Said to be inspired by the beautiful gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the gardens around the Taj Mahal and Persian and Indian miniature paintings, the Mughal Gardens with their unparalleled beauty are a real delight for the eyes. They were designed by Sir Edward Lutyens for Lady Hardinge.

Tomar, currently the garden superintendent, speaks of the gardens as one would speak of their children. "The gardens are very special to me, as are my team of gardeners who have been specially trained to maintain the Mughal Gardens," he says. The gardeners require an intricate understanding of landscaping, flora and fauna to land the prestigious position of becoming a gardener at the Mughal Gardens.

"They start out by working in the gardens adjacent to the main Mughal Gardens and depending on many criteria such as willingness to work, creative intelligence and general gardening skills, they are moved to the Mughal Gardens," Tomar explains.

Currently, a team of 40 gardeners are employed to work in the Mughal Gardens, and have toiled all year to produce a stunning display of tulips in full bloom. Tulips do not last long but the skilled team has perfected the art of understanding when they will be in full bloom.

Tomar is a storehouse of information on top of the line landscaping and gardening. He is also full of stories about Presidents and state guests down the years.

"President Sanjeeva Reddy used to praise my skills in the garden as did President Kalam, whose interest in the gardens extended to the creation of the Herbal Gardens," he says. He is also full of gratitude for President Pratibha Patil, "She took special interest in the unveiling of the Nakshatra Garden," he explains.