Flowers bloom on the Raj Bhavan premises in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee
Bhubaneswar, Jan 7: The sprawling garden at the Raj Bhavan has become one of the major hangout zones in the city. With the garden open to common people, the governor's official residence is drawing hundreds of picnickers daily.
The flower garden will be open till January 20, and visitors can sit and relax in the huge lawns and derive pleasure in the beauty of the floral extravaganza. The garden is open to the public from 3 pm to 5 pm daily.
Adorned with a large variety of beautiful flowers like marigold, petunia, salvia and the multicoloured roses, the garden is a thorough treat to the senses. Large and small varieties of dahlias and other seasonal blooms like dianthus, chrysanthemums, zinnias and gerberas are the other major attractions at the garden.
16-year old student Poonam Mohanty's first visit to the garden was memorable. 'I had heard a lot of good things about the garden from my friends and I must say they were absolutely right. This place has a very soothing effect. Amid the abundant greenery, one feels extremely relaxed and rejuvenated,' said Poonam.
The elderly citizens were also extremely happy after taking a stroll in the garden. 'Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the place is profoundly peaceful. I make it a point to come here every year to indulge myself in the fragrance of the flowers,' said 55-year-old homemaker, Ananya Purohit.
People were seen taking pictures while children were prancing around the fountains and the flowers. Soft instrumental music playing near the fountains added more charm in the ambience of thegarden.
The two deer parks and the cactus and orchid houses are also catching the attention of the visitors, especially the children.
Around 70 gardeners have been toiling hard to make sure that the blooms are in good care. 'It feels great to see people coming to the garden in large numbers. We have been working very hard to make sure that the place remains clean and maintained,' said a senior horticulturist at the garden.
The garden is attracting around 500 people everyday with the turnout escalating on weekends. Security has also been tightened at the garden.
