How Delhi’s Monuments Are Harbour Of Nature

While walking on the mathura road in Delhi, one often finds two places in his sight, firstly the age old Mughal fort i.e. Purana quila and right beside it, the place which many of the environmentalist and nature enthusiasts like me do not like, i.e. the Zoo. This was just an example to set the stage for the subject of discussion of this article. The centuries old monuments that stand in front of us are more than just mosques, tombs, forts, fallen walls and temples in today’s time. These structure are now home to many species of birds and plants. They are a sustaining an ecosystem within themselves far better than any human attempt possibly could. In this article we will study the same by the example of two Delhi’s most beautiful places, the Lodhi Garden and the Sunder Nursery.

 THE LODHI GARDEN

NDMC in their list of important gardens and their details give the first place to the Lodhi gardens. Originally named the ‘Lady Willingdon Park’, it was inaugurated in 1936. Having monuments like the tomb of Mohammad shah, it has undisputed and undebated historical significance. But, the garden is more than that. Today, it is a home to hundreds of birds, plants and trees. In the same list the NDMC, very proudly explains the various types of trees that the garden area inhabits. Champa, amaltas, gulmohar, jamun, banyon and many more. The traditional Japanese technique of Bonsai is also fostered and protected inside the garden complex. The Lodhi Garden, due to serene natural ambience is home to more than 20 bird species. Not just the indigenous ones but it is also the favourite place of many migratory birds. These include, weaver bird, Koel, Spotted Owlet, Indian Tree Pie, Blue Throat and many more. The expansive green lawns, chirping of birds and sweet smell from the nearby flowerbeds are all that anyone needs in the fast moving and noisy city life in Delhi.

SUNDER NURSERY

 Just beside the Humayun’s tomb built in the charbagh style is the 50 acre Sunder Nursery area. Sunder Nursery is a protected heritage site, a beautiful garden complex, abode of various varieties of trees and birds and one of the top 100 places that a person must visit in his or her lifetime. If you were impressed and inspired by the Lodhi Garden then Sunder Nursery, can make you fall in love with it. It houses more than 300 species of trees, some of which are unique to Delhi region. The area is more green than any city-dweller would have seen in his life. The area can be seen as an attempt to revive the Mughal love for nature and gardens, as it too has continued to exist from that time and houses many precious monuments like, Lakkarwala Burj. On various accounts kings and princes were seen spending more time in the gardens than the palaces. It is true for most of them from from the first emperor Babur to the later ones like Mohammad Shah Rangeela. The Sunder nursery other than having lush green lawns has a really well-planned habitat for birds. Not just the native or resident birds of area like the tailor birds and black kite but also the migratory ones like Green Sandpiper. Filled with the beauty and `all sorts of aesthetics from the garden complex to more than 3 centuries old monuments, sunder  nursery has just what it needs to complete itself, the flowers. Every year with the onset of January the whole garden complex witnesses sweet smells of flowers of more than 50 kinds. 

Bibliography

(n.d.). Retrieved from www.sundernursery.org: https:www.sundernursery.org/home.php

(n.d.). Retrieved from www.ndmc.gov.in: https://www.ndmc.gov.in/departments/Departments/Horticulture/Important%20Gardens%20of%20NDMC.pdf

srivastav, p. (2023, july 10). Lodhi garden:A historic green oasis in the heart of delhi. The Times of India.

Image – https://delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/entertainment/sunder_nursery.jsp 

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