Gulab Bagh and Zoo Udaipur is one of the underrated tourist attractions in Udaipur. This beautiful garden, Gulabh Bagh has a name that literally means garden of roses.
There is a wide variety of flora in this garden and a walk in this park is sure to be a peaceful and calming experience unlike another. There is also a toy train in the park for the little ones as well as the adults who are young at heart. The garden is a simply lovely experience and the collection of flowers, trees and other plants is remarkable.
There is also a museum on the premises. You will be able to see several artifacts from the royal era including several pieces of furniture and decorations. There is also a zoo that houses leopards and tigers and birds. It is certainly a worthy retreat for the kids.
This zoo is an amazing attraction not only for animal lovers but even for complete family outings. Built near the historical Sajjangarh fort, this zoo cum biological park consists of various animals that are distinct not only to Udaipur but have also been brought from outside. These animals stay here just like they would in their natural habitat and are kept with great care Gulab Bagh and Zoo.
History of Gulab Bagh
Built-in the year 1881during the reign of Maharaja Sajjan Singh, Gulab Bagh and Zoo is home to exquisite and history of Mewar dynasty. This garden was also known as the Sajjan Niwas Garden. The zoo in this garden stands fourth in the list of the oldest zoos in the semi-continent. The garden has a great significance in Indian medicine. You will be amazed to find a large number of medicinal plants Udaipur Tour Packages.
In the 1920s, a horticulturist named T.H. Story, from Madras, was hired to grow medicinal plants in the garden. To create better awareness and facilitate the viewers, all the plants and trees present in the Gulab Bagh have nameplates installed under it. The nameplates have a systematic botanical name inscribed on it in both Hindi, the mother tongue and English language.
The Waterworks complex found in the garden is another beautiful site which was built after demolishing a small pond. The pond was initially home to a water lily, Victoria sp. The astounding fact about the water lily, Victoria sp is the formidable strength of its leaves. The leaf of Victoria which could withstand a child on a chair kept on it.
Another name for the Gulab Bagh Garden is the Badabagh, mainly because of its enormous size. The name lost its popularity due to the ravages of time. The Victoria Museum in the garden has a remarkable library known as the Saraswati Bhawan Library; Maharana Sajjan Singh laid the foundation stone of this extraordinary home of knowledge.
The museum showcases many rare artifacts and stone manuscripts dating back to the 3rd century. Earlier, on the opposite side of the Victoria Museum, you could spot a statue of Queen Victoria. However, in 1947, to mark the independence of India, the figure of Mahatma Gandhi was installed Gulab Bagh and Zoo.
Architecture of Gulab Bagh
Gulab Bagh and Zoo is an ancient sub-city level park, showcasing the lush green campus, with ponds, library, zoological park, temples, and many government offices. The park has four entrance gates, out of which only two are open to the general public.
The parking capacity of the garden includes 350 two-wheelers and 50 four-wheelers. The park has a boundary wall of 3-5 m in height which is made of concrete, stone, and brick, offering a rusty yet elegant appearance.
How to reach Gulab Bagh
The Gulab Bagh and Zoo is a famous tourist spot in the city; hence, it is easily accessible via airport, railway station and other public transport.
• Airport: The airport is located at a distance of 20km from the Gulab Bagh. Bus, taxi, or private cars can be hired to cover the distance and help you reach your desired destination safe and sound.
• Udaipur Railway station: The Udaipur Railway station is situated at a distance of 1 Km. You can take local transport like an auto-rickshaw or a bus to reach Gulab Bagh.
• Public Transport: Udaipur is a well-connected city; you can either ply a private or a state-run bus to reach Gulab Bagh, The nearby states of Rajasthan like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR Transport Authority runs buses regularly to and fro from the city. A road trip to Gulab Bagh and Zoo Udaipur can be taken from the well maintained and easy to drive National Highway 8.