Punit Van

Punit Van is a themed botanical garden located on the western bank of the Sabarmati River in Sector 19, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Developed and maintained by the Gujarat Forest Department, it covers about 15-17 acres and is designed around astrological and cultural concepts. The garden is divided into sections such as Nakshatra Van, Rashi Van, Navagraha Van and Panchvati, featuring plants associated with stars, zodiac signs and planets.

Visitors can expect a well-maintained landscaped garden with paved walking paths, labelled trees and shrubs, open lawns and shaded seating areas along the Sabarmati riverfront. The garden is organized into thematic zones including Nakshatra Van with 27 plants linked to nakshatras, Rashi Van with 12 zodiac plants, Navagraha Van and Panchvati. It offers a quiet natural environment for walking, photography and nature observation, with sculptures and signboards explaining botanical and cultural associations.

Punit Van was developed by the Gujarat Forest Department and inaugurated in the mid-2000s to create awareness about the cultural, astrological and ecological importance of native plant species. It was conceived as an educational and conservation initiative to link traditional Indian knowledge of nakshatras, rashis and grahas with biodiversity conservation.

The garden reflects Hindu astrological and cultural traditions where specific trees and plants are associated with 27 nakshatras, 12 rashis and 9 grahas. Sections like Panchvati, which includes five sacred trees (Peepal, Banyan, Bael, Amla and Ashoka), highlight religious and cultural reverence for plants in Indian tradition.