Darjeeling botanical garden to get facelift

TT, 4 February 2020, Siliguri: The Bengal tourism department will develop a new site for tourists in the adjacent areas of Lloyd's Botanical Garden, which is also known as Darjeeling Botanical Garden. 

The botanical garden will also get a facelift which will be jointly taken up by the forest and tourism departments. Sources said the tourism department was working on development of tourist infrastructure at Rangbull near Sonada in the Darjeeling hills and a new tourist spot on the fringe of the botanical garden in the Darjeeling town. 

"The century-old botanical garden is full of rare species of orchids and native plants. It required some facelift and the forest department has proposed a Rs 10 crore project. We will support the forest department to carry out the work. Also, we will develop a new tourist spot adjacent to the garden," tourism minister Gautam Deb said here on Monday. 

The garden was established in the hill town in 1878 and is maintained by the forest department. At the garden, the poly house would be renovated and arrangements would be made for illumination, along with improved walkways in the interiors, better drainage and improvement of fences. 

"We have identified a plot that is located just beside the garden. The new tourism project will come up there. The survey of the land at Rangbull is also in progress," he added. 

The minister here held a meeting with officials of his department and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. Earlier on Monday, he also visited Bhorer Alo, the mega tourism hub at Gajolodoba in Jalpaiguri district. 

Discussions were held on a number of issues, including the renovation of Malbazar tourist lodge and the road project taken up to connect Bengal Safari Park with Bhorer Alo that that passes through the Baikunthapur forest.