P. L. Deshpande Garden alias Okayama Friendship Garden
(Symbol of Friendship between the two cities) or the Japanese Garden is
located on Sinhghad Road, Pune. Built similar to the structure, style,
and culture of an authentic Japanese Garden, it is one of the biggest
garden of Japanese style in Asia. The idea of creating the garden is inspired
from the 300-year old Korakuen Garden developed by Ikeda royal family
in the 12 specious hectares in Okayama in Japan. The garden derived its
name after Pu. La. Deshpande well known as ‘Maharashtrache Ladke Vyaktimatva’
meaning ‘a personality loved by entire Maharashtra’. He is one of the
famous writers of Marathi literature, who won the Padma bhushan award
in 1990.
Spread over an area of 10 acres it consists of landscape, sprawling green
lawns, decorative plants and flowers, rice, coffee and bamboo plantations,
mini waterfalls, ponds, man made streams, artificial lakes, arranged rock
patterns, stone lanterns, Japanese bridges, Gazebos etc. This garden is
a habitat for numerous birds. The green grass, changing landscapes all
around, flower plants with blooming and blossoming flowers make the garden
very attractive. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) maintains the garden.
The garden opens from 6:00 am to 10:30 am in the morning and 4:00 pm to
8:00 pm in the evening. Entrance Fee is Rs 5 per head.
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Maharashtra 
