Sajjan Niwas Garden

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 27 Apr 2019 22:57
Sajjan Niwas Garden
 
 
 
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After the most gorgeous garden we went to the biggest which turned out to be the saddest in many ways. Free entry does not help with funds to renovate. The main gate was impressive enough and bimbling along the main path we saw many trees with labels.
 
 
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At the first cross paths was a well established palm avenue.
 
 
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To the right was a fabulous rose garden which must look incredible in full bloom. Then things went downhill quite quickly.
 
 
Victoria Hall 
 

Victoria Hall was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 by the Public Works Department of Udaipur. The hall originally housed a museum and library. This general view shows the front elevation with a statue of Queen Victoria in front of the building. The photograph is part of an album containing architectural and topographical views of sites in Rajasthan, mainly of Udaipur, originally in the collection of Rufus Daniel Isaacs, Lord Reading, who served as Viceroy of India (1921-1926). Prince Albert came out to unveil the statue.......

 
 
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............the great lady has been replaced by Gandhi and Victoria Hall is nothing but a shell.

 

The city website describes the garden as:- Sajjan Niwas Garden is the largest garden of Rajasthan, sprawled over 100 acres of land. During 1850's, Maharana Sajjan Singh took the initiative to build this beautiful garden. Sajjan Niwas Bagh is celebrated for its numerous varieties of roses. Due to abundance of rose flowers, this garden is also known as Gulab Bagh or Rose Garden. Situated right beneath the banks of Pichola Lake on Lake Palace Road, Gulab Bagh is an interesting park in the southeast of City Palace complex.

Innumerable array of roses, which are not common in the lands of India, makes the garden different from others. The arrangement of flower beds forms the highlight of this garden. Gulab Bagh is a peaceful garden, a virtual forest of flowers, on the rim of the city area. Residents of Udaipur usually visit this place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of this beautiful garden. If you love nature and want to observe it closely, Rose Garden is the best way to explore nature's splendour.
The soothing vistas with unusual rose beds, robust trees, orchids and spacious lawns leave any visitor in a delusion. While you are enjoying this beautiful scenery, you can leave your kids to enjoy their much-loved amusement. It is a toy train in the premises of the garden that would be cherished by your child. The garden also comprises a small zoo that has number of animals like chinkara, leopards, tigers and birds.
Apart from the natural beauty, Sajjan Nivas Garden has something more to offer you. It is a library that was constructed by Maharana Fateh Singh. The Library is known as Saraswati Bhawan Library. This library houses books related to history, archaeology, Indology and several manuscripts that date back to the early medieval period. Gulab Bagh also encompasses a museum, which was originally known as Victoria Hall Museum. It is famous for its collection of antiques, curios, royal household items and other interesting relics from the past.
Once, this beautiful garden was regarded as one of the largest urban parks in India. Till date, the garden has not lost its charm. Tourists from all over come to visit this spectacular park of 19th century. It is actually a paradisiacal pleasure and one of the best gardens of Udaipur, Rajasthan.
 
 
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The Toy Train. We paid forty pence to ride the three kilometre circuit. We have seen pictures from yesteryear when the train had many carriages, today, just the one. Me and a smiling Bear swelled the numbers to six adults and two children. Behind us a potential ‘one careful owner’.
 
 
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We clacked along through a wooded area and it was nice to see people walking and taking pictures of the train. Then came a disused bird aviary.
 
 
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The lovely looking fountains were empty.
 
 
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A very poorly spotted deer and a gazelle saw the trigger finger.
 
 
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The zoo, at least we saw a couple of workmen.
 
 
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The cat used to welcome visitors to the zoo. Along the path and we saw a great menu but the cafe was no more.
 
 
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Back to Victoria Hall, condition not too bad.
 
 
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The leopard -  in need of a coat of paint.
 
 
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Fun with statues.
 
 
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Shabby monkey but the peacock wasn’t too bad.
 
 
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The trees at least were in good condition. Time now to head for the airport, our Grand Tour complete.
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL SUCH A SHAME
                     MUST HAVE BEEN FABULOUS IN ITS HEYDAY