Buddhist monk creates lush garden at Margherita Buddha Vihar with thousands of plant varieties

A Buddhist monk in Margherita has transformed the Margherita Buddha Vihar into a vast garden. 

The Margherita Buddha Vihar, established in 1974 and located 3 kilometres from the Margherita railway station, now features thousands of varieties of flowers, fruits, and medicinal plants. 

Ven. Gyanowada Bhikkhu, the head monk, told IndiaToday NE that he developed an interest in the plantation at the age of 20 when he became a monk. 

Since arriving at Margherita Buddha Vihar in 2002, he has planted over 100 varieties of orchid flowers, 1000 varieties of flowers, and numerous fruits including banana, jackfruit, jamun, litchi, guava, tamarind, custard apple, chikoo, kaji lemon, and dragon fruit, along with more than 100 varieties of medicinal plants. 

Ven. Gyanowada Bhikkhu noted the importance of plantations in mitigating the effects of intense heat and encouraged PhD students in botany to visit for their thesis work.

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