Helapuri’s Buddha Park-A Marvel in Stone, Water and Grass

An idea flashed through the mind of Dr. G. Vani Mohan, former District Collector, during her visits in Eluru city, to restore the squalid, mud-filled but very costly Gajavalli vari tank to the Municipal Corporation by removing encroachers, who erected their shacks and shanties there as a preliminary exercise for permanent settlement, and to completely eradicate open defecation there and to put the tank for public use. Her innovative idea converted it into an artistic marvel in water, stone and carpet grass that puts every visitor to wonder at its beauty and utility besides providing recreation to people, and it has become a place of tourist attraction.

It is an old tank admeasuring Ac.4.34 called “Gajavalli vari Tank” in the heart of Eluru city which is known to have existed since the Chalaukyan period. The site has become, over the years, a dumping yard with a lot of filth and weeds and was used by the residents of the vicinity for open defecation. A part of it was encroached by some people of the locality. Realising the need to protect the valuable tank and to utilise it for public purpose, Dr.G.Vani Mohan, former Collector, West Godavari District, took initiative to remove the encroachments and convert it into a park. The site was cleared of all the filth and garbage, the tank was deepened, filled it with water and is provided with revetment and developed it into lake and a park around it.

Carpet grass is spread on all sides of the land, and a walking track is provided round the tank which is regularly used by walkers. In order to further beautify the park, a foot bridge is constructed on pillars to the centre of the tank with lamp posts and lights provided on either side. A painting gallery was constructed at the centre of the tank with a mini path round it and with the photos of Lord Gautama the Buddha affixed on the walls of the hall to spread the message of the lord. Besides, a 74 feet tall magnificent statue of Lord Buddha is erected on the building. Children’s play equipment, ornamental lighting around the tank, ornamental and architectural design work around the Buddha statue, and peddle boating in the tank are added attractions in the park. Thus, the park and the tank cater to the recreational needs of people of all ages. The former District Collector pays rich tribute to the Lord Buddha in a befitting manner by naming it Buddha Park and by inscribing the message of the Buddha to mankind, and making the park the most attractive spot in the city which will hold the visitors’ attention captive.

The people in the vicinity now cultivated a taste for living in decent surroundings, a revolutionary change in their mental makeup. Besides maintaining ecological balance, the picturesque beauty of the park has attracted even film makers who shot their film recently, which would be highly remunerative for the Corporation in the future.

Those who are in the evening of life take a respite from tension-ridden past at the statue of the Buddha, deriving spiritual solace from reciting the Lord’s message of love and compassion to mankind; the middle aged couples spend a happy leisure with their children sitting on the benches in the lush green carpet grass watching the movement of boats in the lake; the just married couples peddle the boats in still waters whispering something in each other’s ears; little children derive unusual thrill and joy as they observe different people agog with different pleasant activities in the entire area; the caravan passing on the road abutting the site do no longer tightly close their nose to the stench as before but stop for a while to enjoy the scenic beauty of the park.

The question before the Urban Managers of the state is “why not they emulate the example of Eluru in respect of similar sites in their respective towns and cities?”

Dr.C.Nagaraja Rao