Mango Meadows
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Mango Meadows Agricultural Park
| image_skyline= 150px
| caption = Meenoottupalam at Mango Meadows
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| flag_alt =
| image_seal =
| seal_alt =
| image_shield =
| shield_alt =
| etymology =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Kerala
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
Location in Kerala, India
| pushpin_label_position =
| coordinates = {{coord|9.4438|N|76.2817|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Kerala
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kottayam
| subdivision_type3 = City
| subdivision_name3 = Kaduthuruthy
| established_title = Opened
| established_date = 2016
| founder = N. K. Kurian
| seat_type =
| seat =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_party =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_urban_footnotes =
| area_rural_footnotes =
| area_metro_footnotes =
| area_magnitude =
| area_note =
| area_water_percent =
| area_rank =
| area_blank1_title =
| area_blank2_title =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_urban_km2 =
| area_rural_km2 =
| area_metro_km2 =
| area_blank1_km2 =
| area_blank2_km2 =
| area_total_ha =
| area_land_ha =
| area_water_ha =
| area_urban_ha =
| area_rural_ha =
| area_metro_ha =
| area_blank1_ha =
| area_blank2_ha =
| length_km =
| width_km =
| dimensions_footnotes =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_footnotes =
| population_as_of =
| population_total =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_note =
| population_demonym =
| timezone1 =
| utc_offset1 =
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code = 686613
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| iso_code =
| website = {{URL|https://mangomeadows.in}}
| footnotes =
}}
Mango Meadows is an agricultural theme park in Kaduthuruthy, Kerala, India.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/minimum-area-maximum-plants/article26637218.ece|title=Minimum area, maximum plants|first=U.|last=Hiran|newspaper=The Hindu|date=March 25, 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/travel/all-about-mango-meadows-worlds-first-agricultural-theme-park-at-kottayam/articleshow/69995764.cms |title=ലോകത്തിലെ ആദ്യ അഗ്രിക്കൾച്ചറൽ വാട്ടർ തീം പാർക്ക് നമ്മുടെ കോട്ടയത്ത് |date=2019-06-29 |website=Malayalam |publisher=The Times of India|first=Malayalam|last=Samayam|location=Kerala, India |language=ml |access-date=2020-01-01}} With more than 4800 species of plants, including 1900 species of medicinal plants, 700 species of trees, and 900 species of flowering plants, it is one of the most biodiverse places on earth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.manoramanews.com/news/kerala/2019/03/21/mango-meadows-limca-book-of-records.html|title=മരം വളരില്ലെന്ന് വിധിച്ച മണ്ണിൽ കാടൊരുക്കി; 'മാംഗോ മെഡോസ്' ലിംഗാ ബുക്ക്സിൽ|website=MMTV}} Rare species like the Ficus alii tree or Ficus maclellandii, Beggar’s bowl or Calabash, Camphor tree or Cinnamomum camphora, Damas tree or Conocarpus lancifolius, Kattupoovarash or Rhododendron arboreum, Rudraksha or Elaeocarpus ganitrus are present in the park.
The main attractions in the park are the Eden Garden, Nakshatra Vriksha junction, valentine garden, domestic animal farm, tea garden, telescope tower, Meenoottu palam and vegetable farm. The park also houses the world's tallest statue of Parashurama,{{Cite web|url=https://www.marunadanmalayali.com/news/keralam/agricultural-park-in-kaduthuruthy-1984|title=കടുത്തുരുത്തിയിലെ അഗ്രികൾച്ചറൽ തീം പാർക്ക് കാർഷിക ടൂറിസത്തിന് വഴിത്തിരിവാകും; ഏറ്റവും വലിയ പരശുരാമ പ്രതിമ ഉയർന്നു കഴിഞ്ഞു|website=MarunadanMalayali.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/latest-news/394291|title=ആയാംകുടിയില് കൂറ്റന് പരശുരാമപ്രതിമ|website=Deshabhimani}} measuring about 35 ft, as well as the biggest Bible statue,{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.newindianexpress.com/2427030/The-New-Indian-Express-Kottayam/21112019#page/3/2|title=Mammoth Bible sculpture comes up at Kaduthuruthy biodiversity park|website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JVilDwAAQBAJ&q=n+k+kurian&pg=PT88 | title=Wow! India: 500 Incredible Records and Fascinating Facts from Around the Country| isbn=9789388322676| last1=India| first1=Hachette| date=2019-08-06}} with a measurement of 25 ft by 25 ft.
N K Kurian is the founder and visionary behind the Mango Meadows{{Cite web|url=https://www.garshomonline.com/kurian2017/|title = N K Kuraian: Garshom Pravasi Returnee Award 2017}} a Gulf-returnee.
