In love of morning health walking on the jungle trail inside RPRC Botanical Garden in Bhubaneswar

When a longtime friend and study pal called one weekend march morning to join him for a walk at Ekamra Kanan, I was in two minds on whether to accept the offer. The reasons being the sprawling 64 acres botanical garden-cum-park at IRC village on the heart of Bhubaneswar is little far away from where I stay and the infamous buzz about the park being a free den for lovebirds. While bunking the invitation and opting for a cycling expedition instead, I had assured to join him for the walk on one of the week days. With my five year old kid joining a new school nearby, I proceeded for Ekamra Kanan after dropping him at school on one Monday.
Pic @ Krushna's
As I reached the parking lot, a smile greeted me when the person standing there told there is no parking charges collected from morning walkers and the smile broadened further as the guard at the entry gate informed about nominal entry ticket of Rs. 5 per day or Rs. 100/- per month for morning walkers. I was told that the Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) which manages the garden-cum-park, has started this 'morning health walking' scheme for encouraging citizens to stay fit by daily morning walks. For information, I had been to the park couple of times in regular hours paying entry ticket fee of Rs. 25 per person and little exorbitant parking fee of Rs. 20 per two-wheeler and Rs. 40 per four-wheeler.
The sal trees near the entrance of Ekamra Kanan. Pic @ Krushna's
Once I budge past the entry area and walked into the lush green Ekamra Kanan, the friend greeted me near the children's park area, adjacent to one of the largest cactus garden in India, with his wife and 3 year old daughter playing there. Soon, we started walking on the decorated garden paths towards a direction guided by the friend amidst the refreshing atmosphere of fully grown tress and occasional hoot of cuckoos and other birds.

On our way we took few rounds on the serpentine path at the beautiful Jagannath Garden boasting of trees and flowers related to the supreme lord of millions of Odias, the scent of jasmine (malli) and varieties of champa (plumeria) at the scented flower garden filled in my nostrils and invoked divinity.

As we crossed the manicured rose garden, Odisha's largest maintained rose plant garden, we arrived at a gate opening towards something which seemed like a natural forest. I had never been into it before as the gate always remained closed in regular hours (8am-6pm).
 
As a person who loves to be lost inside the forests, I was super excited and delighted at being on this nature trail inside the jungle with seemingly less human interventions. Flanked by bamboo grooves on either side, the trail has an wonderful setting in itself with dry leaves all around the soil and plants of different shapes and sizes intertwined with each other just like any other natural forest. The bed of yellow bamboo flowers alongside the trails added to the delight of walk in this natural atmosphere. 

Far away from the hustles and bustles of the city, the calmness of this jungle trail was filled with the only sounds of chirping of  wide variety of birds and regular hoots of peacocks and cuckoos. This was just like music to the ears of nature lovers with occasional hoots of Kumbhatua or Greater Coucal bird, which I could see here again after several years. 
Pic @ Krushna's
While walking along the nature trail I was deeply engrossed observing and enjoying the beauty of the forest, the fallen branches, the deadwoods, the termite mounds, dry leaves shredded forest bed along with varieties of birds, plants and trees. The other exciting part was the nature of forest changing along the nearly two odd km trail giving you surprises after every few hundred meters.
Jungle trail inside Ekamra Kanan - RPRC in Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's
There have been benches put up by RPRC at some distances for the walkers to rest, but I could hardly find anyone sitting over there as the beauty of the forest trail completely engrosses, making everyone feeling refreshed taking out all tiredness.


Towards the other end of the nature trail, another surprise was waiting for me in the from of the decorated walkway along the edible wild fruits garden presenting all sorts of edible wild berries and fruits.
The lake inside Ekamra Kanan - RPRC in Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's
As I reached the fag end of the trail, near to the office building of RPRC, I was awestruck with the picturesque view of the lake  from the manicured lawns under the kadamb or burflower-tree.
The lake inside Ekamra Kanan - RPRC in Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's
The beauty of the lake was the small island with plants on it as I could see small birds rushing inside the plans makng it look as if they are walking on the water and moving inside the plants. The sighting of migratory birds, northern shovllers  and little cormorants playing in the water added to the delight.
The lake inside Ekamra Kanan - RPRC in Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's
From the first day itself I fell in love with the jungle trail inside the Ekamra Kanan- RPRC and ever since making it the source of my daily dose of pure oxygen with morning health walks.

As I broached the idea of walking in the jungle trail to my five year old kid during Friday night bed-time story telling session, he was super excited and even woke up before me to explore the joy of morning walk inside the jungle.
Five year old Shreyansh enjoying the walk on the jungle trail at Ekamra Kanan - RPRC in Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's
Surpassing my estimation, the little kid joyfully strolled along the entire 2-odd km jungle trail walking, jumping and running at his own wills, albeit with few sips of water in between.
Kids enjoying the jungle trail at Ekamra Kanan - RPRC in Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's
However, I had to face his barrage of questions on who all animals are there in this jungle and name of every bird whenever a chirping or hoot sound came, before one of my co-walkers discovered the novel way of engaging him for counting of the arrow marks made on the road along the trail. He joyfully declared the number as 23 as we reached the lake view point, the end of the jungle trail and ever since is jumping on the idea of accompanying me on morning walk on every first opportunity. 
Shreyansh at the jungle trail at Ekamra Kanan - RPRC in Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's
Location: Ekamra Kanan Botanical Gardens, RPRC Botanical Gardens, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751015, India

Comments

  1. bibhutiApril 7, 2018 at 5:16 PM

    Nice article, Krushna. That day you showed me the pix to recognise the place. Very interesting write-up in such a small gap of time. Excellent....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Krushna MahapatraApril 9, 2018 at 7:24 PM

      Thanks so much bhai for the very encouraging words .... this made my day ...

      Delete
  2. UnknownApril 9, 2018 at 1:22 PM

    Very nice story

    ReplyDelete

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