Nepal's Park and Garden Culture: From Traditional Public Spaces to Modern Urban Parks
Summary
Nepal’s park and garden culture is evolving from traditional chautaris and religious public spaces into modern urban parks and ecotourism sites. The article traces this shift through royal gardens, community forestry, and examples such as the Garden of Dreams, Ratna Park, and Jamun Khadi Wetland.
Key Points
- Traditional chautaris, pati-pauwas, ponds, and sacred groves formed the historical basis of Nepal’s public gathering and garden culture.
- Modern parks in Kathmandu and other cities evolved from royal gardens and later expanded with the growth of democracy and ecotourism.
- Community forests have increasingly been used for recreation, tourism, and local income, with examples including Jamun Khadi, Yalamber, and Shankarnagar Vanbatika.
- The expansion of parks inside community forests has also triggered disputes over ownership, management, and user rights.
