The garden aims to create awareness about the importance of plants and their medicinal value. The project began in 1984 by the Forest Department of Karnataka, in collaboration with the local people, to establish a botanical garden with emphasis on medicinal plants. About 16 of the 23 listed endangered species of plants in the Western Ghats are reared in this garden.

The garden, spread over 27 hectares of land, has ashta (eight) vanas which go by the names of Shiva Panchayat vana, Nakshatra vana, Navagraha vana, Rashi vana, Vrata vana, Kanva vana, Kadamba vana and Ashok vana. In the Shiva Panchayat vana, bilva patra representing Lord Shiva is planted in the centre, surrounded by tulasi and ashwatha plants representing Lord Vishu and the like. This arrangement is representative of the position of gods in the court of Lord Shiva.

Similarly, in the Nakshatra vana, all the 27 nakshatras (stars) are individually symbolised by plant species and in the Navagraha vana, plants representing all the nine planets are planted. 

This garden, which had a glorious start, very soon declined in popularity due to the non-inclusion of new elements in the garden and also due to the lack of maintenance. However, in 2006, the Ministry of Forestry and Environment sanctioned Rs 28 lakh for the rejuvenation and restoration of this garden.

Now the garden has a full-fledged nursery that rears medicinal plants and endemic tree species, ‘Bannada Kadu’, a green house that is home to some rare orchids and ornamental plants cultivated in the region, a bio-fuel plot where oil seeds are planted, and a children’s play area. The prime attraction of the garden is Bannada Kadu, which has over 45 natural and 60 cultivated varieties of orchids.

Every effort should be made to draw visitors, especially tourists, to the garden. According to Mr Vijaymohan Raj, DFO, Sirsi division, the Forest Department has held talks with the Tourism Department over the same.

Sandhya Hegde Almane