From the roof tops it seems like a speck of blue under the fluff of grey clouds that fritter away in the sky. But when one tries to focus on the entire landscape that spans out from this point an extraordinary picture unfolds.
Vast expanses of the brown Mayawati sand stone on the outer periphery, undulating hillocks at closer quarters and palm trees encircling the band of azure - Janeshwar Mishra Park emerges as an oasis in the concrete jungle. All one needs is a camel and a Arabian dress over.
lucknow’s cityscape has seen tremendous changes over the years- from the historical mughal and indo- Saracenic architecture to the Buddhist inspired Dholpur sandstone Ambedkar Architecture but the new entity of Janeshwar Mishra Park gives a strong feeling that the central point of the city is soon going to shift from the Samta Moolak crossing to this oasis in the desert.
The serenity in the atmosphere is palpable when one comes closer to the waters rippling softly admist the continued buzz of construction at the Janeshwar Mishra Park. The Palm trees that encircle the lake make it picture perfect and keeps up the continued perception of an oasis. The lake is cleverly crafted and curves towards the right in such a manner that the bystander is unable to decipher what lies ahead unless he traverses the entire length of the lake line.
A lazy saunter around it brings in more sights with an island in the centre of the lake and the connecting bridge. Ascend the bridge and lo presto , the feel of the oasis is re-emphasized. Here you are standing on the speck of blue, the greens in the background one level above you and the buildings zooming away from you into the oblivion. It is
virtually far from the madding crowds.
Energetic voices fill the surroundings. People pour in to catch a glimpse, flay their arms, walk that extra length skipping gingerly the buckets and the construction material, avoiding the tools, the machines and the labourers. The excitement is evident and the lake absent from all the other parks of the city remains the buzz of all conversation. Steps lead down to the lake where visitors can opt for an enchanting boat ride on the gondola in the Nawabi capital in the background of some lilting music.
The lake is not the only place for some repose as the park offers a multitude of other facilities. A sixteen kilometre-long meandering walkway and a cycle track that runs over eight-kilometres with cycle parking facility. Not to miss out on the jogging track that can be used by professional athletes.
There is a lot more that includes horse riding trails, Sports centre and Gymnasium. Claimed to be the Asia largest garden the park has been created with the Hyde Park as the inspiration. The geological and the hydrological plans of the park have been prepared by IIT-Kanpur and the architecture has been prepared by the New Delhi-based School of Planning and Architecture. The lush greens of the park will have a variety of gardens and arrangements for sporting facilities and the replica of the “london Eye” will stand out as high point of the park. Children play area, amphitheatre along with a range of herbal vatikas are all on the anvil as the Park witnesses a speedy construction.
One envisions the central point of the city shifting. Samta Moolak crossing and the Ambedkar Park stole the crowds from Hazratganj and Janeshwar Mishra Park will steal it from Samta Moolak crossing in the days to come.
“It breaks the passive continuity of the stone in Gomtinagar that had become an eyesore in the recent past. The lake is a soothing sight and brings in the much required relief in the area. My daily wanderings will now move from the lohia Park which is too open to the Janeshwar Mishra Park that is the new paradise ” said a visitor.
A well known architect says that the concept of a paradise garden always had the inclusion of a water body with Juniperus trees whose foliage could be trimmed. “ The Indian garden had the concept of asymmetrical forests inspired by Krishna with a lot of Kadam trees but it was the mughals who brought in the water bodies and the surrounding silver oak trees to catch the element of grandeur. The Parsadise concept of a garden includes a lot of foliage , water bodies and cascading water falls. In the contemporary forms of the water bodies, it is the unsymmetrical lake that is emerging is a Japanese inspired concept. The addition of such a lake to a park is always welcome because of its balmy calming effect” she said.
As the slight drizzle begins to pepper the lake and small bubbles pop out from its surface one is tempted to stay that extra second longer into the paradise tucked into this corner of the city because after the oasis it is back into the desserts of heat with its usual grind and grill.
