Trees of Chandigarh

Preface

Chandigarh, one of the greatest experiments in urban planning of the 20th century, is today as much famous for its landscaping as it is for its architecture. An important feature of its planning was the recognition accorded to landscaping as an integral component of its master plan from the very inception. Today, it presents a visual delight to the human eye with a harmonious blend of buildings, trees and other landscape elements embellishing the skyline. It embodies a happy co-existence of a man-made world with the all-pervading ambience of nature.

Urban landscaping consists primarily of using natural elements, such as earthforms. water features and vegetation. Chandigarh is blessed with the beautiful backdrop of the Shivalik hills whose breathtaking silhouette seems to have been designed by the divine hands of nature herself. The sensitive manner in which the various landscaping elements have been interrelated in the city, enhance their aesthetic value. But the most fascinating feature of the city’s landscaping is, perhaps, the tree plantation along the avenues, open spaces and around building complexes where they not only provide shade, but also adorn their surroundings with changing hues of blossoms and leaves round the year. It is these trees and other plantations which transform the otherwise prosaic built-forms into humanized edifices. At the same time, they are the timeless symbols of our cultural life and heritage.

At the time of inauguration of the Chandigarh Capital Project in 1953, Dr M S Randhawa, ICS, a renowned administrator a lover of art, who in the later years became the first Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh, said:

“Chandigarh the Capital of new Punjab, is already born… The young city like a new baby is waiting to be clothed in a mantle of vegetation.”

Since then and over a period of more than 45 years, tree plantation in Chandigarh has come of age. Well laid-out gardens and parks have come up, which apart from being useful to the citizens, are also a major attraction for the tourists. A number of beautiful avenues. with conspicuous tree species, enhance the overall impact of the city’s landscape. The usefulness of trees along the major roads and pedestrian pathways can hardly be over- emphasized. Well-wooded forests along the periphery of the city and greenbelts running across its length and breadth further heighten the environmental and aesthetic richness of the place. Urban planners from various parts of the country and abroad come here to study its landscaping, especially the tree plantation.

Thus, a time has come when the valuable lessons learnt from the tree plantation of Chandigarh need to be recorded and preserved for posterity. It was with this intention that the authors decided to undertake a study of the Chandigarh trees and present the results in the form of a book. The present volume is an attempt to bring together under a single cover basic information about the tree plantation in Chandigarh. It has been designed primarily for the lay reader having an interest in: where, why and what trees exist in Chandigarh and how they integrate with its overall landscape. It is, in fact, a user-friendly reference book for the tree-loving people of Chandigarh and even others. This book is, however, not intended to be a comprehensive directory of the entire plant etc.. undoubtedly have an important place in the city’s landscape. But no single volume d kingdom of Chandigarh-not even the trees. Other plants such as shrubs. herbs, climbe this type could contain everything about all types of plants growing even in a limited area like Chandigarh. As such, this book is intended to be used as a guide in helping to det with least effort, the major tree species. It is our belief that with its help, even a casu visitor will be able to broadly identify the trees growing in the neighbourhoods, streets and open spaces of the “City Beautiful”.

Since the focus of this book is primarily on trees as an outstanding element of urba landscaping, botanists, scientists and other experts may perhaps find it to be of rather limited use. But it certainly has enough material to hold interest for urban landscape designers.

Beginning with the type of trees that existed at the time of the selection of the city site, the next chapter traces the background of how the early tree plantation schemes as suited to various specific areas were evolved. The other chapters describe the manner in which major plantation schemes were executed; and the actual results as visible on the ground today. Trees in bloom, all the year round, present a delightful visual treat in the city. Therefore, one full chapter deals with the seasonal changes occuring in the city trees. No worthwhile study of the trees would be complete without talking about city’s forests and the green buffers. As such, there is a chapter devoted to this aspect as well. Management of city trees has been a problem right from the initial stages of plantation. Issues relating to this aspect have also been discussed in a chapter towards the end.

Inclusion of a tree directory in the book was ordained by the paramount importance attached to the need and desire for identification of trees in the city’s landscape. However, only those trees figure in the directory which are typical and representative of the major species growing and significantly visible here. This section includes such essential information as may help the non-specialist reader to understand and recognise the basic characteristics of these trees.

A number of photographs and sketches supplement the text. These have been included because visuals speak louder than words. In selecting the photographs, the aim has been to underline an over-all impact of the various tree plantation schemes. In the directory portion however, pictures of trees have been given specifically to facilitate easy identification of the species described. And wherever possible, close-ups of leaves or blossoms of the trees have been given so that the reader can appreciate their subtle patterns, shapes, sizes and colours.

Lastly, it has been the endeavour of the authors to make learning about Chandigarh trees more accessible and delightful. With this book, the citizens of Chandigarh, especially the youth, will hopefully come to a better appreciation and understanding of our verdureus wealth and environment. With the urban environmental challenges increasing rapidly and becoming more complex day by day, there is an urgent need for producing readable information of the non-specialised kind of these issues. The best way to safeguard the city environment and its natural resources is to spread information and knowledge about these aspects. Hopefully, this book will help us achieve this goal also. If the readers discover that we have fulfilled our avowed objectives, even in a modest measure, we shall feel well-rewarded.