Mughal Gardens renamed as Amrit Udyan

Source: The Times of India

Why in news?

• The famous Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's House) in Delhi now go by the name Amrit Udyan.
• The cluster of about 15 gardens will collectively be known as Amrit Udyan.
• Individual gardens within the sprawling Presidential Estate — Herbal Garden, Musical Garden and Spiritual Garden — will retain their names.

What is the history of Mughal Gardens in India?

• The Mughals were known to appreciate gardens. In Babur Nama, Babur says that his favourite kind of garden is the Persian Charbagh style (literally, four gardens).
• Defined by its rectilinear layouts, divided in four equal sections, these gardens can be found across lands previously ruled by the Mughals.
• From the gardens surrounding Humanyun’s Tomb in Delhi to the Nishat Bagh in Srinagar, all are built in this style – giving them the moniker of Mughal Gardens.
• A defining feature of these gardens is the use of waterways, often to demarcate the various quadrants of the garden.
• These were not only crucial to maintain the flora of the garden, they also were an important part of its aesthetic.
• Fountains were often built, symbolising the cycle of life.

How did the Rashtrapati Bhavan get Mughal Gardens?

In 1911, the British decided to shift the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi.

About 4,000 acres of land was acquired to construct the Viceroy’s House with Sir Edwin Lutyens being given the task of designing the building on Raisina Hill.

Lutyens’ designs combined elements of classical European architecture with Indian styles, producing a unique aesthetic that defines Lutyens’ Delhi till date.

Crucial in the design of the Viceroy’s House was a large garden in its rear. The initial plans involved creating a garden with traditional British architecture.

However, the wife of the then Viceroy wanted something in the Mughal style and urged the planners to create a garden in that style.

She was inspired by the book Gardens of the Great Mughals (1913) by Constance Villiers-Stuart as well as her visits to Mughal gardens in Lahore and Srinagar.

Evolution of Mughal Garden at Rshtrapati Bhavan

1. Though the layout of the garden was in place by 1917, the planting was taken up only in 1928-29. Director of horticulture William Mustoe, who planted the garden, was especially skilled at growing roses and is said to have introduced more than 250 different varieties of hybrid roses gathered from every corner of the world.
2. The gardens have evolved over time. While roses remain the star attraction, residents of the Rashtrapati Bhavan have all added their own personal touch to the garden.
3. C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor General of India, made a political statement when during a period of food shortage in the country, he himself ploughed the lands and dedicated a section of the garden to foodgrains.
4. Today, the Nutrition Garden, popularly known as Dalikhana, stands in that spot, organically cultivating a variety of vegetables for consumption at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
5. President R Venkatraman added a cactus garden and APJ Abdul Kalam added many theme based gardens-from the musical garden to the spiritual garden.

Why is it renamed:

• The Rashtrapati Bhavan has three gardens that were inspired by Persian and Mughal gardens.
• The garden that was inspired by a similar one in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, came to be known as the “Mughal Gardens” by both the general public and the authorities. 
• However, the name “Mughal Gardens” was never formally given to the gardens.
• Navika Gupta, the president’s deputy press secretary, stated “On the occasion of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the President of India has given a common name to the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens as Amrit Udyan,” .

What are the features of Amrit Udyan?

1. Amrit Udyan is frequently referred to as the soul of the White House.
2. It is spread over 15 acres. 
3. The Mughal Grounds in Jammu and Kashmir, the gardens surrounding the Taj Mahal, and even tiny paintings of India and Persia served as inspiration for Amrit Udyan.
4. The Rashtrapati Bhavan website states that the gardens, which make up the third circle of the trip, will henceforth be accessible to the public from August through March.
5. This time, beginning on January 31, the gardens will be accessible to the public for nearly two months.