Munnar: Tourists from all over the country visit the picturesque Rajamala, which is part of the Eravikulam National Park, to spot the majestic Nilgiri tahrs and enjoy the unique varieties of orchids.
However, now, they can also enjoy the scintillating fern garden that would be opened soon. Wildlife warden SV Vinod and assistant warden Job J Neriamparambil said that the state’s first fernarium would be opened for the public before the Onam season begins. The brand new fern park has been set up in 500 sqft near the forest department’s orchidarium at Ancham Mile, which is the entrance to Rajamala.
As per experts, there are around 104 varieties of ferns in the Eravikulam National Park. Among them, more than forty varieties have already been planted at the fern park. Unique varieties of ferns were collected even from the dense forests to be planted in the fernarium. It was done under the guidance of a researcher at the College of Forestry at Kerala Agricultural University. The authorities said that the task of planting these ferns would be completed within a month.
The fern garden is being set up inside specially designed greenhouses or rain guards which create a natural atmosphere, similar to the forests. The ferns require ample amounts of sunshine, wind, and heat. A fog irrigation (mist irrigation) system has been arranged here to water the plants. Ferns that are as old as one year to one hundred years have been planted in the garden. These are managed by a specially trained forest official and two watchers who hail from Edamalakkudi and are part of the Malabar Elam Committee.
