The Garden of Five Senses is an exclusively built park in terms of the area it covers and the cost it carries. The park is spread over an area of 20 acres and it was constructed by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTDC), Government of Delhi at a whooping cost of Rs 10.5 crore. Moreover, it took nearly three years to be partly built. One of the eye-catching features is that the park is being built on the themes which are Mughal Gardens, pools of water lilies, bamboo courts, herb gardens and solar energy park.
Perched on a rocky terrain this garden was inaugurated in February 2003 that makes it nearly a decade old. It has been strategically designed to brace our five sense by touching, smelling, hearing ,and seeing our natural surroundings and enjoying its beauty to the fullest. Considering its marvelous beauty this garden enjoys the benefit of several cultural programs which happen here every now and then.
None of the visitors will return hungry as the garden also houses some of the excellent food selling restaurants. These restaurants were a result of the agreement signed between the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Limited (DTTDC) and ITE India Pvt Ltd according to which 31 food outlets and craft outlets will be functional for a period of 10 years. This agreement was signed in August 2005. At present the Garden of Five Senses is functioning under the supervision of Sh. V K Jatav, Chief Manager, DTTDC.
The beauty of the garden is completely breathtaking and refreshing. The garden is divided into certain sections, on one side of the spiral shaped paved walkway is the formal garden called as Khas Bagh, which has been designed on the lines of the Mughal Garden. A walk through this make one feel affiliated to the royal family that beautiful the Khas Bagh looks.
Streams of water flowing along its length provide a very soothing effect. What further acts as refreshing agents and gives a never before lived experience are the shrubs and trees, which have been planted along its path. There are also a series of fountains in the central region supported by fibre optic lighting systems. Anyone visiting alone to this Heaven on Earth will not for a moment feel lonely as it will be constantly encircled with the continuous talking of the ceramic chimes to the flowing breeze. These chimes have been beautifully placed on the ceilings of the Neel Bagh which are covered with climbing plants of different colors and textures. To the North of the rocky ridge lies a sculpture carved in stainless-steel, inspired by a pin-wheel which leaves an impression of celebrating its freedom.
History of Garden of Five Senses
Situated near the Qutub heritage zone, Garden of Five Senses lies in a small village of Saidul Ajaib near Mehrauli in Delhi. The garden was developed by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation in February 2003 and was designed and conceptualized by a Delhi-based architect, Pradeep Sachdeva.
Apart from being a spiritual and rejuvenation centre for Delhiites, the garden also serves as a venue for several cultural programs, food festivals, and fairs that happen here all year round. Along with these festivals, the famous and delightful Garden Tourism Festival is organized every year here by the Delhi Government.
Architecture of Garden of Five Senses
Two enormous sculptures of ascending birds, carved in stainless steel welcome you to the exotic garden. In the front is the expansive plaza, set on a rocky ramp, which leads to a spiral walk away amidst a parade of slatey coloured stone elephants. The garden is divided into several parts.
To the right of the spiral stairway is the Khas Bagh. This tiny piece of garden is inspired by the Mughal char bagh style. It has lush green lawns in the four-fold style, with water tanks and free-flowing cascades of water. The sides are bedecked with small shrubberies and vibrant flowers to enhance the idyll. The median axis has a decor of umpteen fountains, the main attraction of which is the sculpture of a ‘Fountain Tree’ which is a fountain cum tree lit up by fibreoptic lighting system.
On the other side of the spiral walk away, a little further on the pathway, is the poised food court which serves insanely delicious food and the tiny shopping area which sells knick-knacks and souvenirs. A few steps ahead into the heart of the garden is the rocky ridge with stone silhouettes and a magnanimous pinwheel. Another trail of winding paths will lead you to Neel Bagh- which is a mesmerizing pool of water lilies and a colourful combination of climbers and seasonal flowers. Overhead on the trees is an elaborate decor of wind chimes soothing your senses with their calm and lulling music.
Delving deeper, you will come across a beautiful amalgamation of varied coloured floral species and bushes that are sure to entice you with their utopian composition. The huge area is adorned with multitudinous varieties (almost 200 exotic plants) of rare and endangered species of flowering plants imported from far and wide.
Not far from here, snuggled amidst huge trees and dense wilderness is the endearing amphitheatre with its stone seats and grassy steps. This is the area which hosts most fo cultural events and various art workshops etc. In addition to that, the garden also has a tiny solar area which helps in generating solar energy for the functioning of most of the garden area.
Best Time To Visit Garden of Five Senses
The best time to visit the Garden of Five Senses is sometime during the third week of February (check online beforehand) when the place hosts an absolutely breathtaking flower festival. As it is the season of spring, some wild and exotic breeds are in full bloom and you can have an enthralling experience.
How To Reach Garden of Five Senses
Delhi is a state well connected through metro and state-run buses. The nearest metro station to the Garden of Five Senses is Saket Metro, situated on the yellow line. The garden is just about 2.5 kms from the metro; you can either choose to walk or hire a local or a battery run rickshaw. You can also book a taxi cab for a more comfortable journey. Alternatively, you can travel in one of the buses which will be relatively economical.
By Road – A network of national highways connects Delhi to all over India. And frequent buses run between Delhi and nearby cities like Agra, Chandigarh and Jaipur. Buses from distant cities like Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai are also available if you want to travel by road. Delhi has many bus stands, but most buses stop at one of the three main bus terminals – Anand Vihar, Kashmiri Gate or Sarai Kale Khan. The Sarai Kale Khan Inter-State Bus Terminal is the closest to the Garden of Five Senses. It’s only 16 km away. Apart from buses, you can also hire cabs to reach Delhi.
By Rail – Delhi has regular trains from all parts of the country. And New Delhi railway station (17 km away) is the main station where many trains stop. But Delhi also has four other railway stations – Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Sarai Rohilla and Anand Vihar. Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, only 14 km away, is the closest to the Garden of Five Senses.
By Air – Delhi is connected to all the major international destinations by regular flights. Whether you’re coming from a South-east Asian country, a European country or the US, you'll find flights to Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi. The airport also connects Delhi to Indian cities.
