The Japanese Garden Chandigarh – 2

…..continued from “The Japanese Garden – 1”

The Meditation Hut

There is a beautiful Meditation Hut built in Phase-1 of the Japanese Garden. In Japan this hut is referred to as “Meiso Koya” meaning Mediation Hut. Meiso is made up of three characters :

me – the eyes.
i – the 6 elements of the world.
so – the mind or our thoughts.

So, Meiso is the natural position of our eyes and thoughts fitting precisely with the 6 elements of the world and is practiced as sitting still, sitting immovable, in meditation.

The Meditation Hut - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Meditation Hut
Lush Green Surroundings - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Lush Green Surroundings

The Meditation Hut is surrounded by beautiful green landscape.

Japanese Paintings

The connectivity between Phase-1 and Phase-2 is through an underground tunnel below the main road. This tunnel is decorated with beautiful Japanese Paintings on both sides.

Japanese Painting #1 - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Painting #1
Japanese Painting #2 - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Painting #2
Japanese Painting #3 - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Painting #3
Japanese Painting #4 - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Painting #4
Japanese Painting #5 - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Painting #5
Japanese Painting #6 - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Painting #6

The Stone Sculptures

There are huge stone sculptures placed at prominent locations in both phases of the Japanese Garden.

The Stone Sculpture - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Stone Sculpture (Phase – 2)
The Giant Tortoise - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Giant Tortoise

“According to traditional Japanese beliefs, the tortoise is a haven for immortals, and symbolizes longevity, good luck, and support. It is the symbol of Kumpira, the god of seafaring people.”

(Source :: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_turtles#Japan)

The Folded Hands Statue - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Folded Hands Statue
The Stone Pagoda - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Stone Pagoda
The Stone Sculpture (Phase - 2) - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Stone Sculpture (Phase – 2)
"Selfie" Point - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
“Selfie” Point…..
The Stone Sculpture (Phase - 1) - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Stone Sculpture (Phase – 1)
The Meditation Sculpture - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Meditation Sculpture

Buddha Statues

There are two Buddha Statues in The Japanese Garden. The “Meditation Buddha” is placed near the meditation hut under a huge Peepal tree (Ficus_religiosa).

The Meditation Buddha - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Meditation Buddha

The second statue is placed near the Japanese Rock Garden in Phase-1 and is surrounded by a special arrangement of standing rocks.

Buddha Statue in Rock Garden - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Buddha Statue in Rock Garden
Buddha Statue in Rock Garden - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Buddha Statue in Rock Garden

The Fish Sculpture

The Shachihoko - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Shachihoko

Placed near the Japanese Pagoda in Phase-1 is a small fish sculpture that is known as “Shachihoko” in Japanese mythology.

According to wikipedia, “A shachihoko or shachi is an animal in Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp. It was believed that this animal could cause the rain to fall, and as such, temples and castles were often adorned with roof ornaments crafted in the form of a shachihoko, in order to protect them from fire.”

Other Attractions

Apart from the above mentioned attractions there are some Resting Huts, Sitting Benches and some Swings and Slides designed with a Japanese touch which are also worth mentioning.

The Dragon Slide - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Dragon Slide
The Monkey Bench - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Monkey Bench
The Sitting Bench - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Sitting Bench

Japanese Garden Chandigarh

Japanese Hut - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Hut
Entrance Gate (Phase - 2) - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Entrance Gate (Phase – 2)
The Dragon Swing - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
The Dragon Swing
Japanese Hut - Japanese Garden Chandigarh
Japanese Hut

Japanese Garden Chandigarh

With this I end my photo blog on The Japanese Garden……

References

 

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