Asia’s largest Cactus Garden situated in the heart of Panchkula will soon have its small pockets across Panchkula to spread its spiny wonder among tourists and local residents
Aiming to popularise the Cactus Garden, the local authorities have decided to develop small pockets of cactus across the city.The small pockets would display signages for promotion of Cactus Garden. Besides, it would exhibit the details of cactus species planted in the area.Known for its rare and endangered species of Indian succulent plants with thick fleshy leaves, the Cactus Garden in Sector 5 here is spread over an area of 8 acres. Having 800 species and various number of exotic plants, a small library section is also developed here with different collection of books detailing about cactus varieties.
Talking to The Pioneer, Dr Nidhi Bhardwaj, Manager of Cactus Garden said, “It is important to make people aware about Asia’s largest Cactus Garden. For this, we have planned to develop small pockets of various species of cactus across Panchkula.”She said, “At present, visit of school children are organized in the garden. Besides, people interested to know about the cactus species visit the garden.”
“We want to promote this Cactus Garden as a major tourist spot of Panchkula,” she added. Bhardwaj informed the new varieties of Cactus are planted in the garden every year. The seeds are not only imported from various parts of Indian nurseries but also from USA, Mexico and Africa.“The cactus seeds are planted in spring season mostly. And some varieties of cactus can exist for 10-20 years,” she added. Maintained and developed by HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) and Haryana Tourism, various types of vegetative propagation techniques are applied here to cactus species to make garden beautiful.
Established in 1987, the garden was renamed as “Dr JS Sarkaria National Cactus and succulent Botanical HUDA Garden and Research Center” after the death of the chief architect of the garden Dr JS Sarkaria, who had donated a large collection of cacti and succulent plants, in 2004.
Some plants in garden also have medical usage while some are used in making jellies, candies etc. The plants which are large in numbers are also sold. Every year, the National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden and Research Centre attracts tourists as well as botanists at Cactus Show which is a major annual event organized at the Garden.