President to open Rashtrapati Bhavan’s “Udyanotsav” on February 13, 2015

General public can visit Mughal Gardens from February 14 till March 15, 2015 Tulips main attraction this year

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will open the annual “Udyanotsav” of Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 13, 2015 (Friday) at 1630 hrs. The world famous Mughal Gardens will remain open for general public from February 14 to March 15, 2015 between 0930 hrs to 1600 hrs. Members of the public will also be able to visit the Spiritual Garden, Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden and Bio-diversity Park within the Estate. The Garden would be closed for maintenance every Monday. The main attraction of this year’s Udyanotsav are Tulips which have been in bloom since the last week of January, 2015. About 10,000 Tulips in vivid colors of red, orange and yellow mixed with red, pink, purple and white are expected to bloom in phases up to 10th March, 2015. The Tulips have been grown this year in earthen pots as well as several beds in the Rectangular and Circular Gardens. Roses are central to the fame of Mughal Gardens and a permanent feature throughout the year. The garden has more than 120 celebrated varieties of roses. The prime bloom is in February-March. The special roses include Green Rose and Angelique. 40 fragrant varieties include Belami, Black Lady, Double Delight, Eiffel Tower, Granada, Jadis, Mr. Lincoln, Sadabahar, Taj Mahal etc. Oklahoma (often called Black Rose) and Bonne Nuit are almost black in colour. Paradise, Blue Moon and Lady X are blue in colour. The Gardens includes roses named Mother Teresa, Arjun, Bhim, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Jawahar and Dr. B.P. Pal. Roses with names of international celebrities include John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, Mr. Lincoln and Montezuma. Other rose varieties worth mentioning are Christian Dior, Happiness, Century Two, First Prize, Kiss of Fire, Iceberg and Granada. Unlike other gardens which grow a limited variety of roses but in large masses, the Mughal Garden features a large range of rose varieties in one place. Flower Carpets in magnificent designs will also be on display in the Central Lawns revealing the skill and craft of the gardeners of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The dominant color scheme of this year’s ornamental flowers is yellow, red and orange. As in previous years, a small cactus corner is part of the Mughal Gardens display. Visitors and plant lovers will be able to see a newly developed Lotus pond in the Spiritual Garden. An Exhibition Stall will also showcase organic fresh vegetables and fruits grown in the President Estate Organic Farm or the Dalikhana. Flowering and other house plants are placed along a vertical wall in the Long Garden in order to use less land and soil. Videos on Rashtrapati Bhavan and on the current Presidency will also be screened in a Rest room near Gate No. 35 for visitors. Entry and exit for the general public will be from Gate No. 35 of the President’s Estate, close to where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan. Visitors are requested not to bring any water bottles, briefcases, handbags/ladies purses, cameras, radios/transistors, umbrellas, eatables etc. The Mughal Gardens will be kept open on March16, 2015 (Monday) exclusively for farmers, differently abled persons including visually challenged persons, defence, para-military forces and police personnel. The Herbal Garden (Tactile Garden) will be open for visually challenged people from 1100 hrs. to 1600 hrs on the same day. Their entry will be from Gate No. 12, situated on Church Road (opposite to the North Avenue).