Butterfly park of Chandigarh makes waves

H.C.Gera

26 October, 2012

What's a butterfly garden without butterflies, said Roy Rogers, a lover of nature. Chandigarh is known for being a city of Sun, Space, Roses and the Rock Garden. But of late, a butterfly park has also come up on its map. The Butterfly park is located in front of the main gate of Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology in sector 26 of Chandigarh.

THE PARK is spread over an area of 7 acres with a meticulous landscaping. Special care has been taken to create a good habitat for butterflies. This park is full of vegetation with a variety of trees and shrubs. The park is having wonderful varieties of host plants for butterflies which includes Ashoka, Salix,Mango, Citrus, Amla, Palm, Calotrpis and Capris, etc.

Flowers and butterflies need each other. To meet this requirement a variety of flowering plants such as Marigold, Petunia, Lantana, Gazenia, Salvia, Dahlia and other species are also planted in the butterfly park.

Nature trails have been created in such a way that it becomes a perfect habitat for the butterfies. Needles to point out that even silence zones have also been created so that the tiny beautiful creatures are not disturbed while walking on the nature trails.

My entomology skill went beyond my knowledge when I found butterflies of different colors are around me. This reminded me of Mariah Carey’s quote, “Butterflies are always following me, everywhere I go.”

The sighting of butterfly is not only interesting but also exciting. March to October months are the best months to sight the colorful butterflies though these can be seen throughout the year. But during winter few species go into hibernation.

There are over 35 species of butterflies in this park. A few prominent among these are Angled Castor, Apefly, Blue Mormon, Common Grass Yellow, Common Blue Bottle, Chocolate pansy and Commander, etc

In Northeast corner of the park is a located a spacious conservatory of butterflies for the students of Entomology for studying the behavior of these beautiful insects.

My visit during last week was full of fun, frolic and knowledge gaining exercise when I enjoyed sighting of both flowers and butterflies together. Just to sum up my enchanting visit I will quote, ”butterflies are self propelled flowers.”