The Garden of Five Senses: Indian Insight Into Architecture and Nature

The garden of five senses is a park nestled in a village called Said-ul-Ajaib, near Mehrauli, Delhi. While Delhi has numerous gardens and parks, this one is special, not just a public park. The Garden of Five senses has been a very thoughtfully designed space where landscape architecture marries experiential art.

The garden was inaugurated in 2003 and is spread over a vast land area of over 20 acres. This place is more than a recreational space, walking around you can experience the architecture implied.

The garden was designed by Pradeep Sachdeva, a Delhi-based architect. This garden can be called to be a compelling case study in experiential and sensory architecture.

Take a journey through the Garden of Five Senses

Standing true to the name this garden stimulates all the five senses in your experience, sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. But you will not feel these sensory arouses to be accidental elevations. This space is very meticulously planned to activate your senses making visitors more conscious about the surroundings.

Here we are providing you a glimpse of that journey to tempting your senses for experiential beauty of the Garden of Five senses:

Jolly of Natural Topography

While generally gardens and recreational spaces are built on a plain land, this special garden plays with the natural undulating terrain of the Aravalli hills. Instead of leveling the place, the architecture decided to embrace the landscape in its original form, and use the elevations to create terraced spaces, viewing points, and secluded nooks.

You will enjoy the exploration of Stone pathways, rugged rock formations, and open courtyards which contributes to a spatial rhythm.

Materiality and Texture

The garden shows you the rich earthly tones of Delhi’s architectural heritage by employing a rich palette of indigenous materials, including sandstone, granite, slate, and ceramic tiles. The materials used in the creation are not just known for the durability but also versatile textural quality. Visitors can explore the rough-hewn stone walls, smooth ceramic mosaics, and pebble paths, making the sense of touch an integral part of the experience.

Cultural and Artistic Influences

Traditional Indian architectural forms and motifs have also been put to use for you to experience the spectrum of architectural formations from different time periods, one can witness the beauty of fountains and stylish water channels form the Mughal period, and chhatris & Sculptural installations from Traditional temple styles. These added elements are not just for the decorations but also offers a functional space as shade, resting spots and visual appeal.

Thematic Areas

The gardens you find here are categorised into different zones each having their own special feature, for instance:

Khas Bagh: As the name suggests is inspired by the Mughal gardens, featuring symmetrical layouts, flowing water, and floral scents.
Herbal Garden and Bamboo Courts: These zones especially emphasize on fragrance and botanical learning, engaging both your smell and sight senses.
Amphitheatre and Sculpture Court: These areas serve as performance and exhibition spaces, merging architecture with performing and visual arts.

Zoning the gardens enhances the architectural narrative, turning the garden into a sequence of sensory experiences rather than a homogenous botanical space.

Interactive Design

This garden follows a different approach than the traditional ones where in general the spaces are created with emphasis on the visual appeal, the Garden of five senses does not restrict your experience, this space is designed to be touched, heard and felt.

The water features and installations invite your interactions, making you experience more active and participating.

How does the Garden of Five Senses appeal to you?

The Garden of five senses is specially designed to engage all five senses of a human, sight, sound, smell, touch and taste, through the different architectural designs and natural elements to curate for you a wholesome experience.

Here is a breakdown for how each sense is stimulated:

1. Sight (Visual Stimulation)

Vibrant flower beds with seasonal blooms and colour-coordinated plantings.
Sculptures and art installations throughout the garden offer visual interest and cultural storytelling.
Architectural features like domed pavilions (chhatris), pergolas, and stone arches create rhythm and visual variety.
Play of light and shadow through natural foliage and built structures adds depth to the visual experience.
The layout leads visitors through contrasting zones — from open courtyards to secluded groves — keeping the visual narrative dynamic.

2. Smell (Olfactory Stimulation)

Fragrant plants and herbs like jasmine, rosemary, and lemongrass are planted in designated zones.
Seasonal flowers like roses, raat ki rani (night-blooming jasmine), and champa engage visitors with their natural perfumes.
The Herbal Garden and fragrance trails are specifically designed to target the sense of smell.

3. Sound (Auditory Stimulation)

The sounds of running water from fountains, streams, and water channels create a soothing ambiance.
Birdsong is naturally encouraged by the presence of native trees and water bodies.
Occasionally, the garden hosts live performances and musical events in the amphitheatre, enhancing the auditory experience with cultural elements.
Wind passing through bamboo groves and trees creates gentle, natural soundscapes.

4. Touch (Tactile Stimulation)

Textured pathways of gravel, stone, and grass encourage foot contact and different sensations.
Visitors can touch rough rock walls, smooth ceramic tiles, and cool stone sculptures.
Plant textures — from the soft leaves of lamb’s ear to the rough bark of old trees — are within reach in many areas.
Tactile sculptures and art pieces invite physical interaction, unlike traditional “do not touch” museum environments.

5. Taste (Gustatory Stimulation)

The garden includes food courts and open cafés that serve a variety of Indian and international cuisine.
Events like food festivals or cultural fairs are sometimes hosted, offering regional tastes and street food.
The presence of herbs and edible plants in the Herbal Garden also creates opportunities for culinary exploration and education.

Environmental Sustainability in the Garden of Five Senses

Environment sustainability is much valued in the architectural designing of this place, through different steps. Few of them are:

Natural terrain has been preserved which helps maintain the native vegetation and prevents soil erosion, due to this rainwater percolates naturally, helping groundwater recharge.

Employment of Indigenous Plant Species is also considered, a large portion of plant palette includes native and drought-resistant species, requiring less water and maintenance.

The garden also promotes local biodiversity, which attracts birds, butterflies and bees creating a harmonious balance in an urban setting.

In traditional Indian architecture, water bodies were used to cool down spaces through evaporative cooling. The same methods have been applied here which helps in microclimate regulation within the garden, even during the peak summers of Delhi.

The garden emphasizes on the usage of the materials that are locally available instead of energy intensive materials like concrete and steel.

Garden of Five senses is a wonderful place to visit, it gives you a glimpse of the traditional architectural insights for managing spaces and also appeals to your every sense making it a wholesome experience for both your body and soul.

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