Delhi is often called a 'garden city, a reference both to its relatively high green cover and to its many public gardens. Some of these gardens have a long and interesting history, going back several centuries. Others are relatively new but still significant, be it for their design and variety of plants, or for the events behind their establishment. All contribute to the character of Delhi, and serve as important public spaces as a refuge from the strain of urban living for citizens, and must-see attractions for visitors.
This book is about some of Delhi's many gardens, introducing the readers to their histories, flora, and fauna. In the process it also takes a long view of how the city, and particularly its green cover, has developed; and some of the problems and challenges of maintaining that green cover in the face of growing urban density.
Packed with historical tidbits and beautiful photographs, Gardens of Delhi is memorable read and visual treat for lovers a of green spaces and readers with an interest in the city of Delhi.
MADHULIKA LIDDLE is a novelist and award-winning short story writer, best known as a writer of historical fiction. Among her most popular books include the Muzaffar Jang series, featuring a Mughal detective in 17th century Delhi; and the Delhi Quartet, a four-book fictional series of which the second book is soon to be published. In addition, she writes fiction in other genres, such as black humour and romance. Madhulika is a keen amateur naturalist, especially interested in trees and birds. She lives in Noida, India, and blogs.
SWAPNA LIDDLE has spent all her adult life in Delhi and has been engaging with the city at different levels. As a historian she has written several books on the history of Delhi. She has volunteered for many years with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), to draw attention to the need to preserve the city's historic sites. For almost 25 years she has also been leading heritage walks to share with others her love and wonder for the many historic sites and neighbourhoods of Delhi.
Delhi is often rem remarked on for a having an unusual amount of green cover for such a large urban agglomeration. This is, however, a relatively new phenomenon. Delhi's climate is not naturally conducive to lush vegetation. With a fairly low annual rainfall, which is moreover concentrated in the monsoon months, the natural vegetation of Delhi is described as 'semi-desert', with relatively few, rather thorny, medium sized trees.
This picture of a rather arid landscape is borne out by historical visual depictions too. A 16th century painting in the Akbarnama, the history of Akbar's reign, shows the emperor hunting in Palam. In this illustration, the landscape is dry and rocky, with a little scrubby vegetation and some stunted trees. Later depictions, for instance the sketches made by European visitors in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and photographs from the latter half of the 19th century, are not very different.
They typically show vast, practically treeless, vistas.
These historical images of open areas are of course in sharp contrast to the places where people actually lived.
The very fact that the natural vegetation was sparse and the climate hot and dry, prompted those who lived in the Delhi region to cultivate trees and other vegetation to provide relief from natural conditions. The very first humans who took up agriculture in this area were the inhabitants of Late Harappan villages such as Mandoli and Bhorgarh, inhabited around 2000-1000 B.C.E. They are likely to have planted trees for shade around their homes, carefully tending and watering them as they did their crops.
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