Visiting 18th-century Empress Botanical Garden
Five minutes before the National War Memorial South Command, in Pune, is the lush Empress Botanical Garden from the eighteenth century. Positioned near the racecourse – this marvellous garden was renamed from Garden of Dr Don to Empress after Queen Victoria acquired the title of Empress of India. Simultaneously, the government of India, rather Bombay, transferred the legal entitlement of this ancient land to the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India. Although this botanical garden is not just another park, it has a well-made history worth knowing.
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The History of Empress
Anterior to transforming into a botanical garden, this Pune-based historic garden was a soldiers park. Before becoming the Soldiers Park, this garden was merely an estate owned by Sardar Vithalrao Purandhare. Much later, in 1838, when the British government acquired the land, General Finjer took over the task to remodel this wild expanse into a lush landscape. In 1845, Sir Charles Napier renewed the Empress Botanical Garden by introducing new plantations to it. However, all this while, this park was still known as the Garden of Dr Don.
In the current times, this 39-acres Empress Botanical Garden persists to be the city’s most prized estate promoting agricultural awareness. I was ‘truly’ delighted to pay it a brief visit during my Pune trip. I think this estate continues to thrive with ever-blooming flora and fauna because the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India has been managing it since its inception. During your walk inside this well-landscaped garden, you will come across rare species of flowers and trees. To keep up the interest of their young and grown-up audience, the Agri-Horticultural Society organises shows and events throughout the year.
These programs promote environmental awareness and are a great way to connect with nature. Ubiquitously a quiet stream of water will chase you back and forth throughout your garden walk. This botanical garden is close to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Hanuman Temple, War Memorial and Nala Park. Keep aside half a day to tour this side of the city, and you will easily be able to tick 4-5 prominent landmarks off your Pune travel list.
