A green jewel emerges in northern Karnataka

New garden to be inaugurated at Almatti today

 A new garden at Almatti is set to become the pride of Northern Karnataka and will rival Brindavan Gardens in Mandya in its sheer beauty.

Built on 77 acres and located off Almatti Dam, the garden includes distinct locations such as Rock, Mughal, Krishna and Lava Kusha, plus a large musical fountain. Other sections currently in development are French and Italian-style gardens. Mughal Gardens, one of the largest sections, is modelled on Mughal Garden at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, and is spread over 33 acres.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is sheduled to inaugurate the gardens on August 11.

Opulence

The work on the garden was completed in three stages. Initial civil work was completed by MCC Company. Afforestation and other planting was carried out by the forest department. The construction of stagnant and other fountains, which comprised the  third stage of work, was completed by the Kolkatta-based Premier Company. The garden currently boasts of over a 1000 stagnant fountains with light and musical arrangements.

Park staff has also taken care to include several rare and exotic ornamental plants. Some plants have been shaped to represent elephants, flowers and Shivalinga.

A Rs 4-crore entrance plaza beckons visitors. According to sources at the park, the plaza was originally laid for construction eight years ago. Every gate within the plaza contains decorative designs made with plaster of paris and cement. Visitors are also treated to a 12-foot black-stone statute of Jaladevathe sculpted by Ilkal-based artist, Mounesh Yeradaga.

The gardens are an initiative of S M Jaamdaar, a retired IAS officer. He is currently the chairperson of the Almatti Gardens Committee.