The first of its kind- a Ramayan Vatika was inaugurated in Haldwani on Tuesday. Situated on one acre area in the headquarter campus of the Uttarakhand forestry research institute, this themed garden was inaugurated by the chief conservator of forests Sanjiv Chaturvedi.An attempt has been made to present the lesser known aspects of the Valmiki Ramayan through this initiative by the forest department. The staff of the institute developed this garden with mutual coordination without seeking any financial assistance from the state government. Chaturvedi said that the Valmiki Ramayan has description of biodiversity, medicinal plans and various species of herbs. An attempt has been made to present these aspects of the Valmiki Ramayan through the Ramayan Vatika. Six types of forests are described in the Ramayana- Chitrakoot, Dandkaranya, Panchwati, Kishkindha, Ashok Vatika and Drongiri. The flora found in these types of forests were prepared in the institute’s nurseries in Haldwani and Lalkuan before being planted here. The mango, Brahmi and bamboo found in Chitrakoot, Saal and  Sagaun found in Dandakaranya in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, the five main species of banyan, Neem, Peepal, Ashok and Bel found in Panchwati in Nashik district of Maharashtra, sandalwood and red sanders found in Kishkindha located in Bellary region on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border have been planted in this Ramayan Vatika. Chatruvedi said that the Ashok Vatika comprises Sita Ashok and the national tree of Sri Lanka- Nagkesar.