Pateriya ka Bagh

In the 1998 INTACH report this garden is still called “Nagji ka Bagicha”, or “Nayakji ka bagh”, referring to the previous owner.

The garden has come as a dowry in the Pateriya family. This family is rather well to do, and they had cleaned the garden thoroughly in the late 1990s, removing most of the historical elements. It was for us one of the reasons to start our restoration project with this garden. Due to a lack of historical sources, we had to learn by practice the functioning of such a garden.

After an in depth study of the present situation, the actual restoration started in 2006. Nowadays, this restoration has been completed, with the exception of some foundation works at the temple plinth. The garden is tilled for vegetables, with also a grid of young local fruit trees, including many desi mango trees (see also agroforestry, conservation agriculture).
This garden is located at the larger artificial lake of Rajnagar, the Jalsena Sagar.

As the tourist encounters this garden first when coming from Khajuraho, a small visitors’ center will be set up, including the counter for the community seedbank. The visitors' center has been built with traditional construction techniques and is inspired by a traditional kothi (design: Dharatal). It functions as an example of the modern use of local materials ans techniques.

A part from a temple, a modern kothi with well, this garden also contains two Samadhi platforms.