A Sunday morning in Sunder Nursery

The first time I heard about Sunder Nursery was when I was flipping through the pages of Pradip Krishen’s fabulous compilation on the trees of Delhi. Many of the trees featured in the book were the sole standing specimens found here. I nursed a wish for many years to visit the place but could not convince my History loving husband or son to take me there. In recent times, I read about the conservation and restoration of the monuments and gardens within Nursery area by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the accolades that it was winning for creating a beautiful public space in a city.

When my college friends asked me what I would want to do on the Sunday that we chose to spend together, I immediately mentioned Sunder Nursery, which we all agreed that it would be a good idea. So the three of us took off on a Sunday morning with guide Amir leading us for a tour of the complex. Fortunately, the air was clear and the sky was blue on the day adding to the beauty and freshness of the place.

Sunder Nursery or Azim Bagh as it was known in the past, is situated close to Humayun’s Tomb in the Nizamuddin area, over 90 acres, and is home to six monuments on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The Grand Trunk Road passed through the Nursery, providing rest and respite to travelers and traders of yore. The monuments built in the style of Mughal architecture feature domes, decorative ceilings, majestic arched pavilions and exquisite wall designs incorporating verses from the Koran interspersed with floral patterns. Painstakingly restored, the monuments add to the beauty and ambience.

The landscaped gardens are home to over 200 species of trees, many rare and exotic, a variety of birds and butterflies and several varieties of roses. Well-designed and manicured gardens sit easily with wilderness that is reflective of Delhi’s original ecosystem. Fountains, lakes and gently flowing streams add to the beauty and liveliness of the gardens. A flower laden lotus pond (apparently the only surviving one from the Mughal era) is a sight to behold. The British used Sunder Nursery in the nineteenth century to grow and propagate trees for their new capital city, bringing in exotic varieties from across the world.

The Nursery hosts a Sunday market of local, traditional and organic produce with a variety of food items for a leisurely and healthy brunch.  There is an amphitheatre beside the lotus pond that can host shows and performances. Spaces for children to play, for activities like yoga and walking and for family and school picnics dot this green lung as Sunder Nursery truly stands out as a unique public space in a mega city that brings together, history, nature and heritage providing education, entertainment and relaxation.

If I could visit again, I would certainly.

For more pictures, please click https://photos.google.com/SunderNursery