The park is home to major Himalayan spice species ranging from Kashmiri saffron to the famous Tejpat, Timur and Van Asafoetida found in the Bhairon Ghati of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
Chief Conservator of Forests (Research Branch) Sanjeev Chaturvedi said that this park on about four acres of land in Ranikhet was established in two years with the financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAYKA).
He informed that at present there are more than 30 different species of spices in the park, out of which eight belong to the Allium family (onion) of the Himalayan region.
The forest officer said that the main objective of setting up the spice garden is to popularize and make people aware of the various spices growing in the Indian Himalayan region. He said that these spices are very nutritious and delicious and have been a part of Himalayan cuisine since time immemorial.
Many books, research papers and articles have been published by the well-versed reader of the Himalayan region. Recently, the English book ‘Chipko Andolan: A People’s History’ based on his Hindi book ‘Hari Bhari Umeed’ has come out.
In addition to other spices, the Himalayan Spice Garden also has high altitude black cumin seeds and jakhya used for tempering. Badri Tulsi, Jambu leaves and Almora are also identified in the park with yellow and pungent Lakhori Chillies.
Chaturvedi said that an ‘interpretation center’ has also been set up here where information about these spices has been given.
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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