Chandigarh, March 17 -- Once envisioned as a serene urban retreat inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics, the Japanese Garden in Chandigarh is today showing signs of neglect, raising concerns among visitors about the upkeep of one of the city's unique public spaces.

Spread across 13 acres, the garden was developed at a cost of Rs.6 crore and inaugurated on November 7, 2014, by then UT Administrator Shivraj Patil. Designed with distinct elements of Japanese architecture, the park features pagoda-style towers, waterfalls, water bodies, a meditation centre, a Buddha idol and ornamental golden bamboo. It was developed in two phases, with the second phase opening to the public on June 4, 2016. Both sections are connected by a tunnel deco...