Garden of Dreams - Pt 1
|
The Garden of Dreams,
Kathmandu – Part One
  We took a slow bimble to the Garden
of Dreams, not too far from our digs. In through a gated entrance, up a few
steps passing a water feature to pay our one pound
thirty (each) fee. To our right was a little seating
area and already we felt as if we left the chaos and noise of the city
far behind.
  After showing our tickets to the
attendant, we moved forward and to our surprise saw a huge space. To our left a
massive tiered area surrounded by colonial buildings.
To our right a formal garden set around a large
pool.
  A pillar set in a
recess gave wonderful advice:- we must cultivate our
gardens.
 We followed the path to the right of
the garden and found some old favourites, (including
Dickensonia Antarctica in the background).
   Of course the trigger finger flexed at the upturned trunk and then he
found a gateway.
   Passing the large
pool we stopped to take in one of the twin fountains and a lily or
two.
          Happy
flowers.
 We went upstairs, a better way to view
the formal garden at the far end to our
left.
 To our
right.
  Behind us, a chipmunk serious about taking in the rays.
 Below the chipmunk was the nursery.
 From the Garden of Dreams website:
The Garden of Dreams, a neo classical historical garden, is situated in the
midst of Kathmandu city, Nepal. The Garden was famous as the garden of Six
Seasons which was created by late Field Marshal Kaiser
Sumsher Rana (1892-1964) in early 1920. After the completion of this
Garden, it was considered as one of the most sophisticated private gardens of
that time. However, it was a private garden of Kaiser Sumsher, it was
beautifully designed inspired by the famous Edwardian style. Kishore Narshingh,
a prominent architect who designed and constructed Singha Durbar in 1907,
designed and supervised the construction of the Garden of Dreams. Within the
Garden walls, Kaiser Sumsher created an exquisite ensemble of pavilions,
fountains, decorative garden furniture and European inspired features such as
verandas, pergolas, balustrades, urns and birdhouses. He erected six impressive
pavilions, each dedicated to one of the six seasons of Nepal. These pavilions
provided the Garden's architectural framework and lent a cosmopolitan flavour to
the formal arrangement of flowers, shrubs and trees. Today, only half of the
original garden is in existence.
After the demise of Kaiser Sumsher,
the garden was handed over to the Government of Nepal. However, it was not
properly managed for decades. Seven years of extensive renovation (2000 –
2007) has revived the garden as per the original concept with added modern
facilities. It has now become an oasis of peace and tranquillity in the urban
bustle of Kathmandu city. The size of the Garden is 6,895 sq. meter including
three pavilions, amphitheatre, central ponds, pergolas, urns and combination of
small gardens to larger ones.
Over the wall it was pleasing to see more restoration in progress. Continued............ |
