Maa Mundeshwari eco park combines culture and sustainability

The 14-acre Maa Mundeshwari Wildlife Eco Park in Bihar’s Kaimur district combines cultural history, eco-architecture, and biodiversity conservation to promote sustainable tourism.

The Maa Mundeshwari Wildlife Eco Park, located in Bihar’s picturesque Kaimur district, is a landmark project that exemplifies architectural ingenuity and ecological preservation. It is Bihar’s first wildlife-themed park, covering 14 acres and establishing a model for sustainable tourism and environmental education. Designed by architect Angad Singh Phokela of Rurban Design Lab (Iconographic Designs Pvt Ltd), the park mixes cultural heritage, eco-architecture, and community participation, offering visitors an immersive experience steeped in environmental conscience and regional history.

The park’s layout follows the natural contours of the Kaimur Hills, resulting in minimum environmental disruption. It has walking pathways, observation sites, and native vegetation to promote biodiversity and educate tourists about local ecosystems. Sustainable landscaping incorporates automatic irrigation systems to save water, confirming the park’s commitment to conservation. The park’s water features, which include restored ponds and artificial waterfalls that aid in microclimate cooling, are a highlight. The Buddha Sarovar, a central water body, seamlessly blends cultural heritage and contemporary design, highlighting the park’s thematic depth.

The park, located near the famous Maa Mundeshwari Temple—one of India’s oldest temples—honours its legacy through traditional motifs, sculptures, and architectural aspects. Sculptural trees portraying the Navarasa, India’s nine primary emotions, are among its most distinctive installations. These beautifully carved trees offer a sensory experience that combines historical and contemporary creative interpretation.
The Animal Parade Installation brings a bright and instructive element to the park. The exhibit, which includes life-sized sculptures of rhinoceroses, giraffes, lions, primates, and even a dinosaur figure on a lengthy cycle, captivates visitors with its fluid stances and dynamic presentation, making it a favourite with children and families.

Another popular feature is the open-air theatre, which is modelled like an old amphitheatre and has tiered stone seating for 300-400 people. It was built with locally produced materials and serves as a venue for cultural events, environmental workshops, and educational programs. The natural acoustics ensure optimal sound distribution without the use of electronic amplification, contributing to the park’s environmentally conscious approach.

The Rainbow Pergolas Gateways, with their vivid, rectangular frames painted in a variety of colours, represent peace and diversity while complementing the park’s ecotourism ethos. These visually appealing entry points welcome visitors to an environment that promotes wildlife protection and ecological understanding. Surya Namaskar statues in the park promote physical wellness and spiritual mindfulness. These statues, located across the environment, depict various stances from the sun salutation sequence and are made of biodegradable materials such as fly ash and lime.

The park’s entrance gates are beautiful marvels. The principal gate is a rocky arch with sculpted wildlife figurines, while the secondary entry is influenced by tree trunks and historic patterns, resulting in an immersive doorway into nature. Sustainability remains central to the project. The park supports Bihar’s Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission by adding rainwater harvesting and solar-powered lights to lessen the environmental effects. Locally sourced materials such as bamboo and stone help to reduce the environmental impact, while features such as the Bamboo and Metal Foot-over Bridge and treehouse structures perfectly integrate sustainability with visitor engagement, education, and wildlife conservation.

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