History
Work on the park began in 2004 and it was opened to the public in December 2016. The survival of Mango Meadows: Withered then Flourished - A brief History{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=വാടി, പിന്നെ തളിർത്തു; മാംഗോ മെഡോസ് എന്ന അതിജീവനം |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/kottayam/news/kottayam-1.9922869 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Newspaper |language=en}}
Awards and recognition
Mango Meadows has found a place in URF World records{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/mar/21/world-forest-day-kurians-artificial-forest-finds-place-in-book-of-records-1953886.html|title=World Forest Day: Kurian's artificial forest finds place in book of records|website=The New Indian Express}} and Limca Book of Records,{{Cite book |last=India |first=Hachette |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gDhBEAAAQBAJ&q=n+k+kurian |title=Limca Book of Records 2020–22 |date=2021-09-20 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=978-93-88322-99-7 |language=en}} for developing the maximum number of plant species in a minimum area of 30 acres. Other awards include UP WORDS Achievers Award 2019,{{Cite web|url=http://financialsamachar.com/nk-kurian-founder-of-mango-meadows-to-be-conferred-with-up-words-achievers-award|title=NK Kurian, founder of Mango Meadows to be conferred with UP WORDS Achievers Award|website=Financial Samachar|date=31 August 2019}} and 'Ente Samrambham' God's Own Brand and Emerging Entrepreneur Awards 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2018/jul/13/ente-samrambham-gods-own-brand-award-to-be-presented-today-1842457.html|title='Ente Samrambham' God's Own Brand award to be presented today|website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web |last=ForumIAS |date=2019-03-26 |title=Minimum area, maximum plants |url=https://blog.forumias.com/minimum-area-maximum-plants-2/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=ForumIAS Blog |language=en-US}}
Agriculture entrepreneur N.K. Kurian has been selected for the IARI Innovative Farmer Award 2024,{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-02-20 |title=National award for farm entrepreneur N.K. Kurian |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/national-award-for-farm-entrepreneur-nk-kurian/article67867099.ece |access-date=2024-11-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} instituted by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), for his contribution to agriculture. ICAR-CCARI awarded - IARI Innovative Farmer Award 2024. Universal Records Forum The Director, ICAR-CCARI paid a visit to the Hon'ble Governor of Goa, was accompanied by Shri N. K. Kurian
The world’s largest Bible Statue
Mango Meadows Agriculture Pleasure Land,{{Cite web |title=Best Theme Park -World's First Agricultural Theme Park - Mango Meadows |url=https://mangomeadows.in/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Mango Meadows: World's first agricultural theme park |language=en-US}} a biodiversity park located in Ayamkudi, a small village in Kaduthuruthy Panchayat in Kottayam district, is a paradise for nature lovers. World's first agricultural theme park 'Mango Meadows' is 20 years of hard work and dream of N K Kurian.{{Cite web |title=N K Kuraian: Garshom Pravasi Returnee Award 2017 |url=https://www.garshomonline.com/kurian2017/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=:: Garshom |language=en-US}} It is a unique place on the planet with 85 species of vegetables, 178 fruit trees, 46 variety fishes, 25 varieties of domestic animals include cattle, dogs, goats, rabbits and ducks etc. {{Cite web |title=ലോകത്തിലെ ആദ്യ അഗ്രിക്കൾച്ചറൽ വാട്ടർ തീം പാർക്ക് നമ്മുടെ കോട്ടയത്ത് |url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/travel/all-about-mango-meadows-worlds-first-agricultural-theme-park-at-kottayam/articleshow/69995764.cms |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Samayam Malayalam |language=ml}}
Mango Meadows is a place where children, women, old people, differently able, young people and all those who like to know and experience the beauty of nature can enjoy it.{{Cite web |title=മാവിന് തണലിലെ അഗ്രികള്ച്ചര് തീം പാര്ക്ക് |url=https://www.harithakeralamnews.com/article/mango-meadows/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Haritha Keralam News |language=ml}}
The world’s largest Bible Statue is located at Mango Meadows Agricultural Theme Park, Kaduthuruthy, Kerala, India. The statue of the Bible stands at 25 ft by 25 ft. The statue has been made with concrete and has original pages from the Bible in the Malayalam language. The Bible is presented as open from the center with pages of scriptures visible on both sides. The text is carved on the statue can be easily read. Benches have been provided around the statue where believers can sit and read actual printed form of the Bible while they are literally ‘in the shadow of the Bible’. A Bible Garden containing 125 plants, trees and herbs that were mentioned in the scriptures is set around the statue. The Bible mentions about 125 plants, trees and herbs. Being in the presence of the ‘Biblical Garden’ is believed to provide a spiritual communion and a sense of peace akin to meditation or prayer.
Mango Meadows is a natural man-made reserve that preserves bio-diversity of the plant, herb and tree species endemic to Kerala and those from other regions known for their special properties.{{Cite web |title=Meet the 'engineer' behind world's first agriculture theme park |url=https://english.thebusinessvoice.in/2021/03/15/meet-the-engineer-behind-worlds-first-agriculture-theme-park/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |language=en-US}}
Activities
Image gallery
File:Meenoottu-palam-at-mango-meadows.jpg|Fish feeding bridge
File:View-at-mango-meadows.jpg|Evening view
File:Bible-statue-at-mango-meadows-kaduthuruthy.jpg|Bible statue at the park
File:Parashurama-statue-at-mango-meadows-agricultural-theme-park-kaduthuruthy.jpg|statue of Parashurama
References
{{reflist}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/jun/05/mango-meadows-a-man-made-paradise-in-kottayam-1986060.html|title=Mango Meadows: A man-made paradise in Kottayam|website=The New Indian Express}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/videos/good-news/2019/jul/02/mango-meadows-worlds-largest-agricultural-theme-park-in-kottayam-107104.html| title=Mango Meadows: World's largest agricultural theme park in Kottayam|website=The New Indian Express}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/mar/21/n-k-kurians-man-made-forest-is-a-treasure-trove-1790126.html|title=N K Kurian's man-made forest is a treasure trove|website=The New Indian Express}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.destination-kerala.com/mango-meadows-unique-man-made-green-paradise|title=Mango Meadows: A Unique Man-Made Green Paradise | Destination Kerala|website=www.destination-kerala.com}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/kaduthuruthi-agricultural-theme-park-spotlight-on-ayamkudi.html|title=Agricultural theme park turns spotlight on Ayamkudi|website=Manorama Online}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.garshomonline.com/kurian2017|title=N K Kurian: Garshom International Award winner 2017|website=Garshom}}
- "[https://rajbhavan.goa.gov.in/node/1168 N K Kurian called on Hon'ble Governor at Raj Bhavan Goa]" Raj Bhavan Goa