The artistry of Nat’l Botanical Garden

You may be familiar with Mirpur's National Botanical Garden. But do you know why it's so well-liked? With about 56,000 species, a dedicated study herbarium, a variety of leisure amenities including lakes and cactus houses, and a sizable nursery, it is an extensive plant conservation centre. It provides a tranquil diversion from your hectic and tedious life. The Barefoot Trail is a brand-new trail added to help people connect with nature. Maybe no one has imagined finding a place to escape the city in Dhaka. However, Dhaka has a few of them. However, taking the metro, anyone can visit such a place so close to nature, which once felt rare to experience.

Many people come to the Botanical Garden every day for a morning walk. The chirping of birds, the roars of tigers and lions from the national zoo next to the garden, the calm wind, and the earthy scent make the environment lovely and instantly rejuvenate people's minds, which also affects their mental health.

In addition, people come here to practice yoga, gather here for a variety of educational events, picnics, guided tours, visits to exotic plant conservatories, workshops, musical and artistic events, and photoshoots.

Children under 12 are permitted to enter the children's miniature amusement park, which often opens after 9 a.m.

Summertime and wintertime entry times to the botanical garden are typically different. Entry time is 6 a.m. in the summer and 6.30 a.m. in the winter. The outing time is 5 p.m. in the summer and 4.30 p.m. in the winter. Each person's entry ticket costs just 30 taka.

Dhaka, the city of cement and bricks, is unable to provide a tranquil natural setting where people can breathe peacefully.

The botanical garden is a whole bundle of peacefulness and serenity. You will forget about your tedious routine when you come to this peaceful location.

You now have a question to answer. You can't imagine walking outside without shoes, do you? However, the botanical garden gives you a very special experience. You are welcome to go barefoot along the recently built Barefoot Trail in the botanical garden.

Human beings are related to the earth. Connecting with nature is essential to sense one's existence, and the route allows one to do so by feeling the ground beneath their feet. Asif Rahman, aged 40, loves walking this barefoot trail. He said, "I forgot when I last walked barefooted. I am here to relive my childhood with my son to let him feel what it feels like walking barefooted on muddy routes."

The customised barefoot trail has a distinctive design. One of the two signboards at the entry welcomes visitors to the barefoot trail, while the other highlights the advantages of going barefoot.

Some of these include: our body's emotions are transmitted to different organs, which increases the body's and mind's vitality; stimulation of the nerve endings in the soles of the feet lowers blood pressure and brain pressure; this unique walking technique functions similarly to acupressure therapy; and because certain parts of the foot are directly connected to the optic nerve, it helps improve vision. The human immune system develops through exposure to various microorganisms found in soil.

Each portion of the route has a different surface and is built in steps. You can place your feet on the cold sand, wooden logs, pebbles, soft soil, and shallow water surfaces.

Then, you can walk on the muddy route. The hardwood logs provide an irregular but distinct earthing rhythm, while the chilly sand first creates a calm and cosy impression.

Following that, the muddy surface reminds you of the state of villages after rain, which may bring back memories of your early years, and the pebbled route functions as acupressure for the feet.

Excited visitors joined the activity, and several just strolled in out of curiosity. Like other visitors, Noshin Anjum, a student, came to explore the new trail.

"I came here out of excitement to see what the trail is about," she remarked. The thought of walking barefoot and on various surfaces appealed to me. She goes to the botanical garden most of the time. "There is nowhere to spend a peaceful time in this populous city," she continued. "I visit this location with my family and friends because it's pretty soothing," she added.

Mahjabin Fairuz, another inquisitive visitor, came to check out the track. "I quite liked the cool sand, as it is at the entrance, it gives a cold feeling at the feet, which I found very comforting, also the pebbled surface gave my feet much pressure, but I really liked it," she shared her experience. She found it appealing to touch the soil to connect with the land. "I am a nature lover," she continued. It is, therefore, a terrific idea to walk barefoot on the ground in this calm atmosphere.

People in this busy and crowded city are confined to a tiresome work routine. They have jobs and educations, facing long-hour traffic jams that hardly leave time to enjoy life with nature. People look for quiet places to spend quality time on the weekends. The botanical garden is a fantastic spot to enjoy yourself. This lovely garden continues to uphold its legacy by offering people the delightful flavours of nature.

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