Darjeeling: The Bengal forest department has decided to levy entry fee on visitors to the 140-year old Lloyd Botanic Garden, which boasts two "living fossil" trees that were believed to be in existence even during the days of the dinosaur.

As of now, the silviculture (hills) division that manages the 40-acre park here doesn't charge fee from visitors. The entry fee is likely to be in force from mid-March.

"We have decided to charge entry fee basically to help us maintain the garden better, to ensure that there is a sense of responsibility among visitors and also to regulate the flow of people," said Manoj Chhetri, the range officer of the silviculture (hills) division.

While adults will be charged Rs 20, students will have to shell out just Rs 5. "A number of people in the surrounding areas walk through the garden. We will issue a green pass to such a person for an annual fee of Rs 50," said Chhetri.

Morning walkers will also be issued a pink pass that costs Rs 50 a year.

Among the last remaining green patches in the Darjeeling town, the garden is a virtual treasure trove for those with botanical and geological interests. The park was set up in 1878. It is famous for two "living fossil" trees - ginkgo biloba (maidenhair) and metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood).

The living fossils were planted in the garden in 1944 and are reported to have been in existence for 120 million years during the Cretaceous period. The dinosaurs were on the verge of extinction during the Cretaceous period.

"The park has more than 1,000 species, including nearly 141 medicinal plants and about 60 other verities which are classified as rare, endangered and threatened," said Chhetri.

The garden is named after William Lloyd, a well-known resident of Darjeeling who donated the land to set up a branch of the Royal Botanic Garden in Calcutta. However, the Darjeeling park is no longer a branch of the Calcutta garden.

The park is divided into three sections - the upper portion having indigenous species of eastern and western Himalayas and Myanmar, a middle coniferous part and a lower one containing acclimatised species from different countries.