The Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has come out with a ‘Krishna Vanam’ project to develop a thematic garden at Shrikrishna Museum in Kurukshetra.
Under the project, different traditional and medicinal plants will be planted to create awareness about India’s rich cultural traditions, environmental heritage and traditional knowledge systems.
Curator-cum-Artist at the museum Balwan Singh said ‘Krishna Vanam’ would evolve into a living learning space showcasing India’s cultural traditions, environmental awareness and knowledge of medicinal plants while enriching the museum’s educational outreach.
The garden will feature a curated collection of culturally and ecologically significant species, including kadamba, parijat, peepal, banyan, bael, arjuna, amla and ashoka, along with tulsi, aparajita and a variety of medicinal plants such as giloy, ashwagandha, brahmi, shatavari, aloe vera and lemongrass. The Waah Foundation will help the board in maintaining the plants.
“The garden is proposed to be developed in the landscaped lawn adjoining the museum canteen, making it easily accessible to visitors and creating an attractive focal point within the museum premises. Spread over an area of nearly 100 ft × 100 ft, Krishna Vanam is envisioned as a unique interpretive landscape integrating nature, culture and heritage. More than a plantation site, it will function as an open-air educational space where visitors can learn about culturally significant trees, medicinal plants and their connections with Indian traditions, mythology and environmental consciousness,” he said.
Balwan Singh further said the garden would be developed in phases, with future plans, including thematic signages, interpretation panels and visitor-friendly educational features aimed at making Krishna Vanam a distinctive attraction within the museum campus. Special emphasis will be given to species associated with Lord Krishna, the Bhagavad Gita and India’s living cultural traditions. Under this project different, two saplings of kadamba and parijat were planted on Friday to mark World Environment Day.
Chief Executive Officer, Kurukshetra Development Board, Pankaj Setia said the garden would serve as an educational resource for tourists, students and researchers visiting the museum. He added that trees occupy a special place in Indian culture as symbols of life, faith and public welfare, and that Krishna Vanam sought to revive this tradition in a contemporary context.
The CEO said each major plant species would be accompanied by an interpretation panel and QR code, enabling visitors to access detailed information on its botanical, medicinal, historical and cultural significance. Special information panels will also highlight references to selected plants in Indian scriptures, folklore and traditional knowledge systems, thereby promoting self-guided learning and deeper engagement with the exhibits.