The Hindu : A garden for all senses, and seasons

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 22, 2002

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A garden for all senses, and seasons

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI JUNE 21. Touted as a unique project which exploits man's relationship with himself at a physical experience level and not spiritual, the "Garden of Five Senses'' coming up at Said-ul-Ajab here will now have a glamorous attraction. The authorities are toying with the idea of opening a "Fashion Mall'' at this historic park in South Delhi.

Not part of the original plan, this Fashion Mall could well change the complexion of the Garden of Five Senses which is progressing at a very good pace and is expected to be thrown open to public by November this year. As part of its plans to have natural features like rock, slopes and ruins, the Delhi Tourism and Development Corporation (DTTDC), the main force behind the project, is all set to add a touch of glamour to the garden.

``We are in the process of constructing some 20 outlets inside the garden. There are enough eating and shopping outlets in South Delhi and something different is sought to be done. The plans are to offer each outlet to the leading fashion designers of the country to open their counters for promotion and sale of their products. This will be a first such project in the Capital as nothing like this has been attempted before,'' remarked the DTTDC Managing Director, Rajiv Talwar. The names of leading fashion designers, having earned international fame, Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri, Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Rina Dhaka and other such names are presently being considered by the Department. The idea is to offer something nice and sophisticated to those visiting environment friendly recreation park which has a commanding panoramic view of the surroundings.

Stating that the work on the Garden of Five Senses was progressing at a very good pace, Mr. Talwar informed that for sense of hearing, natural sounds are supplemented by human invented sound sculptures, both contemporary and traditional. These sound sculptures are devices which emanate sound when a person walks in front of them or interacts with them. Some traditional systems have also been used by locating pillars inspired from Old Kerala temples. These emit musical notes when struck. The sense of smell is stimulated by creating special zones where some plants are always in bloom in different seasons and have a strong and characteristic fragrance.

As for the sense of touch, the garden is being developed in such a manner that it is full of extraordinary things to touch. There are areas to walk through comprising of large spheres of rocks of different textures and sizes set in areas where there are already existing rocks to provide a contrast. Plants, stones, different textures of walls, sculptures are being planned strategically to encourage touch.

The garden is also designed to stimulate the sense of touch in many ways. The whole complex is not visible at once but has a sense of discovery as one moves along. At the entrances, the landscape terraces are being planted with flowering shrubs and plants. Each terrace would have a single colour and one would see a large mass of colour in bloom at a particular time of the year. Telescopes are being installed at strategic points which could be coin operated and have recoding commentary on the places of interest such as Qutab Minar and surrounding heritage areas visible from the site.

Food is of extreme importance for any visitor spending time at this complex. Therefore, food of interest, which one would have access to in the city, would be available here. The emphasis would be on the international food which may appeal to the Indian palate. There would be a large food plaza where food would be served with mobile looking vans decorated in a stylish manner. Along with it, seating areas have been designed shaded by pergolas with the courts in the centre. ''The concept is unique and eco-friendly and would provide an opportunity to the tourists to interact with mother nature and rediscover themselves,'' Mr. Talwar said.

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A garden for all senses, and seasons