All You Need To Know About Amrit Udyan Garden

The Amrit Udyan, previously known as the Mughal Gardens, is situated in Lutyens' Delhi. These gardens are primarily located within the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex, the official residence of the President of India. Lutyens' Delhi, named after the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, is known for its impressive colonial-era architecture and well-planned landscape. Given its fantastic location, there are many places to visit near Amrit Udyan. The Amrit Udyan garden in Lutyens' Delhi are a significant part of this architectural and horticultural legacy. During the season when Delhi is flushed with new flowers and fruits, the gardens open for a few months for public view. Find out all you need to know about the garden for a satisfactory visit.

History

The Mughal Gardens were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the British architect who planned most of New Delhi. When the British rulers decided to shift the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, Lutyens was selected to advise on the city planning. It was the Raisina Hills that was chosen to be the polity cradle of imperial India. Though Lutyens did not have high opinions of Indian architecture, for political reasons, he chose the Mughal charbagh style to be the layout of the Amrit Udyan. The Mughals built expansive gardens in the charbagh style, or how gardens in heaven are described in theological books. The style can be found throughout the lands ruled by the Mughals – including the Taj Mahal in Agra, Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, and Nishat Bagh in Kashmir.

Layout of Amrit Udyan Garden

Amrit Udyan, the gardens, are designed in a geometric pattern with terraced levels, water channels, fountains, and numerous varieties of flowers and plants. The gardens are known for their meticulous maintenance and vibrant floral displays. It is segmented into three distinct areas. The initial section, positioned directly behind the palace, boasts grandeur with lotus fountains and breathtaking stepped geometry. At the opposite (western) extremity, a secluded butterfly garden encircles a serene circular pool. Connecting these two realms is an elongated walled garden, flanked by tennis courts on both sides and adorned with the charm of roses and bougainvillaea.

What to Find in Amrit Udyan

As every year, the Amrit Udyan is once again in blooming and being seen as a mesmerising landscape. The vast garden showcases a vibrant array of Tulips, Daffodils, Asiatic Lily, Oriental Lily and several rare seasonal flowers. The focal point of the event will be the stunning floral compositions of Tulips, accompanied by an impressive collection of over 100 varieties of Roses.

Visitors can explore a variety of attractions, including Bal Vatika—an exclusively curated garden designed for children, featuring the tale of a 225-year-old Sheesham tree, a treehouse and a Nature’s classroom. Moreover, the Bonsai and Circular Gardens present a diverse array of flora and fauna.

For refreshments, a food court is available, and ongoing exhibitions further enhance the overall experience of Udyan Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Visiting in 2024

This year, Amrit Udyan will be open on specific dates for different groups of people: on February 22 for those with special needs, on February 23 for people from the defence, paramilitary, and police forces, on March 1 for women and tribal women's self-help groups and on March 5 for children from orphanages.

The Information

The gardens welcome visitors from 10 am to 5 pm, with the last entry allowed at 4 pm, so keep the time in mind for your Amrit Udyan visit. Access to and from the gardens is through gate no. 35 of the President's Estate, located near the junction of North Avenue and Rashtrapati Bhavan. On specific days—February 22nd, February 23rd, March 1st, and March 5th, 2024—the gardens will exclusively open for different groups, as outlined in the Booking Instructions. They remain closed every Monday for maintenance and on Holi, observed on March 25th, 2024, as a holiday. To facilitate transportation, a shuttle bus service from Central Secretariat Metro Station to gate no. 35 is available every 30 minutes between 9:30 am and 5 pm.

How to Book

To plan your Amrit Udyan visit, you can go on the government website and follow the steps. Offline, physical tickets can be secured from Self Service Kiosks outside Gate No. 35.

How to Reach

The nearest metro stations to the Amrit Udyan are Central Secretariat (Yellow, Violet lines, 2 km), Shivaji Stadium (Orange line, 2 km) and Patel Chowk (Yellow line, 2.1 km). You can take an auto from the metro stations or just walk up to the gardens.