Medicinal garden taking shape in Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru: It has taken over two decades to attain its present avatar,  but Sanjeevini Vana, a medicinal plants garden in Chikkamagaluru, is now finally getting ready for public viewing.

It was in 1992-93 that forest officials planned to develop about 35 acres on the Mudigere-Chikkamagaluru road into a herbal garden to spread awareness among  people about the importance of herbs in treating various diseases.

But although created, it remained neglected and did not fulfill the purpose it was meant for. The forest department later decided to give it a fresh lease of life and Assistant Conservator of Forests, Mudigere sub-division, Dinesh Kumar took the initiative to recreate the  herbal garden supported by Prof Nagesh Hegde of the SDM Ayurveda College.

Clearly happy with the results, he says visitors to the garden will learn about various medicinal herbs and understand their health benefits as all the information will be displayed on signage boards.

While in the past the medicinal garden had catered to the needs of some  ayurveda pharma companies, it lost its relevance in later years owing to official apathy. But now  Mr Kumar hopes it will once again start supplying herbs to companies and attract ayurveda students as well.