A house in Gwalior that resembles 'Eden' on Earth

Many of us must have witnessed water falls in the hills, but seldom has one seen them being part of our abodes. A visit to the house of Shyam Singh Verma in Gwalior is a must to experience this. Verma, a retired employee of Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board, resides with his wife at his house that almost resembles an 'Eden' on Earth. "After my retirement, I consumed my free time in making waterfalls.

I have made almost 15 large and 25 small artificial waterfalls. Rocks, cement, iron rods and Plaster of Paris are used to give them the artistic touch," says Shyam. The remarkable quality of the small falls is that they are mobile and can easily be moved from one place to another. Verma has received several awards for his creativity, but it is his wife, Indira, who deserves special mention."I look after the falls and the plants in the absence of my husband," said Indira.Besides springs, he has a beautiful collection of Bonsais, aged between 10 to 27 years. The attractive dwarf trees include banyan, mulberry, tamarind and cactus. "Bonsais are the trees grown in the small and shallow pots to keep their size small. The roots need regular cutting and the branches are tied with the thin wire to give them the required shape," said Shyam. The Vermas have exhibited their creation at some exhibitions and earned kudos.Their artistic hobby is an inspiration for the retired fraternity