Kathmandu, 6 February: His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness Princess Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, have inspected the area while planting trees at the National Botanical Garden in Godavari.
They, who are on a visit to Nepal, observed for some time after planting a ‘Golden Circle’ sapling in the very special tree plantation area of the park today. HRH Princess Duchess Sophie planted a ‘Lali Gurras’ sapling at the main entrance of the park. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip had planted two ‘Puwale’ saplings in the same area in 1986.
On the occasion, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess expressed their happiness that the saplings planted by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had grown well. They noted that the act had become a symbol of a long-standing traditional relationship.
They visited the Biodiversity Educational Park established with the help of the UK, as well as the Herbarium, Orchid House and other areas. They were welcomed by Minister of State for Forests and Environment Rupa BK. Also, Director General of the Department of Botany Sanjiv Rai and Head of the Botanical Garden Madhusudan Thapa informed about the park and its flora.
The visit, the first of its kind in Nepal, by the Prince and Princess is expected to further enhance the proud history of UK-Nepal relations. They arrived in Nepal on Tuesday and paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Poudel on the same day.
They observed the work being done to improve Nepal’s maternal health services with the help of the UK. HRH Prince Edward interacted with the youth who will benefit from the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ International Award’ at a program organized at the British Embassy here on Wednesday. HRH Princess Duchess Sophie visited the ‘Kirtipur Eye Hospital’ in Kirtipur on Wednesday and met with the services being provided by the hospital and the service recipients.
He had inspected the maternity ward (gynecological ward) of Bhaktapur Hospital. Similarly, HRH Prince Edward had visited Bhaktapur on Wednesday and had also carved a statue on wood after observing the art and culture there.
During their visit, they visited the ‘Living Mountain Lab’ of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Phulchoki, Godavari. It is said that they will reach Pokhara during their visit and appreciate the shared history of service through the Gorkha-Gorkha relationship.
This visit is the fourteenth visit to Nepal by members of the British royal family. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Nepal in 1961 and 1986, and King Charles, as Prince of Wales, visited Nepal in 1975, 1980, 1992 and 1998. The most recent visit was by Prince Harry in 2016.
ललितपुर, २४ माघः नेपाल भ्रमणमा रहनुभएका संयुक्त अधिराज्य बेलायतका अधिराजकुमार एडिनब्राका ड्यूक एड्वर्ड र अधिराजकुमारी डचेस सोफी बिहीबार ललितपुरको गोदावारीस्थित राष्ट्रिय वनस्पति उद्यानको अतिविशिष्ट वृक्षरोपण क्षेत्रमा ‘सुन चाँप’को बिरुवा रोपण गर्नुहुँदै । बेलायतका महारानी ऐेलिजाबेथ द्वितीय र राजकुमार फिलिपले सन् १९८६ मा सोही स्थानमा ‘पुँवाले’को दुईटा बिरुवा रोपण गर्नुभएको थियो । तस्बिरः भीष्मराज ओझा÷रासस The Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess Sophie, the Duchess of Sussex, of the United Kingdom, who are on a visit to Nepal, plant a ‘Golden Circle’ sapling at the exclusive tree plantation area of the National Botanical Garden in Godavari, Lalitpur, on Thursday. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip had planted two ‘Punwale’ saplings at the same location in 1986. Photo: Bhishma Raj Ojha/RSS
Godavari Park’s relationship with Britain
A biodiversity educational park was built in Godavari on 2073 BS, marking the bicentennial of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the United Kingdom. Diplomatic relations were established between Nepal and Britain in 1816 with the Treaty of Sugauli.
The establishment of this 1.3 hectare garden has a connection with the Royal Botanic Gardens of the United Kingdom, which was established about 350 years ago. The then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba planted a ‘Bhojpatra’ sapling in the Nepali garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 17 Kartik 2078 BS during his official visit to the UK.
In 1802, British scientist Francis Hamilton visited Nepal and studied its flora. Later, various scientists visited Nepal and discovered more than eight Nepalese flora. The then King Mahendra Bikram Shah visited Britain in 2017 BS. During his visit, he visited the Royal Botanic Gardens of Britain. After returning to Nepal, he established a garden in Godavari in 2019 BS with the idea of creating a similar garden.
It is said that two British designers designed the garden while living in Nepal from 1961 to 1965. Queen Elizabeth II planted trees in this garden, which was built in collaboration with Britain, during her visit to Nepal in 1986. Later, heads of state of 17 countries have planted various plants in the area at different times.
Located in the Godavari region, surrounded by natural beauty, the park is of great importance. The National Botanical Garden has collected specimens (hervarium) of about five thousand plant species and has contributed to the field of plant study, research and conservation.
