The proposed site for the Nakshatra Van in Gamharia

A zodiac park rooted in astrology in Gamharia will soon be just the right spot for you to retreat from the hurly-burly of the city and unwind.

The proposed Nakshatra Van, the second in Jharkhand after the one in front of Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, will be within a stone’s throw from Jamshedpur, precisely 7km, near Assangi village.

As in Ranchi, the park at Gamharia in Seraikela-Kharsawan will be a circle representing the 27 nakshatras or lunar mansions that the moon is believed to pass through during its monthly cycle.

Seraikela divisional forest officer A.T. Mishra said the park would include separate enclosures for different trees.

“Twenty-seven types of trees that correspond to the 27 nakshatras will be planted in the enclosures to reflect their astronomical, medicinal and social values to those who visit the park,” Mishra said.

Every nakshatra is intricately linked to the 12 zodiac signs and according to Hindu belief, each nakshatra is also associated with a specific tree.

“For a nakshatra like Krittika, gular trees will be planted while for Revati and Uttara Bhadrapada it will be madhuca (mahua) and neem,” Mishra said, adding that an enclosure of saal trees would come up next to the park to provide a forest-like ambience.

He explained that various parts of the trees were said to positively dictate astrological influences on our lives.

Jamshedpur conservator of forest V. Jairam told The Telegraph: “The Centre wanted to set up a foreman training institute on forestland near Asangi. Therefore, it had applied for clearance from the ministry of environment and forests. But the ministry made the government commit to set up a zodiac park beside the proposed foreman training institute.”

Work on the project would start once the Centre sanctioned funds, he added.

A team of senior forest officials, including Jairam and Mishra, inspected 31 acres of forestland in Gamharia last week. Mishra said the training institute would be set up on a plot of 15 acres while the zodiac park would take up 16 acres.

The DFO further said that the Nakshatra Van would also include a circular walking trail for visitors and recreational activities for children.

The Centre will fund the park project to be set up under the guidance and monitoring of the state forest department.