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New garden attracts birds, butterflies at Nandi HillsGreen scene
DHNS
Last Updated IST
Blue Flycatcher at the Nandi park. DH Photo
Blue Flycatcher at the Nandi park. DH Photo

The Nandi Hills have a pleasant climate throughout the year and is a haven for migratory birds.

The new garden developed by the Horticultural department will enhance its reputation as a hill station. Birds from the Himalayan region and other places have already started arriving here.

To attract birds and butterflies different varieties of fruit trees and flowers have been grown.

Nandi Hills are currently undergoing a multi-crore development, including a one crore renovation of the Tipu Fort, via private-public partnership to transform the hills into a tourist hub.

The Department of Horticulture is setting up  a food court modeled after one in Singapore at a cost of nearly one crore.

Various varieties of vegetarian and continental food, beverages, bakery products, ice-creams and fresh fruit juices will be available.

A 30 lakh music stage located on a three-and-a-half acre grove, which has hundreds of eucalyptus trees and rain trees, will conduct cultural programmes.

 Further, the Horticulture department is developing 140 acres (0.57 km2) of pristine land in the Nandi Hills region with the creation of a large scale exotic botanical gardens.

A state of the art Planetarium with an initial one crore investment is also being constructed. A Gondola Lift system will connect the peak of the Nandi Hill with the nearby Muddenahalli.

The State Government had decided to spend Rs. 16.60 crore during the financial year 2011-12 to improve infrastructure and tourist facilities at Nandi Hills.

These included a food court (Rs 15 lakh), an open air auditorium (Rs 83 lakh), a children play area (Rs 85 lakh) and artificial waterfalls (Rs 1 crore).

The new facilities would be developed without disturbing the existing structures and
the environment at Nandi Hills.

Five more cottages are to be constructed at a cost of Rs 71.51 lakh near the existing cottages and, five rooms would come up at the Gandhi Nilaya at a cost of Rs 1.46 crore. Besides, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 55 lakh had been earmarked for improving the facilities at the Gandhi Nilaya and the Nehru Nilaya, respectively.

The bus stand at the hill station would be improved by spending an estimated Rs 81.63 lakh and, Rs 1.80 crore had been set aside for the construction of toilets.

Funds have also been reserved for construction of a car park bay to accommodate at least 500 vehicles and taking up other civil works, she said.

A committee on the development of Nandi Hills and Kemmanagundi, finalised the plans for the development of the two hill stations that attract tourists round the year.

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(Published 26 June 2012, 23:31 IST)