A floor to ceiling map introduces visitors to the landscape of the Eastern Ghats, parallel to the eastern coast of India, stretching from Odisha to Tamil Nadu. A door ahead leads to a sun-lit room with a window facing the mountains, featuring water-colour sketches of iconic species of plants found in the region, including several that are found only within the Eastern Ghats. A few of these are severely threatened with extinction.
The new Nature Interpretation Centre, a separate section at the recently-inaugurated Eastern Ghats Biodiversity Centre near PM Palem, is an immersive experience of traversing through the diverse ecosystems of the region, that has long awaited a systematic documentation. Located along the periphery of the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary in Visakhapatnam, the centre is a first-of-its-kind art-led project of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.
The brainchild of Visakhapatnam Divisional Forest Officer Anant Shankar, each section offers visitors a multifaceted view highlighting the region’s natural wonders complemented by creative art displays.
