Visakhapatnam’s Biodiversity Park turns 23: A botanical treasure with over 2,000 plant species

Discover the thriving Biodiversity Park in Visakhapatnam, a lush oasis of rare plants, carnivorous species, and educational wonders.

As the first light of dawn enters the Biodiversity Park at Rani Chandramani Devi Government Hospital in Pedda Waltair in Visakhapatnam, the air hums with life. The rhythmic call of the cuckoo punctuates the morning stillness, as a gentle breeze flows through the lush expanse. A pair of spotted owlets peer curiously from their hollowed-out home in an old tree, their wide eyes taking in the world. Butterflies flit gracefully from flower to flower, their iridescent wings catching the sunlight.. This green oasis, now celebrating 23 years of its foundation, stands as a testament to Nature’s resilience and human perseverance.

Maintained by Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Development Authority (VMRDA) in collaboration with the Dolphin Nature Conservation Society (DNCS), the Biodiversity Park is home to more than 2,000 plants, including medicinal herbs, rare species from the Mesozoic period like Ginkgo biloba, and a striking array of ornamental orchids, air plants, cacti, and succulents. Once a barren piece of land, it has been transformed by the efforts of the founder M Ram Murty and his wife, Mangathayi, into a thriving space whose microclimate results in significantly lower temperatures than the surrounding concrete jungle of Pedda Waltair. The dense vegetation has enhanced humidity levels, creating a conducive environment for flora and fauna to flourish.

“Our objective is to create an ex-situ conservation centre for a majority of endangered species. We are trying to propagate them by creating a congenial environment, studying their native habitats and habits, and simulating conditions similar to a greenhouse or a cacti and succulents conservatory,” says Ram Murty.

Each section of the three-acre park serves as a research and educational hub. The park is divided into zones for medicinal and herbal plants, Mesozoic-era plants and living fossils, sacred groves, aquatic species, cacti and succulents, ferns, carnivorous plants, and orchids. “Of course, some species may not grow into tall trees due to climate and environmental conditions, but we can at least showcase the plants, even if they remain small in size or do not yield commercially,” explains Ram Murty.

There is a separate section for rare orchids and insectivorous plants. “We have created a conservatory for these. The carnivorous plants, especially, are endangered,” he says.

The park has a Nepenthes pitcher plant, one of Nature’s most fascinating carnivorous species known for its elaborate, fluid-filled traps that lure unsuspecting insects. Unlike typical plants that derive nutrients solely from the soil, Nepenthes supplement their diet by digesting insects and even small vertebrates that fall into their pitcher-like structure. Found in nutrient-poor soils, this adaptation allows Nepenthes to thrive in conditions where most plants struggle. The park’s collection of pitcher plants captivates researchers and students alike, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary mechanisms of plant evolution and survival. “We are acquiring the plants from nurseries in Kerala and Kalimpong in West Bengal, where they are propagated using tissue culture techniques,” says Ram Murty.

Seeds, stem cuttings, and even whole plants are sourced from forests, students across India, and through online purchases from nurseries. There are Himalayan species like Deodar and Taxodium, as well as Ginkgo biloba from Himachal Pradesh. The Park has more than 30 species of rare gymnosperms. The Ginkgo biloba, for instance, is a living fossil that has survived for millions of years, even enduring the atomic bomb explosion during World War II. Scientists are currently studying how it resisted radiation effects. “It is one of the best oxygenators and has immense medicinal value, with extracts used in treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Students are always fascinated to learn about this beautiful tree with its bilobate dichotomy veins,” says Ram Murty.