Urban forest to soothe Doon’s city blues

Rakesh Agrawal, Dehradun

J

ust 15 km from the centre of Dehradun, an urban forest has sprung up in the Jhajra Forest Range close by. It has dense greenery, walking and cycling paths, medicinal and aromatic plants and replicas of Uttarakhand’s biodiversity.

Named Anand Van, the forest is of 50 hectares. It’s been raised by Jai Raj who served as the state’s principal chief conservator of forests. After he retired in 2020, Jai Raj and his wife, Sadhna, wanted to nurture a forest which would embody inner peace, spiritualism and meditation with nature.

The project took three years to complete and cost `43 lakh. It was inaugurated on October 17, 2020. Apart from peace and spirituality the forest creates awareness about local flora and fauna and, it is hoped, will bring down Dehradun’s rising AQI. Anand Van is being managed by the Forest Range Office in Jhajra, Dehradun Division.

There is an entry fee of `50 for adults and `20 for children between 10 and 15 years of age. Parking costs extra. At the entrance is a temple of Maa Bala Sundari, a local Hindu deity. After walking for a while amidst tall trees you reach the Nakshatra Vatika. It has been created to honour Indian astrology or jyotish. It features 27 Nakshatras or lunar constellations in Indian astrology, each linked to specific stars, deities and traits that influence personalities.

There is a large blue globe at the centre surrounded by 27 plants. “Plants, trees or herbs traditionally linked to one Nakshatra, as per ancient Indian texts, create a botanical representation of each celestial body.  We have put up panels explaining Vedic astrology to visitors in a serene natural setting,” says Kishan Singh Negi, who works for the forest department.

The Vatika is supposed to promote self-awareness, spiritual reflection, and harmony with cosmic energies through nature. Next to it is a Sita Vatika.

Dotted throughout the forest are replicas of animals and birds found in the hills: the tiger, snow leopard, musk deer, red panda, the Himalayan Black Bear as well as pheasants like the Himalayan monal and kalij.

Interestingly, a large grassland has also been recreated in the midst of the forest. Jai Raj has named it Bugyal which actually means a high-altitude meadow. It was not possible to nurture a real bugyal in the Shivaliks. At one corner of the grassland is a watch tower which people can climb to get a bird’s eye view of the entire 50-acre forest.

There’s also a Kids’ Corner with swings and slides for children, a Picnic Spot with a waterfall nearby and adventure activities. Benches are made of logs. The forest attracts local and foreign tourists. “We are thrilled to be here,” says Sophie Martin, a French tourist. “This place integrates spiritualism, religiosity, and nature. It is an oasis of peace.”

The urban forest is a remarkable legacy to leave behind by the forest department, often accused of balding the hills, and the former chief conservator of forests in the state. ν