Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden to Inaugurate “Ayur Udhyan”

THRISSUR:
The Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden and Research Institute (HMBGRI) will inaugurate Ayur Udhyan, a unique living sanctuary designed according to the principles of Ayurveda, on Monday, 27 July 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at its Cheruthuruthi campus. Dr. K. S. Vishnu Nampoothiry, President of the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI), will inaugurate the sanctuary in the presence of distinguished Ayurveda scholars, academicians, researchers, and conservationists.

Developed as a first-of-its-kind experiential space, Ayur Udhyan seamlessly integrates the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with biodiversity conservation, environmental stewardship, and scientific learning. The sanctuary showcases a curated collection of medicinal plants within a thoughtfully designed landscape that reflects the holistic philosophy of Ayurveda, offering visitors an immersive experience of nature’s role in health and well-being.

Inspired by the classical principles of Ayurveda, Ayur Udhyan is laid out in the traditional Sarvadhobhadra design, thoughtfully recreating the three Ayur Deshas—Jangala (arid), Anoopa (marshy), and Sadharana (moderate)—to provide ecologically appropriate habitats for a diverse range of medicinal plants. The sanctuary features a carefully curated collection of medicinal species representing the Ashtangas (eight branches) of Ayurveda, alongside traditional terracotta installations celebrating India’s rich medicinal plant heritage. It also showcases medicinal plants together with their classical substitutes (Pratinidhi Dravyas), illustrating an important concept in Ayurvedic pharmacology. In addition, Ayur Udhyan preserves plant collections associated with indigenous ethnomedicine, regional healing traditions, and the specialized Kerala disciplines of Visha Chikitsa (toxicology) and Marma Chikitsa (vital-point therapy), making it a unique centre for conservation, education, and research

The initiative reflects HMBGRI’s continued commitment to conserving Kerala’s rich medicinal plant heritage while advancing research, education, and public awareness of traditional knowledge systems.

Commenting on the initiative, Sam Santhosh, Founder of SciGenom, MedGenome, and the SciGenom Research Foundation, said: “Ayur Udhyan represents an inspiring convergence of India’s traditional knowledge systems and modern scientific thinking. As we continue to advance genomics and precision medicine, it is equally important to preserve and scientifically explore the extraordinary biodiversity and medicinal plant heritage that has supported healthcare for centuries. This initiative by HMBGRI creates a living platform for education, conservation, and research, encouraging meaningful collaboration between Ayurveda, plant sciences, and modern life sciences.”

Dr. Murali K. (Retd. Professor, Government Ayurveda College, Tripunithura), Dr. Kirathamoorthy P. P. (Principal, Vishnu Ayurveda College, Kulappully), Dr. Anju K. P. (Principal, Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College, Thrissur), Dr. Gigi Mathew (Principal, PNNM Ayurveda Medical College, Cheruthuruthi), and Dr. Latha K. K. (PNNM Ayurveda Medical College, Cheruthuruthi) will preside over the function and facilitate the initiative. As part of the inauguration, a three-day intensive training programme for Ayurveda students titled “Dravya Bodhini” will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Ajayan Sadanandan and Dr. Lekshmy M. S. The programme aims to strengthen students’ practical knowledge of medicinal plants through immersive field-based learning.
The event is being organized under the leadership of Dr. Anoop P. Balan, Scientist-in-Charge, HMBGRI, with Dr. Ajayan Sadanandan, Consultant Scientist, HMBGRI, serving as the programme coordinator.