Garden emerging as educational centre

By Anil Parajuli,Hetauda, Aug. 6: Brindaban Botanical Garden, a plant research centre, in Makwanpur, under the Department of Plant Resources of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, is being developed as an educational and recreational centre.

In fiscal 2023/24, students from around 150 campuses and schools from across the country visited the centre to observe and study plant species, their importance and development.

A total of 6,908 students visited the Botanical Garden in Hetauda and the Mountain Botanical Garden in Daman, both under the Plant Research Centre, Makwanpur. According to the centre, the number of students visiting the centre has been increasing in recent years.

During the three weeks of the current fiscal year, 178 students from two campuses and one school visited the Botanical Garden. These included 28 students from Madan Bhandari Academy of Health Sciences in Hetauda, 100 students from Sky Rider Secondary English Boarding School in Chitwan and 50 students from Natural Resource Management Campus in Udayapur. They came to study and learn about medicinal, aromatic herbs and plants at the centre.

Senior officer and head of the centre, Raghuram Parajuli, provided information on herbs and plants, aromatic oil processing, and more. Students from various disciplines visit the centre.

He said that students studying forestry, botany and pharmacy and those studying at the Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) often come for educational tours, studies and visits. The centre provides information to students through the botanical garden, model conservation, live plants and various sample information centres.

He further said that the centre facilitates students in identifying plants, knowing their scientific names and providing botanical information. “The plant research centre is becoming a centre for education and entertainment. Recently, students from Chitwan, Kathmandu and eastern districts come here to study plants and for visits,” Parajuli said.

A revenue of Rs. 688,000 was collected from those who came to visit the research centre in the last fiscal year. Fees are set according to Schedule 2 of the Forest Rules 2079. 

Students coming for educational studies and tours are charged a fee of Rs. 10 per person. Similarly, Rs. 15  is fixed for children aged under 10 years and Rs. 25 for those aged above 10 years. 

A fee of Rs. 500 is set for filming, music videos, and wedding photoshoots. The centre also attracts family visits, cooperatives, groups and locals for observation.

Due to the conservation and research of endangered and extinct plants, including Yarsagumba, students are increasingly curious to learn about them. The garden is becoming an excellent destination for education and recreation due to its environmental beauty, birds and pleasant atmosphere.

The centre is also conducting awareness-generating programmes on herbal identification for the students of Makawanpur. The presence of Brindaban has had a positive impact on the local area, and local trade has increased due to visitors and observers.