Monday, 25 October 2021 | PNS | Lalkuan
Surabhi Vatika- an aromatic plant garden developed by the research wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department was inaugurated in Lalkuan area of Nainital district on Sunday. Established in an area covering about three acres, this garden has about 140 different aromatic species making it the biggest aromatic garden of the country. It was inaugurated by the chief conservator of forests (CCF) and Research director Sanjeev Chaturvedi along with social worker Beena Rao.
He informed that the project was initiated in 2018-19, as per approval of Research Advisory Committee (RAC) in June 2018, with the objective of conservation of various aromatic species, to create awareness about these species, promote further research about these species and to link it with livelihood of local people in future. The project has been funded under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme of the Central Government.
Answering a question Chaturvedi said, “Lalkuan was selected as the site because it is known for its perpetual problem of foul smell due to the stench that comes from certain industrial units.”
It is the biggest aromatic garden of the country which also has a Tulsi Vatika containing more than 20 species of Tulsi, he averred. Apart from Tulsi Vatika, the garden has eight different sections like aromatic leaves (Lemon balm, Rosemary, Kapoor and various mint species), aromatic flowers (Chameli, Mogra, Rajnigandha, Kewda), aromatic trees (Chandan, Neem Chameli, Naglingam, Parijat), aromatic rhizomes (Aama Haldi, Kali Haldi), aromatic seeds (Kasturi Bhindi, Badi Elaichi, Timur, Ajwain), aromatic grasses (Lemon grass, Java grass, Khas grass), aromatic bulbs (Red ginger, Sand ginger) and aromatic roots (Pattharchur,Vach).
Chandan from South India, Agarwood from North East, Kewada from coastal areas and Parijat from Terai zone, apart from Neem Chameli, Hazari Mogra, Sontaka, Cahmeli, Raat Ki Rani, Din Ka Raja and Anant are some of the most fragrant popular species present in the aromatic garden. It also has nine different species of Jasmine, three different species of ginger and four different species of mint and Haldi.
