The Pu La Deshpande Udyan, also known as the Pune Okayama Friendship Garden, is located close to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Parvati water purification plant.
Never heard of the Korakuen Garden in Japan? Don’t worry. Just visit Sinhagad Road and you will not only hear about it, but also get an opportunity to see what it’s like.
The Pu La Deshpande Udyan, also known as the Pune Okayama Friendship Garden, is located close to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Parvati water purification plant.
Opened to the public in February 2006, this garden is based on the three-century-old Korakuen Garden in Okayama, Japan. The Pune garden represents the culture and intricate ideologies of an
authentic Japanese garden.
In 2000, after the death of the great litterateur, Pu La Deshpande, the PMC decided to name a garden after him. At this time, a delegation from Japan was visiting Pune under the Association of Friends of Japan, an organisation set up by Puneite Samir Khale, which promotes businesses and cultural relations between Japan and India. The Japanese proposed to the PMC to build a garden similar to the Korakuen garden in Okayama.
“Japanese gardens are the most beautiful and highly developed of all present-day gardens. They are known for their elegant naturalism and charm. The Korakuen Garden is spread over 180 acres. Our aim was to develop a park on those lines to give citizens a taste of the Japanese culture, while they enjoy their free time in the beauty of nature,” says PMC’s garden department assistant, Santosh Kale.
Although Pu La Deshpande Udyan is not a vivid imitation of the Japanese garden due to the contrast in climatic conditions of the two countries, it does stand up to its name.
Just a short stroll inside and you are drawn to the coolness, tranquility and peace spread over 10 acres. Your first impression is of a quiet place behind Parvati hills, but a short walk inside will pleasantly reveal the meticulous planning.
The extensive use of wood, stone and water is a welcome change from the mundane use of concrete and tar, or even tiles. These materials help in keeping the place cool throughout the hot summer. Trees, grass, ferns and bamboos paint hues of green all over to revitalise your senses and rejuvenate your spirits.
While your ears enjoy the melody created by water falling from different heights, the wide lawns, lamps in carved rocks, artificial hills, a pond and oval shrubs and trees recreate the spirit of Zen. A raised fortress gives you a bird’s eye view of the entire garden.
“The uniqueness of the place is that even without a swing or a slide, the children enjoy walking around the small bridges, leaning over them to catch a glimpse of colourful fish and feel water flowing over their feet in our resting bay without any fear,” said the gardener, Vitthalnath Chandere.
The morning here sees dedicated citizens in their exercise gear taking long walks and senior citizens hoarding their lungs with oxygen. The evenings are quiet, with families and young couples sharing togetherness. The weekends draw huge crowds from the nearby residential areas.
There’s ample parking for two and four-wheelers, although the parking lot is somewhat disorganised. Do not be deterred by four policemen standing guard to the controversial Dadoji Konddev statue housed in the garden.
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