The people of Chandigarh now have another place to soak in the rich flora and fauna, to work out and go for walk. City Forests (Nagar Van) a protected forest reserve located opposite to the Lake Horse Riding Club, today inaugurated by UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore. He appreciated the efforts taken by Forest Department in developing this City Forests for people of Chandigarh. He desired that efforts be made to develop this area as a good bird/Aviary destination for bird lovers.
Open Gym, Meditation Hut, Selfie Points
Constructed over 100 hectares of land, surrounded by lush greenery, dense vegetation and trees, City Forest has an open gymnasium, long walking trail, an open hand pond, a meditation hut, 2 shallow water bodies, 2 children parks, 2 selfie points and little hillocks of mud and other modern facilities. Situated in the Lake Beat, Chandigarh Range reserve has been created to raise awareness on plants and biodiversity among the city residents, while also giving them the feel of a forest reserve, existing within the city limits. Nearly Rs 2 crore has been spent by UT Administration in developing it.
The forest has also been set up to sensitise visitors and tourists towards the conservation of natural resources to provide education on important flora and fauna of the region. It also urges everyone to provide a healthy environment that is clean air, noise reduction, water harvesting and reduction of city temperature, to conduct forestry related research associated with the management and to conserve aquatic flora and fauna.
Number of Species and Plants
A large section of the land of the forest has been richly planted with almost 500 saplings of Palash Tree, a rare breed these days which is also the state tree of Punjab and is considered to be a native plant of Chandigarh. A wide variety of ornamental plants have also been planted along various jogging stretches in the park and at different locations. Number of species, including Sambar, nilgai (blue bull), jungle fowls, jungle cats, porcupines can also be found in the place.
The forest can also be used as a wildlife safari with a large range of birds and animals to be seen including Peacocks, Bara Singha, Jungle Foul, Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Owls, Deers, Jungle Cat, Mongoose among others.
Here is the location of City Forest
