Noida : The phrase ‘कागज के शेर’ (paper tiger) is well known, but now, Noida witnessed real iron lions. These lifelike sculptures are so vivid that even real lions might be startled. Beneath the busy Mahamaya Flyover, where cars race towards Delhi and the metro glides above, a different kind of wild world has emerged, a forest of metal creatures.
Nature meets art on the expressway
Under the initiative of the Noida Authority, a 20-acre area along the Noida–Greater Noida Expressway is being transformed into a mixed landscape of nature and art. Developed under the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model, the site features stunning replicas of animals — including lions, elephants, horses, birds, marine, and aerial species — all made from scrap materials such as iron, rubber, and metal parts.
Jungle Trail: A Walk Across Continents
The creative project, executed by Jeddtek India Limited, is called ‘Jungle Trail’ and is divided into four fascinating zones. Visitors start their journey with animals from Australia, then move through Asia, the Aqua Zone showcasing marine life, and finally traverse through Europe, Africa, North and South America, ending with the icy wilderness of Siberia.
Around 750 sculptures have been crafted using scrap sourced from across the world, giving new life to discarded materials.
The project is divided into Zone A and Zone B
- Zone A is free to visit and includes walking trails and an open-air theatre.
- Zone B, accessible through a small entry fee, houses four water bodies that attract both local and migratory birds.
For visitors, selfie points, resting zones, cafés and food kiosks are being set up. Electric carts will allow guests to experience a “mini jungle safari” ride.
A Living Forest of Art
Though the animals are lifeless, the landscape is full of life. Hundreds of trees, bushes, and grasses have been planted to create a real forest feel. The idea, says Anand Mohan Singh, Director of the Horticulture Department of Noida Authority, was to convert an unused patch of land into a green, artistic destination.
This land was lying idle. With the Jungle Trail, it will become a new attraction for people from Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, and nearby districts.
Anand Mohan Singh, Director, NA
An Artistic Wonder
Visitors describe the park as a one-of-its-kind experience, a journey through continents and ecosystems in just a few steps. However, the challenge for the developers and the Noida Authority remains, how to ensure that people return again and again after their first visit. Still, as art meets environment and scrap turns into sculpture, Noida’s Jungle Trail stands as a powerful symbol of creativity, sustainability, and imagination truly turning “metal into magic.”