Pu La Deshpande Garden

We all must have heard how the Japanese maintain their garden. They are so amazing and beautiful to look at. Japanese Garden in the city of Pune is an amazing garden which is inspired by the gardens of Japan. The Pu La Deshpande Garden, Pune is also known as Pune Okayama Friendship garden. This garden is the largest Japanese garden which is not located in Japan.

This garden was named after the humourist and writer, Pu La Deshpande. He also received Padma Bhushan in the year 1930. This garden is based on the inspiration of the Okayama Korakuen Garden in Japan, which is three thousand years old. The Deshpande garden stands as a bond of Sino-Japanese relationship.

This garden shows the perfect blend of concrete and nature and has a beautiful natural canal which passes through the garden. The park also has some ponds and beautiful waterfalls which are all man-made. The place is located in Dattawadi on Sinhagad Road. The garden is filled with sites that will take your breathe away.

It has beautiful and lushes green gardens, artificial hills, beautiful flowers, lawns to sit and much more. The tourists and the visitors come to this beautiful garden in Pune just to relax and feel refreshed from the hectic and busy life. You can plan your tour and visit this garden if you want to see the amazing variety of flora. The place represents Japanese authenticity.

Biodiversity

The Pu La Deshpande Garden, Pune has a great variety of fauna and flora. This garden is inspired by the parks and gardens that you will find in Japan. There are various types of plants such as pine, plum and even willows. You will be able to see how the garden is green and there are so many beautiful shrubs and trees all over symbolising eternity. Ducks, colourful fish and birds can also be seen in the garden.

Significance

This garden stands as a symbol of the beautiful and friendly relation that the two cities namely Pune and Okayama has. The main reason to have a Japanese garden was going set up an idealised landscape which depicts all the abstract concepts in a better way. In ancient times gardens were made in the castles to increase aesthetics and for the entertainment of the ruler. Later it was built for Buddhist who meditates and practised spiritualism.

To create harmony and peace and to show Indians the tradition and culture if Japan, this garden was built. Several movies have also been shot in this garden, like in the movie of Salman Khan named 'Bodyguard'.

Traveller Tips

Pu La Deshpande Garden, Pune is a well-maintained garden which provides the tourists and visitors with a beautiful experience of the Japanese culture. Here are some rules and regulations which travellers should follow.

• The visitors are not allowed to walk inside the lawns and touch the plants that are there even if it looks tempting.

• You should also keep the washrooms clean and tidy.

• You are not allowed with cameras or footwear. You need to have permission for photography.

• You can not carry any edible item as food stalls are present inside the garden.

Architecture

Spread across around ten acres of land the garden includes changing of landscapes in the path. According to the Buddhist, Shinto and Taoist ways of creation, gardens were meant to be the space for spirituality, for meditation purpose and reflect. The garden is made based on that belief. Bringing attention to the Yin-Yang theory, the garden has both man-made and natural things.

The three principals on which the garden is based see Nature, Emptiness and Balance. There is a balance between the formal and the informal of 1700s Japanese Style. The basic things you will see in a Japanese garden are stone lanterns, waterfalls, ponds, fish, water basins, fences, walls, bridges and statues.

These are all important for the Japanese people as they represent the basic design rules. Therefore you will love the set-up and architecture of this garden. This makes it a must-visit place for you.

Timings

The garden is open every day at 6:00 am to 10:30 am. In the evening is open from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The entry fees for adults is Rs. 10 and for children it is Rs. 5.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Pu La Deshpande Garden, Pune is in the morning and the evening. You get an ample amount of time to explore the garden in a better way and you also get time to the sky and relax.

How To Reach

The garden is located in the city of Pune as we got to know from the above information. The nearest airport is 16 km away known as the Pune international airport. The nearest railway station to this place is Shivaji Nagar railway station. It is around 5.5 km away from Pune. You as a tourist can take a bus to reach.

• The bus fare from the airport to the garden is around the range of 19-50 rupees. The fare depends on the bus that you are taking.

• The buses that you take from the railway station also has different fares which depend on the route you choose.

• There are taxi and can facilities as well which you can avail from the airport itself. It ranges between 300-400 rupees. This depends and can change according to the peak hours. From the station, it might change you Rs. 150 to Rs. 330 and from Pune junction it can be around 100-200 rupees.

• You can also choose car rentals to go visit the lovely garden in Pune and then to other tourist attractions as well. This will save your time from hunting for cabs and also will save you money.

Therefore, choose any mode of transport of your choice and reach the destination in no time. The place is easy to reach and accessible.

Choose to visit Pu La Deshpande Garden, Pune and enjoy the Japanese culture and tradition in India. You will fall in love with the place and ambience.