The Horticulture Department in Bengaluru announced the launch of guided walking tours in two of the city's prominent parks, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh. These tours, named ‘Cubbon Walks’ and ‘Lalbagh Walks’, will accommodate groups of 20 participants each. The initiative aims to educate residents about the diverse flora and fauna found in these green spaces.

A trial walk took place on July 14, 2025, with senior officials from the Horticulture Department participating alongside naturalists. The official launch for Cubbon Walks is expected within two weeks, while Lalbagh Walks will commence after an upcoming flower show on Independence Day.

M. Jagadeesh, Joint Director of Parks and Gardens at the Horticulture Department, highlighted that many people are unaware of the scientific and historical significance of the trees in these parks. Trained naturalists will lead the walks using microphones to share insights about various species present.

An online booking system is planned for those interested in joining these walks. Initially, they will be conducted on weekends with a limit of 20 participants per group. Ticket prices have yet to be finalized but are anticipated to be reasonable.

The introduction of these official walking tours comes as a response to existing private tours that may not always provide accurate information about the parks' ecosystems. Regular visitors have expressed enthusiasm for this new initiative, noting that expert guidance could enhance their understanding and appreciation of these natural spaces.

Original article

This article is like a special guide for people who love nature and want to learn more about it. It tells us about a fun new activity, where we can go on walks with experts in two big parks in Bengaluru. These walks will teach us about all the cool plants and animals that live there, and even the history of the trees! It's like having a super fun adventure and a learning session at the same time. The article also says that these walks are for a small group of people, so we can ask questions and learn better. It's not just about reading facts; it's about seeing and experiencing nature with our own eyes. But, the article doesn't give us all the details yet, like how much it will cost or when exactly we can go. So, while it's exciting and can teach us a lot, we still need to wait for more information to decide if we want to join these walks.

This initiative to provide guided tours in parks, while seemingly benign, can subtly shift focus away from core family and community responsibilities. By outsourcing the education about local flora and fauna to trained naturalists and an online booking system, it diminishes the natural role of elders and parents in passing down knowledge of the land to their children and grandchildren. This reliance on external, impersonal instruction weakens the intergenerational transmission of practical skills and local wisdom, which are vital for understanding and stewarding the environment.

The introduction of ticketed, limited-group activities, even if reasonably priced, creates a transactional relationship with shared community resources. This can foster a mindset where access to natural spaces is contingent on payment and formal organization, rather than being a shared birthright and responsibility for all members of the community, regardless of their ability to pay or navigate booking systems. This can inadvertently exclude those who are less digitally connected or financially able, potentially fracturing community cohesion by creating barriers to shared experience and learning.

The emphasis on "scientific and historical significance" over practical, hands-on engagement with the land can also lead to a detachment from the direct, daily stewardship that sustains local ecosystems. When knowledge is delivered through microphones by paid experts, it risks becoming an abstract concept rather than an embodied understanding rooted in personal responsibility and care. This can weaken the sense of duty towards the land, as it is perceived as something to be passively consumed and understood through instruction, rather than actively maintained and protected through personal effort.

The consequence of such initiatives spreading unchecked is a gradual erosion of familial and community bonds centered on shared responsibility for the land and the education of the young. Children may grow up with a superficial understanding of their environment, lacking the deep connection and practical knowledge that comes from direct, familial guidance. Elders may find their traditional roles as knowledge keepers diminished, leading to a loss of respect and a weakening of their place within the community. Trust within neighborhoods can fray as access to shared resources becomes more formalized and less about communal duty. Ultimately, the stewardship of the land, which is intrinsically linked to the survival and continuity of the people, will suffer as the direct, personal responsibility for its care is outsourced and diluted.

"The Horticulture Department in Bengaluru announced the launch of guided walking tours... These tours, named ‘Cubbon Walks’ and ‘Lalbagh Walks’, will accommodate groups of 20 participants each."

This sentence uses passive voice to describe the launch of the tours. By saying "announced" and "will accommodate," it hides the agency of the Horticulture Department, making it seem like a neutral, objective event. The use of passive voice downplays the department's active role and could imply that the tours just happened without their initiative.

"The official launch for Cubbon Walks is expected within two weeks, while Lalbagh Walks will commence after an upcoming flower show on Independence Day."

Here, the focus is on the timing of the tours, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement. The mention of Independence Day adds a patriotic tone, associating the tours with a national celebration. This framing could influence readers' perceptions, making them more inclined to support and participate in the tours.

"M. Jagadeesh, Joint Director of Parks and Gardens at the Horticulture Department, highlighted that many people are unaware of the scientific and historical significance of the trees in these parks."

M. Jagadeesh's statement implies that the general public lacks knowledge about the parks' significance. This creates a sense of expertise and authority for the Horticulture Department, positioning them as educators and guardians of this important information. It also suggests that the tours will provide valuable insights, appealing to those interested in learning.

"Trained naturalists will lead the walks using microphones to share insights about various species present."

The use of the word "trained" naturalists emphasizes their expertise and reliability. This choice of words enhances the credibility of the tour guides and the information they provide. It also implies that untrained individuals might not be able to offer accurate insights, further promoting the official tours.

"An online booking system is planned for those interested in joining these walks. Initially, they will be conducted on weekends with a limit of 20 participants per group."

By mentioning an online booking system, the text suggests a modern and convenient way to participate. The limitation of 20 participants per group creates a sense of exclusivity and demand, potentially encouraging more people to sign up. The focus on weekends also implies that these tours are a fun and engaging leisure activity.

The text evokes a sense of excitement and anticipation as it announces the launch of guided walking tours in Bengaluru's parks. This emotion is conveyed through the use of action words like "launch," "accommodate," and "commence," which create a vibrant and dynamic tone. The strength of this excitement is moderate, building gradually as the details of the initiative are revealed. It serves to engage the reader's interest and curiosity, encouraging them to learn more about these upcoming tours.

The writer also expresses a subtle concern about the accuracy of information provided by existing private tours. This worry is implied through phrases like "may not always provide accurate information," suggesting a potential issue with the reliability of current tour guides. The purpose of this emotion is to highlight the need for the new, official tours, which are presented as a more trustworthy and informative alternative.

Additionally, there is a hint of enthusiasm and satisfaction expressed by regular visitors, who are quoted as saying that expert guidance could enhance their understanding and appreciation of the parks. This emotion is conveyed through the use of phrases like "expressed enthusiasm" and "noting that expert guidance could enhance their understanding." The strength of this emotion is mild but positive, creating a sense of shared excitement and satisfaction among the readers who can relate to the visitors' sentiments.

To persuade readers, the writer employs a range of emotional language and rhetorical devices. For instance, the use of the phrase "diverse flora and fauna" creates a sense of wonder and curiosity about the parks' ecosystems. The repetition of the word "walks" in the names of the tours and the description of the initiative emphasizes the active and engaging nature of the experience. The inclusion of a personal quote from M. Jagadeesh adds a human element, making the initiative more relatable and trustworthy.

Furthermore, the writer compares the new tours to existing private tours, implying that the former are more reliable and informative. This comparison creates a sense of contrast and highlights the benefits of the official tours, steering the reader's opinion towards supporting this new initiative. By using emotional language and rhetorical devices, the writer effectively guides the reader's reaction, building excitement and trust while addressing potential concerns.