Children enjoy on the eve of New Year at Nakshatra Van in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Dec. 30: Situated in front of Raj Bhavan, the Nakshatra Van is a delightful place to picnic for botanists, students, researchers as well as the general public.

The Van, as it is popularly known, is undoubtedly one of the best spots to picnic within the city. It is a popular place for college students, who come there to hang out with their friends, as well as for families.

The spot was the dream of former state governor, M. Rama Jois, who later inaugurated the park. The Van is under the Jharkhand State Forest Development Corporation Limited, one of the wings of the forest department.

The park is the only of its kind in Eastern India with 57 species of rare plants, 11 varieties of roses, 27 plants complementing the constellations and 12 complementing zodiac signs.

The entry fee to the park is Rs 3 for children and Rs 5 for the adults. Parking is free. There is, however, a charge of Rs 5 for still cameras and Rs 50 for video cameras. It has facilities for drinking water, there is a snacks counter serving dry food and water, as well as two washrooms. The park has good lighting arrangements and is open for visitors from 8 am to 8 pm.

Beautiful decorations adorn the park, but it is the plants ? a mix of decorative and herbal ? that are the real attraction. Each herbal plant has a sign with its botanical name as well as an explanation of its use in medicine

Nakshatra Van has seating arrangements with shelters for the visitors to relax. Narrow spiralling roads are a major draw card for the children. For those under 12 years, there are swings, a see-saw and a merry-go-round.

Water features play a prominent part in the park. A fountain at the centre of the pond provides the perfect photo opportunity.

?The park is good for picnics and walks because the numerous plants help in the purification of the air. It is believed to be good luck to spend time near the area marked for the particular zodiac sign,? said one of the visitors. ?The park is popular among the visitors because it is very easy to come here as vehicles are available to and for any direction from just outside the main gate,? said an official.