A look at Google Maps will show you a large green patch towards the end of Marol on the Bamandaya Pada lane. However, as you walk down the dusty road lined with parked buses and rickshaws, you're likely to miss the gate that leads to a paradise in this little suburb— Bharatwan Garden.
"When we first visited this plot in 1999, it was an abandoned quarry and was widely used by miscreants. The place was under the danger of being taken over by squatters," says Suresh Nair, an active member of the Military Road Residents' Welfare Association, the organisation responsible for managing this oasis.
The six-acre plot that was primarily rock and barren land was not very conducive to plantation; saplings would die inevitably. However, with the support from nature enthusiasts such as Avinash Kubal, Deputy Director, Maharashtra Nature Park, the entire tract has now been transformed. "We have rare species of trees within the park that were introduced to us by nature lovers who come for a visit. For us, it was just about planting a sapling where there was space." adds Nair.
State Health Minister Suresh Shetty, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, has been a key guiding force for the organisation and has helped secure funds for its development and maintenance.
As you walk around the four-level park, you are bound to run into children playing in the earmarked open area as well as the terrace top. Joggers, families spending an evening together and couples sharing a peaceful moment—the park is peppered with all kinds of people. Bharatwan garden is a hub of activities—from laughter clubs, classes for children, English speaking courses—these are just some of the activities conducted by volunteers and members. Additionally, the park houses structures that are rented out at nominal rates for yoga, aerobics and dance classes.
For Puneet Kaur Dasgupta, who runs a nursery for children in the vicinity, the park is a regular jaunt. "This is one of most preferred venues for our day trips. The park is the perfect location for the awakening the five senses. In a city where children are mostly confined to their homes, this outing is an exciting experience."
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