President Droupadi Murmu on Friday graced the opening of the Summer Annuals Edition 2026 of Amrit Udyan at Rashtrapati Bhavan, which will be open to the public from August 16 to September 15.
The 15-acre garden will remain open from 10 am to 6 pm, with the last entry at 5 pm. It will remain closed on Mondays for maintenance.
Visitors can enter and exit through Gate No. 35 near North Avenue Road. Entry to Amrit Udyan will be free, but visitors will have to book their slots online in advance through the official Rashtrapati Bhavan website. Booking for a particular day will close at 10 am on the previous day, and on-the-spot booking will not be available.
To facilitate visitors, drinking water stalls, first-aid posts, rain shelters and restrooms will be available along the visiting route. A shuttle bus service will also operate between Central Secretariat Metro Station and the Amrit Udyan entry point every 30 minutes from 9:30 am to 6 pm.
Indigenous flowers to be major attraction
The Summer Annuals Edition 2026 features a large collection of indigenous and native flowering plants alongside ornamental summer annuals. The displays have been designed to highlight India’s floral diversity, support biodiversity and promote awareness of native plant heritage.
The indigenous collection includes Balsam or Gul-mehndi, Aparajita, Gomphrena or Battum Phool, Kulfa, Rukmini, Barsha Phool, Morshikha, Dupahariya, Lal Saag, Kalihari and Nagphana, among others.
The ornamental summer collection includes Indian Shot or Canna, Rajanigandha, Indian blanket flower, ornamental tapioca, Kochia, Cosmos, Sunflower, Koliya or Rangin Pata, tree marigold, Nau Bajiya, Gul Abbas or Four O’Clock, Shakarkand and Sadabahar or Periwinkle.
The flowers have been arranged in mass displays, mixed borders and colour-themed beds, with attention to plant height, texture and flowering seasons.
New attractions added for visitors
The Summer Annuals Edition also features several attractions, including Banyan Groves, a Babbling Brook Garden and a floral clock.
The Banyan Groves offer visitors a tranquil setting with mature banyan trees, sprawling branches and aerial roots. The newly developed Babbling Brook Garden combines flowing water, greenery, flowers and stones to create a peaceful natural setting.
The floral clock near a Pilkhan tree is a new garden feature, with flowers planted in a circular design around a working clock.
QR codes have also been installed for major plant species across the gardens. Visitors can scan the codes to access information about the botanical name, family, common name and a brief description of each plant.
Three terraces showcase seasonal blooms
Amrit Udyan, located adjacent to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan, is spread across three principal terraces — the Rectangular Garden, Long Garden and Circular Garden.
The Rectangular Garden features intersecting water channels, fountains and seasonal flower displays, while the Long Garden has rose beds, ornamental trees and creepers along its pathways and walls.
The Circular Garden, also known as the Pearl, Butterfly or Sunken Garden, features fragrant flowers, a central water pool and fountains. More than 15 varieties of seasonal flowers, including Canna, Dupahariya and Indian blanket flower, have been included in its displays.
The gardens also feature a range of trees, including Moulsari, Cypress, Kadamba, Ficus, Putranjiva, Juniper, Jamun, Pine, Neem and Sausage Tree.
The Summer Annuals Edition is aimed at showcasing India’s native floral diversity while offering visitors an opportunity to experience the seasonal landscape of the Rashtrapati Bhavan estate.
