Mussoorie: Company Garden, the well-known tourist spot in Mussoorie, has been renamed Atal Udyan Park. The new name was inaugurated on Thursday by Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi and Urban Development Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal.
The 182-year-old name Company Garden was given by the British. Established by Dr. H. Faulkner in 1842 during British rule, the garden was initially called Municipal Garden before becoming Company Garden. This historic site now takes on a new identity.
People’s long pending demand to change the name given by Britishers
During the ceremony at Atal Udyan, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi expressed immense pride, highlighting that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had a special affection for Mussoorie, was instrumental in the creation of the separate state of Uttarakhand. He stated that Company Garden, a symbol of colonialism, will now be known as Atal Udyan and that a large statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee will soon be installed. Urban Development Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal added that the name change had been a long-standing demand from the public.
Established by the British in 1842
Historian Jaiprakash Uttarakhandi highlighted the history of this famous tourist spot, stating that Dr. H. Faulkner established Company Garden during British rule in 1842. Initially named Municipal Garden, it was later renamed Company Garden. Over the years, it has remained a significant attraction for tourists from both India and abroad.
Previous name was a symbol of slavery
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi announced that the garden, previously known as Municipal Garden and later Company Garden, was a symbol of slavery. The new name will honor the esteemed leader Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Atal Udyan. He expressed pride in this change and mentioned that a statue of Vajpayee would be installed in the garden within a week. Mussoorie, being the gateway to Gangotri and a popular summer destination for residents of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, makes this renaming significant.
Additionally, Cabinet Minister Prem Chand Agarwal congratulated the people of Mussoorie on the new name for the park. Minister Ganesh Joshi also extended his congratulations and best wishes to everyone on this occasion.
