feel part of the object and also gives him a sense of belonging and makes him admire its beauty . Visitors are allowed to touch the plants and flowers, but of course not pluck them. They are also encouraged to touch the rocks and fel their shapes .
Thus, the idea behind the park is to satisfy the visitors in all aspects.
ComCom: Tell us something about the ingredients and unique features of the garden which makes it different from the other parks ?
FiveSenses: The garden of five senses is not just an ordinary park.It is 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. Its heaven on earth. It is a symbol of architectural genius.
It is a breadth taking and alluring display of nature's sculptural genius. It is not an ordinary park with only grass and some plants.
The park is spread over a vast area of 20acres and is built at a cost of 10.5 Crores. The architect of this park is Pradeep Sachdeva .
The most striking feature of the garden is the landscaping done meticulously . The surface is full of smooth curves and ups and downs giving the feeling of trekking . T he whole surface is covered with a bed of soft green grass with majestic rocks strewn upon the ground to give an expansive look. Soaring stainless steel birds mounted on slate-clad pillars welcome you to the park.
The garden itself is divided into distinct areas. There are many outstanding features of the park.
ComCom: What is the target crowd for the park ?
FiveSenses: The park caters to the needs of a vast section of the population and attracts not only people from the city but also from neighbouring states. It has become a virtual tourist attraction.
People seeking leisure and those coming on casual visits can go around the park can see the beautuful landscapes and flower pools , the chimes, the modern art sculptures and draw inspiration..It is a place to sit leisurely , chat and spend the day.
Competions, exhibitions and flower shows would be held to invite participation of the public and it would be a platform for people to display their skills. Even students wanting to do research on different types of plants and flora can take advantage of the collection of more than 200 different varieties of plants and flowers.
The park reflects a serene and calm quietude and is a place for relaxation. There are beautiful statues of little children saying prayers for peace , prosperity , general happiness and well being. It provides an ideal ground for meditation and introspection. It can be visited by the young and the old alike.
Children can also run and have fun and frolic on the grass carpeted lawns and admire the specially created uneven landscapes..
School children from across different schools can come and learn about rare plants which most of us have only heard about in mythological books, such as Rudraksh , Kalpavriksh, Kapoor(Camphor) etc. There are different varieties of pine trees which are only found only in high altitudes and bamboo trees which are found only in the northeast. Flowers such as champa, chameli and Rat kiRani are also there.
Even though the garden is only one year old, the plants are quite big since they have been specially planted and grafted.
There is also room for young , inquisitive minds and budding scientists in the form of a solar energy park , where solar energy is produced and battery cars and bicycles run on solar energy can be seen.
ComCom: Can you please throw some light on the solar energy park?
FiveSenses: The most attractive and educational aspect of the garden is the Solar energy park. Here, people can actually see and learn how solar energy is being produced and even try to incorporate it in their homes. Solar panels are placed to convert sunlight into solar energy. In todays scenario, when too much reliance cannot be placed on conventional energy sources like thermal power etc., solar power is the cheapest and most economical alternate source of electricity.
This solar energy park has been set up by a grant of Rs.1 Crore from MNES, the ministry of non conventional energy sources . It is a model park for other states .They are also developing solar energy parks on the lines of this park.
The park is producing 20 kw of power which is utilized in operating two solar buses,2 small toy cars, charging of 10 battery bicycles ,operating three used computers and a solar hut. Television, fridge are also being operated with solar power.
SOLAR HUT : There is also a solar hut which houses all the electronic items available in any normal household but all these apppliances like Fridge, Television ,Computer , water heater etc. run on solar energy.
This alternative source of energy is also economical . Except for the initial investment, the recurring expenses are very less. Even on cloudy days, there is some absorption of light which lasts even after sunset. Thus the park is self sufficient in terms of power needs.
The exhibits in the park include: