Parimal Garden

Parimal Garden
Pari Trikamlal Bhogilal Municipal Recreation Park
Fountain, arbour, and palm tree in Parimal Garden
Fountain, arbour and palm tree in Parimal Garden
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TypeUrban park
LocationAhmedabad, Gujarat, India
Coordinates23°01′13″N 72°33′22″E / 23.0203°N 72.5561°E / 23.0203; 72.5561
Area8.5 acres (34,000 m2)
Established1960
DesignerKamal Mangaldas, Aniket Bhagwat
Owned byAhmedabad Municipal Corporation
Operated byTorrent Group
Open06:00 am to 10:00 pm
WaterPond
ParkingYes
Public transit accessAMTS

Parimal Garden, officially known as Pari Trikamlal Bhogilal Municipal Recreation Park,[1] is an urban park in the Ambawadi area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It covers an area of 8.5 acres (34,000 m2). It was built in 1960, and redeveloped in 1998 and 2021. The park has a pond, a walkway, an amphitheatre, a gym, and sports facilities.

History

Old banyan tree in Parimal Garden

In the late 1950s, the first mayor of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Chinubhai Chimanlal, presented a proposal to establish city parks.[2] He secured funding and collaboration between the industrialist Jayantilal Bhikabhai, and K. M. Katawala, M. D. Rajpal, along with other members of the public.[2]

The area around an old Banyan tree and a tank, as shown in the Town Planning Scheme of 1940s, was selected as the site for the park.[2] Low-lying, the land frequently waterlogged, forming a pond.[2] The many mango trees around the area gave the neighbourhood its name Ambawadi.[3][4][a] The garden was established in 1960.[1]

The garden was maintained by AMC until the maintenance and development of the garden was taken over by the Torrent Group in 1995.[3][1] Architect Kamal Mangaldas prepared a new site plan in 1998.[2][5] The structures were designed by Devendra Shah while the landscaping was done by Prem Bhojnagarwala and the garden folly was designed by Arjun Mangaldas.[2][5] The redevelopment was completed in February 2000.[1]

The restoration of the garden began in 2021, led by the UN Mehta (UNM) Foundation associated with the Torrent Group and with support from AMC. This project was a part of the UNM Foundation's Pratiti initiative. The plan was executed by architect Aniket Bhagwat at the cost of ₹12 crore (US$1.4 million).The garden was opened to the public on 9 August 2022 and inaugurated by Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel.[3][6][7][8]

Architecture and features

Brick chimneys represent the city's historical textile industry. The scrap metal monkeys are installed on these chimneys.

The garden has a central lotus pond with fish surrounded by a hundred terrazzo benches. It also has a walkway, a herbal garden, a sports zone, eight lawn plots, a pet park, and toilet facilities.[3][6]

In the park's 8.5 acres (34,000 m2) area,[6] there is a yoga and meditation pavilion spread over 13,000 square feet (1,200 m2) and a nature corner spread over 1,450 square feet (135 m2). There is a two-storey gymnasium, with one floor reserved for women and the other reserved for men.[3][6][9][10] The amphitheatre has a capacity of 250.[10]

The brick chimneys in the garden represent the city's past era of textile industry. The art installation of monkeys made from scrap metal was implemented by Vadodara-based artist Premkumar Vaishya (David).[2] In the 2021 restoration, the brick chimneys and bougainvillea arbour were retained and restored, while more than 600 trees of 45 species and 7,500 plants of 125 species were planted. Bamboo and palm trees were also planted.[2][6] There is an old banyan tree in the garden.[6][11][b]

  • Gym
    Gym
  • Amphitheatre
    Amphitheatre
  • Pet park
    Pet park
  • Arbour panorama
    Arbour panorama
  • Bougainvillea on arbour
    Bougainvillea on arbour
  • Arbour
    Arbour

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Ambawadi literally mean 'mango tree plantation' in Gujarati language
  2. ^ The age of the banyan tree is mentioned 400-year-old in Gujarat Samachar and 80-year-old in The Times of India.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "A haven amid concrete jungle". The Times of India. 22 July 2002. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rejuvenating the Past: The Restoration of Parimal Garden, Ahmedabad - Est. 1960s" (PDF). LEAF, the research arm of M/s Prabhakar B. Bhagwat. January 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-31 – via Landscape India.
  3. ^ a b c d e Mishra, Rashi (8 August 2022). "Redeveloped Parimal garden to be open to public today". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  4. ^ "Bring back the mangoes". Ahmedabad Mirror. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  5. ^ a b "Development of Parimal Garden | Kamal Mangaldas Architect". kamalmangaldas.net. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "૬૦ વર્ષ જૂના પરિમલ ગાર્ડનને મળ્યું નવું સ્વરૂપ" [60 years old Parimal Garden gets makeover]. Gujarat Samachar (in Gujarati). 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  7. ^ "અમદાવાદ / પરિમલ ગાર્ડનની કાયા પલટ: બે માળના હાઇટેક જિમ્નેશિયમથી લઇને સ્પોર્ટઝોન સુધીની સુવિધા, આવતીકાલે CMના હસ્તે ઉદ્ઘાટન". VTV Gujarati (in Gujarati). 8 August 2023.
  8. ^ Upadhyay, Punit (8 August 2022). "12 કરોડના ખર્ચે રિડેવલપમેન્ટ:અમદાવાદમાં એમ્ફિ થિયેટર, પૅટડોગ માટે સ્પેસ, જિમ, યોગ પેવેલિયન સાથે પરિમલ ગાર્ડન 9મીથી શરૂ થશે". Divya Bhaskar.
  9. ^ "Parimal Garden to house two-storeyed gymnasium". The Times of India. 18 December 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  10. ^ a b "Ahmedabad: Parimal Garden gets overhaul". The Times of India. 17 June 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  11. ^ "Discovering green heritage". The Times of India. 4 April 2010. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
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