Karnataka to open public garden in Nilgiris

Ooty: Unity in diversity is what keeps India going. Despite the row over Cauvery water, it is tourism which binds hearts in Nilgiris and bordering Karnataka. In a move to further strengthen bonds of friendship and harmony through tourism and horticulture, the Karnataka government is all set to inaugurate its newly established public garden, at its property at Fern Hill here. With sizeable number of Kannadiga population living in Nilgiris, the hills of Nilgiris proved to be a heaven of communal harmony and peace all these years, right from the British era. 

This hill town of Ooty, which is known for its wealth of gardens, is all set to have one more that is spread over 34 acres as the horticulture department of Karnataka is all set to throw open its public garden in the days to come. “Ooty is endowed with dense forest, ever flowing springs, cool weather and scenic beauty.  It is said that the pleasant weather and natural beauty of the hills inspired Sri Jaychamarajendra Wodeyar, the then Maharaja of erstwhile Mysore state, to build a summer palace in Ooty. He called it Fern Hill.  The portion of the land owned by the Maharaja was gifted to Government of Karnakata in 1964.  The Government of Karnataka handed over a few acres in 1964 to the department of horticulture.  In the initial stages, the department took up activities like production of temperate vegetable seeds, but due to nematode problem the potato seed production was abandoned  and now the department decided to develop a garden for which the works began in 2012-13”. Mr B.K. Krisnamurthy, horticulture of
ficer at Karnataka horticulture department, told Deccan Chronicle that this garden is being developed over 34 acres of land at a cost of  Rs 10 crore.

 “Topiary garden, lawns, flower beds, Italian garden, Maze garden, Rose Garden, Sunken Garden, Water bodies, Tea garden are the major features of this garden.  In addition to that,  varieties of  flowers being grown in 50,000 pots will be the added attraction along with maple tree avenue, a separate place for orchids and herbs and other features,” he said. The garden may be thrown open to public by early October.