Thrissur: The ‘Ayur Udhyan’ (Ayur Garden), established by the Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden and Research Institute (HMBGRI) at its Cheruthuruthy campus, will be inaugurated on Monday, the 27th at 11:00 AM. Dr. K. S. Vishnu Namboothiri, President of the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI), will inaugurate the garden. Prominent personalities, including Ayurvedic scholars, researchers, and environmentalists, will attend the event.
‘Ayur Udhyan’ is a unique experiential space designed by intertwining the principles of Ayurveda with nature conservation. Modeled after the Sarvatobhadra style of Ayurveda, the garden recreates three distinct ecological zones (Ayur Deshas): Jangalam (arid region), Anoopam (marshy/water-rich region), and Sadharanam (temperate region). This provides a natural habitat suitable for the growth of diverse medicinal plants.
The garden features a collection of medicinal plants representing the Ashtangas (eight branches) of Ayurveda, plants used in traditional Keralite treatment methods such as toxicology (Visha Chikitsa) and musculoskeletal therapy (Marma Chikitsa), as well as representative medicinal substances (Pratinidhi Dravyas). Apart from preserving Kerala’s indigenous medicinal plant heritage and traditional healing practices, it will function as a hub for study and research.
“Ayur Udhyan is an unforgettable fusion of traditional knowledge and modern science. As the world advances toward modern medical fields like Genomics and precision medicine, it is imperative to protect our biodiversity and medicinal plant heritage, which have been the foundation of healthcare for centuries. This initiative will pave the way for meaningful collaboration between Ayurveda, botany, and modern biology,” said Sam Santhosh, Founder of SciGenom, MedGenome, and SciGenom Research Foundation.
In connection with the inauguration, a three-day intensive training program titled ‘Dravya Bodhini’ is being organized for Ayurveda students. Led by Dr. Ajayan Sadanandan and Dr. Lakshmi M. S., the program will offer students practical knowledge about medicinal plants.
The event is being organized under the leadership of Dr. Anoop P. Balan, Scientist-in-Charge at HMBGRI, with Consultant Scientist Dr. Ajayan Sadanandan serving as the coordinator. Principals from various Ayurveda colleges, including Dr. K. Murali, Dr. P. P. Kirathamurthi, Dr. K. P. Anju, Dr. Giji Mathew, and Dr. K. K. Latha, will also participate in the ceremony.
