Spot “Kiss of Fire” in India’s corridors of power; Try it out on the Valentine’s Day

HAVE you spotted “Kiss of Fire” in India’s corridors of power?  And if you thought Raisina Hills is all about power, politics and politicking, think again. India’s Presidential Palace Rashtrapati Bhavan grows Kiss of Fire, Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal -- all varieties of roses, and also houses as many as 10,000 Tulips in red, orange and yellow mixed with red, pink, purple and white. And the good news is that the Mughal Gardens inside Rashtrapati Bhavan premise will be open for public from the Valentine’s Day onward till March 15, 2015. Read the following to know more about John F Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth and Mr. Lincoln, all blooming inside India’s Raisina Hills:

1) Between February 14 and March 15, general public will also be able to visit the Spiritual Garden, Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden and Bio-diversity Park within the Presidential Estate. It will be open between 0930 hrs to 1600 hrs every day except Monday which is closed for maintenance.
2) Tulips will be the main attraction this year, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan. About 10,000 Tulips in vivid colors of red, orange and yellow mixed with red, pink, purple and white are expected to bloom in phases up to March 10, 2015. The Tulips have been grown this year in earthen pots as well as several beds in the Rectangular and Circular Gardens.
3) Mughal Gardens has more than 120 celebrated varieties of roses. The prime bloom is in February-March. The special roses include Green Rose and Angelique.
4) The names of some of the 40 fragrant varieties of roses are quite interesting. Kiss of Fire, Happiness, Century Two, First Prize and Iceberg are all varieties of roses.
5) The other varieties of roses include Black Lady, Double Delight, Eiffel Tower, Granada, Jadis, Sadabahar, Taj Mahal etc.
6) There are black varities of roses too. Those include Oklahoma (often called Black Rose) and Bonne Nuit (almost black in colour). Paradise, Blue Moon and Lady X are blue in colour.
7) Gardens also houses roses called Mother Teresa, Arjun, Bhim, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Jawahar etc.
8) Roses with names of international celebrities include John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, Mr. Lincoln and Montezuma.
9) Videos on Rashtrapati Bhavan and on the current Presidency will also be screened in a rest room near Gate No. 35 for visitors.
10) Visitors are however requested not to bring any water bottles, briefcases, handbags or ladies purses, cameras, radios or transistors, umbrellas, eatables etc.