The research wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department has opened a botanical garden with about 140 species at Lalkuan in Nainital covering an area of 3 acres. Chief conservator of forest (research) Sanjeev Chaturvedi announced the opening on Sunday.  

This project was introduced in 2018 with the purpose of preserving various aromatic species, raising awareness of them, promoting research, and linking them with the livelihoods of the local people, Chaturvedi said.  

A Tulsi Vatika in the aromatic garden contains more than 20 species, including Rama tulsi, Shyam tulsi, van tulsi, Kapoor tulsi, and African, Italian, and Thai tulsi.  

It also has eight different sections comprising aromatic leaves of lemon, balm, rosemary, Kapoor, and various mint species. Aromatic flowers such as chameli, mogra, rajnigandha, and kewada are also there. Aromatic trees include Chandan, neem chameli, naglingam, and parijat. Aromatic rhizomes include aama Haldi and kali haldi, whereas, aromatic seeds include, Kasturi bhindi, badi ilachyi, timur, and ajwain. There is a section of aromatic grasses, aromatic bulbs, and aromatic roots.  

Lalkuan in Nainital was selected as the site for setting up this garden to offset the stench that comes out from the century pulp and paper mill .