Gurgaon: The forest department is giving the city’s Leopard Trail a nature-focused makeover, with plans to revive a one-acre waterbody and develop a half-acre butterfly park while keeping the visitor trail largely in its natural form. The project is being executed on forest land and is targeted for completion by the end of Sept.A 100-metre walkway will be created around the waterbody, but it will remain a kaccha path instead of being paved. “The walkway will be similar to the trail at Sultanpur National Park. The approach is aimed at ensuring that the natural terrain and vegetation are not disturbed while making the area accessible to visitors,” a forest official said.The trail will have a bamboo boundary, while a misting system will also be installed along the stretch.The forest department plans to revive the waterbody by clearing excessive algae and water hyacinth that has spread across parts of its surface. Officials will also ensure that it receives water through the natural drainage channels of the Aravalis, while avoiding major changes to the surrounding terrain.The half-acre butterfly park will be another attraction at the site, with suitable plantations planned to provide food and habitat for butterflies and support their presence in the area.The one-acre waterbody is currently part of the Aravali landscape at Leopard Trail. Its revival will restore a water feature within the forested terrain.The development comes as Leopard Trail has become a popular destination for residents of nearby areas seeking access to the city’s Aravali landscape. Unlike formal parks and recreational spaces, the trail offers visitors an opportunity to experience the rocky, scrub-covered terrain of the hills.The new facilities will provide visitors with a defined route around the revived waterbody and a dedicated butterfly habitat without turning the area into a conventional landscaped recreational space.
