Missing nature? Be the President’s guest

Tired of mall hopping? Don’t know what to do on Saturdays? Soon, you could just hop over to Rashtrapati Bhavan to get up close and personal with Mother Nature.

Tired of mall hopping? Don’t know what to do on Saturdays? Soon, you could just hop over to Rashtrapati Bhavan to get up close and personal with Mother Nature.

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President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Saturday inaugurated a ‘Nature Trail’ at the President’s Estate, which showcases a rich biodiversity, including more than 150 plants and trees, 84 animals and 32 birds.

It is proposed that the Trail would be thrown open to the general public on Saturdays, when the Change of Guard ceremony is performed.

Spread over an area of 75 acres, the Trail is located at the western end of the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens. It is a child of the President’s keen interest in ecological conservation.

The Trail is set upon an undulating rocky terrain and stands out visually. Its main features are: a pond ecosystem, a butterfly corner, ber grove, mango orchard, wilderness habitat and peacock point, to name a few.

“We have made an effort to record all species of animals and trees found here. We hope our effort will bring people closer (to the Bhavan),” the President told media persons visiting the Trail on Saturday.

“We also plan to bring out a book about this,” she said.

Accompanied by her husband Devisingh Shekhawat, the President walked more than a kilometre on the Trail in her trademark sari matched with sports shoes .

The inaugural tour comprised mediapersons and select guests, including Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was accompanied by her granddaughter Aafiya.