A tête-à-tête with Flowers: Flower Show at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore!

The rose speaks of love silently,

in a language known only to the heart.

~ Anonymous.

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Are you a lover of nature?

Do you find parks and gardens places to dream,

be inspired and fill your hearts with joy?

Well, I do. I find gardens and parks not just places to wander and dream but also to fill my heart with motivation and happiness.

I am a lover of nature; it delights my heart to have the privilege to spend some quality time with these hearty delicate pure and light beautiful beings in nature. All these times spent are a balm to my soul. Visiting the magnificent annual flower show in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens (The Red Garden in English) in Bangalore on the eve of the Republic day was one such lovely experience…

Lets visit the flower show in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens!

This experience dates long time back but I believe memories are ageless, infact they become beautiful with time - don’t they? So come along; the mere thought of reliving a beautiful memory here, through my little diary with all of you is enchanting the nooks and crannies in my soul.

THE ANNUAL BOTANICAL SHOW AT LALBAGH GARDENS, BANGALORE!

Spread in an area of 240 acres in the heart of the city, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens is a lush green extensive paradise started initially by Hyder Ali, one of the most famous rulers of old Mysore in 1760 later extended by his son Tipu Sultan and subsequently completed by the British and Indian doyens of horticulture by aesthetically housing rare ancient species of plants and trees from all over the world.

The garden has ample walking spaces meandering around lakes, fountains, flower beds including the prominent Lal Bagh Rock, one of the oldest rock formations on earth, dating back to 3000 million years attracting hoardes of crowds into its folds every year.

But all I was excited about was visiting the glass house that day. Initially modelled on London's Crystal Palace and built during the British Raj - the glass house looked inviting right from the word go!

It was 23rd January, 3 days before the Republic day and the glass house was abuzz with the bi-annual flower show in full swing for the year. As soon as I stepped in, I remember being overwhelmed to have come in contact with such a wide profusion of colors all around. There were flowers and flowers all my eyes could gather, so many colors, shapes and sizes, all dancing gleefully in their natural robes of splendorous beauty.

The house was crowded and there was a constant chattering of people, tourists and locals that could be heard, many of them were busy roaming around clicking pictures admiring the magnificent specimens, feathery foliage and tiny clear lovely flowers.

I roamed around, clicked pictures and stood and stared at the floral exhibits for long stretches of time. Passing through the well kept rare species; I couldn’t help but admire the choice, care and compassion that had gone in their upbringing, assortment and keeping. I was inspired by the depth, variety and the freshness of the greenery and moved by their wholesome loveliness; there was this part of me that longed to talk with them. For if they could, I am sure, just like us humans, each one of them too would have a story to tell.

Conversations with nature are magical for they speak a different language and to listen to all that they have to say, we have to activate the ears of our hearts.

All the time I stood and stared, those were valued moments of peace, patience and calm that nature’s inhabitants - the sweet and gentle flowers bloomed forth in my ravenous soul. So fragrant is that memory that even today as and when I think about them, their aromatic beauty beholds and illumines my tiny little universe.

If like me, you are a nature lover too, visit the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens when going down Bangalore. Especially around the Independence day or Republic day. It’s the perfect place for everyone who loves flowers, nature and wants to fill their hearts with some stunningly vibrant colors of joy and brilliant scents of happiness carefully assorted in the lap of nature. It ranks high on one of the things to do in Bangalore and rightly so: it is a beauty magnet in the temple of this manifested Godly creation.

INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERS:

Opening times:

Lalbagh gardens remains open daily from 6.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. throughout the year.

Special events in the form of flower shows are held twice a year in the glass house in August and January around the Independence day and Republic Day.

For more information contact: 080-26578184.