Shuka Vana: The Heaven of birds
Shukavana is one of the hidden gems located in Mysuru. Situated amidst lush green and the divine campus of Sri Ganapathi Sacchidananda Ashram, Shuka Vana has the largest collection of a variety of birds.
It was started and is being maintained by SGS Ashrama. This is basically an aviary and has the largest collection of various species of birds. Listening to their chirping, taking a look at their colourful wings, experiencing their affection by feeding them grains is all we can do inside Shuka Vana.
The whole Ashram is extremely spacious and excellently designed to house these fantastic birds. There are around 456 varieties of Parrots and around 2,000 varieties of birds from across the globe. There are many exotic breeds as well.
There is also a souvenir shop and they accept donations. People are not allowed to take pictures on their mobile phones. However, there is a facility wherein tourists can get their pictures clicked with birds and avail the copy then and there.
Timings: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Take a look at these mesmerising Bonsai Trees
Kishkinda Moolika Bonsai Garden is located along with Shuka Vana at the campus of Sri Ganapathi Sacchidananda Ashram.
This is undoubtedly the best and a well maintained Bonsai Garden you will get to see. It has a huge collection of various types of plants. Each plant has a date of planting. They have also mentioned additional details in front of each plant. There is also an enchanting small lake in this premises.
They have a huge and beautiful collection of bonsai trees and plants from all over the world. The Gardens in the Ashram have been developed over the past 3 decades. It is said that, when the Ashram began in 1966, one of the first horticultural activities was planting of hundreds of non-hybridized coconut trees on its western boundary.Some of the bonsai trees are over 200 years old.
There is a mention of a ‘miniature forest’ in Ramayana. It is the ‘Kishkindha Vana’ developed by Dadhimukha, the maternal uncle of King Sugriva. Kishkindha was the name of a mountain. The word is also used to signify ‘a narrow space’, ‘a compact space’. The garden at the ashram has derived its name from this ancient Hindu mythology.