Facelift for Lalbagh on cards
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Facelift for Lalbagh on cards |
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BANGALORE: Multilingual guides who can rattle off plant names in French, German and Bengali; a seed museum housing the beginnings of lakhs of species; an audiovisual show these are but some of the things that will soon greet tourists in the city’s most exotic living plant wealth museum, Lalbagh.
The 245-acre park, home to the most varied flora from across the world, has not been developed for some time now, while authorities have preferred to maintain it at the most basic level. But with tourism being the new government mantra, and outstation and foreign tourists choosing it as the most preferred destination in Bangalore, the Horticulture department is preparing to cash in.
"Lalbagh and Cubbon Park are like the two eyes of Bangalore. Of late, we have seen an influx of tourists, both domestic and foreign. To cater to an eclectic audience, we are trying to make Lalbagh a must-see botanical garden and a truly unique experience," Horticulture Secretary N.C. Muniyappa told The Times of India.
Before embarking on the ambitious makeover, the department is addressing certain basic issues first. "The lake is an eyesore and much of the problem stems from sewage being let into it. The Lake Development Authority is taking up a massive project at Rs 2.5 crore to desilt, divert sewage and clean up the lake," Muniyappa said.
Meanwhile, the department is planning to fill in the information lacuna. "Visitors have nothing to refer to when they enter the park. Lalbagh is more than just a conglomeration of plants and trees, so we are designing pamphlets and brochures to help tourists. It will also guide them through the park and point out important plants and trees," he said.
To help foreign and outstation tourists, multilingual guides will be appointed and trained to cater to this segment. "Alongside, we have planned an audio-visual show lasting over 20 minutes, which will depict the park’s history and plant wealth in capsule form. Based on that, visitors can choose what they want to see," he explained.