The Garden of Five senses

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 the nature that invites interaction and exploration, and in doing so reaffirms the essential sensual nature of man.

The 20 acre site located at the Said-ul-Azaib village, close to the Mehrauli heritage area in New Delhi is spectacular. The Garden of five senses was inaugrated in February 2003. Majestic rocks stand silhoutted against the sky, others lie strewn upon the ground in a casual yet alluring display of nature's sculptural genius. It was the ideal ground on which to realise the concept of a public leisure space that would awaken a sensory response and thereby a sensitivity to the enviroment.

Soaring stainless steel birds mounted on slate clad pillars welcome you into the park. An expansive plaza, set on the natural slope of the site, invites you up the spiral walkway. Across a troop of elephants, cut in stone regaling in a water bath, tempts exploration.

The garden itself is divided into distinct areas. On the one side of the spiral walkway is the Khas Bagh, a formal garden patterened on the lines of the Mughal garden. Slow moving water cascades in channels along its lenght, while flowering and fragrant shrubs and trees line its paths. The central axia leads to a seires of fountains, some of which are lit by Fibreoptic lighting systems. Encapsulating the expression here is the sculpture of 'A fountain tree'.

Sceduled away from the heart of the garden on the other side of the walkway is the food and the shopping court. a series of terraces provided with seating face the food court.

The heady Trail Of Fragrance leads away to a rocky ridge to the north, where elevated amongst the rocks, sculptures in stainless steel inspired by pin wheels dance in joyous abandon. Wander down the meandering paths to Neel Bagh a pool of water-lilies encircled by pergolas covered with climbing plants of different colours and textures. Overhead numerous copper bells chime, whispering secrets to the breeze, teasing you with their gentle laughter.

There are Colour Gardens - beautiful compositions of flowering shrubs and ground covers that have you looking at familiar plants with new eyes. The Courts Of Specimen plants display not so frequently seen species - of bamboo, for instance or cactii or herbs. Nestled amongst the natural slope of the site is the Amphitheatre with blocks of sandstone to serve as seating. At the rear of the garden is an open exhibition area for displaying art and for holding art workshops.

Almost two hundred varieties of plants are introduced. In addition there are large areas where the existing vegetation, consisting mostly of trees such as the local Kikar and the thorny Ber bush has been left untouched. The Garden is deigned to the imagery suggested by the name Garden Of Five Senses. Colour, Fragrance, Texture and Form all come together in a evocative bouquet that awakens the mind to the beauty of life and invokes a greatful prayer for the gift of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste.

The ART

About 25 different sculptures and murals for this project comprised one of the largest commissions of public art in the country. following the norm of art in public places, the artists were selected by a special comittee set up for this purpose. Featured are some remarkable terracotta pots by master craftsmen Smt Angoori Devi and Shri Giri Raj Shah and a phad wall hanging by the Rajasthani master craftsperson Shri Shantilal Joshi. Most of the works of art however contemporary. They include sculptures by Enaz, Radhakrishnan, Subodh Kerkar and John Bowman, Kristine Michael and Ratnabali Kant. In addition there are also a large number of works by young aspiring students from the Delhi College of Art.

Solar Energy Park

An integral park of the garden is the Solar Energy Park set up with the assistance of the Ministry Of Non-conventional Renewable Energy Sources. The aim is to promote awareness of renewable sources of energy. A 20 KW solar power plant is installed to meet the requirements of the park. The exhibits include :-

two solar powered buses
weighing machine
solar powered bicyclessolar powered cars for children
quiz computer
solar drum and slide
a prototype of a solar powered home
exhibits on renewable sources

In addition solar water heating has been installed in nine food outlets. The Solar Energy Park features in the Limca Book of Records, 2004 for its unique concept.

A Cultural Venue

The Garden of Five Senses is the latest addition to Delhi's cultural circuit. The unique area of the garden with all its natural and man made sorroundings has added a new dimension to life in Delhi. Lots of programmes like the Garden tourism festival, Yoga camps, Food festivals, Sherbet melas, Dandiya festival and Dance shows are held here.