Delhi: Amit Shah inaugurates Bharat Darshan Park; Hampi, Mysuru Palace among the replicas

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After a wait of 22 months, the Bharat Darshan Park at Punjabi Bagh was finally thrown open to the public after its inauguration by union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday evening. The park, which has replicas of 22 historical monuments from 14 states, is unique in many ways. The replicas include Mysore Palace and Hampi from Karnataka.

The entry ticket to the venue will cost Rs 100 for adults and Rs 50 for senior citizens and children (aged between 3 and 12 years). For kids below three years, no ticket will be required. During evening hours, when the whole complex and monuments will be lit with decorative lights, South Delhi Municipal Corporation will sell premium tickets, which will cost Rs 150 for adults and Rs 75 for children (3-12 years). For 10 lakh students studying in the three civic bodies’ schools, entry will be free and for students of other schools, it will cost Rs 40.

“This is the first park of India in which replicas of 22 historical monuments are displayed at one place in a beautiful and attractive way. The monuments were constructed with scrap/waste material like old vehicles, fans, iron rods, nuts & bolts, etc, which were lying unused/abandoned at SDMC’s stores. These replicas have been made under waste to art initiative,” said SDMC commissioner Gyanesh Bharti.

The park has replicas of Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Char Minar, Gateway of India, Konark Temple, Mysore Palace, Meenakshi Temple, Hampi, Victoria Memorial, Sanchi Stupa, Gol Gumbaz, Azanta & Ellora Caves, Hawa Mahal, Khajuraho Temple, Nalanda University, Junagarh Fort, Tawang Gate, Rameswaram, Dwarkadhish, Jagannath Puri, Badrinath and a banyan tree.

Addressing the public, union home minister Amit Shah said, “The park is best example of ‘kachra to kanchan’ and inaugurated on a day, which also happens to the birthdays of two dignitaries Bharat Ratna Madan Mohan Malviya and late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. SDMC is conveying the relevance of waste to art, Swachh Bharat, promoting tourism and sharing the importance of monuments representing various cultures to the general public through this park.”

“Despite witnessing Covid pandemic and its cascading effect, the entire park was developed in a period of 22 months. During the pandemic, work at the site was halted. Getting everything in place was a difficult task, but we still managed to achieve results,” said an official.
The park is spread over 8.5 acres and Rs 20 crore was spent on it. Special lighting arrangements have been made to add to the aesthetic charm of the replicas.

“Around 109 kW of electricity will be produced from solar and wind energies at the park to meet the power demand. At least, five solar trees having capacity to produce 5 KW of electricity each and a solar rooftop having capacity to produce 84 KW electricity have been installed at the park. To highlight each of these replicas beautifully, an adequate arrangement of light has been made inside the park, including 755 facade lights, 3 LED screens, 600 bollard lights, 1 DJ set and 102 compound lights. 51 CCTV cameras are there for safety purposes,” the civic body stated.