Ved Van Park Zones Explained: The Seven Saptarishi Zones and Their Stories (2026)

Ved Van Park in Noida is divided into seven zones, each named after one of the Saptarishi: Kashyap, Bharadwaj, Gautam, Atri, Vasishtha, Vishvamitra and Agastya. Every zone uses sculptures, murals and information boards to introduce a sage and the scriptures linked to him. This guide explains who each rishi was in the tradition, why these seven names matter, and what to look for as you walk through the Ved Van Park zones.

Who are the Saptarishi?

The Saptarishi (सप्तर्षि, saptarṣi, “seven seers”) are a group of seven sages honoured in Vedic and later Hindu tradition. In the tradition, rishis are the “seers” who received or “heard” the Vedic hymns, which is why Vedic literature is called śruti, “that which is heard”. Many of the families of the Rigveda trace their hymns to these sages, and several Hindu gotra (lineage) names come from them.

There is no single fixed list. Different texts name different sets of seven:

Text	Seven sages named
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.2.6	Gautama, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Atri
Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218–221	Agastya, Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Vishvamitra
Ved Van Park zones	Kashyap, Bharadwaj, Gautam, Atri, Vasishtha, Vishvamitra, Agastya

The park’s list keeps six names shared by the older lists and includes both Kashyapa and Agastya, while leaving out Jamadagni. The Noida Authority has not published a detailed explanation of its choice, so treat any claim about “the only correct list” with caution. For a fuller discussion of the lists in Hindi, see our article on सप्तऋषि के नाम.

The seven Ved Van Park zones explained

Below, each rishi is described according to the scriptures and traditional stories. What you will actually see in each zone (the exact statues and panels) can vary as displays are repaired or updated, so use this as background rather than a map.

1. Kashyap zone (कश्यप, Kaśyapa)

In the Puranas, Kashyapa is presented as a progenitor figure. By his wives, the daughters of Daksha, he is described as the father of the Devas (through Aditi), the Asuras (through Diti), and many other beings including nagas and birds. Some hymns in the ninth book of the Rigveda are attributed to a Kashyapa. A popular traditional etymology links the name “Kashmir” to Kashyapa, though historians debate this.

What to look for: Imagery of creation and lineage themes, and the text panel summarising his place in the Saptarishi lists.

2. Bharadwaj zone (भरद्वाज, Bharadvāja)

Bharadvaja is the seer associated with the sixth mandala of the Rigveda, one of its “family books”. In the Ramayana, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana visit his ashram at Prayag during their exile. The Charaka Samhita tradition also credits Bharadvaja with bringing the knowledge of Ayurveda from Indra to human sages, which is why he appears in discussions of the origins of Indian medicine.

What to look for: References to the ashram setting and to healing plants, which tie in nicely with the herbal plantings across the park.

3. Gautam zone (गौतम, Gautama)

Gotama/Gautama is a seer of the Rigveda; hymns in the first mandala are attributed to Gotama Rahugana, and the fourth mandala is attributed to Vamadeva of the Gautama family. In the epics he is best known as the husband of Ahalya. Note that this Gautama is different from Gautama Buddha and from Akshapada Gautama, the traditional author of the Nyaya Sutras; all three share the name but are separate figures.

What to look for: The Ahalya story is a common subject in Indian art; look for it in murals and sculptures.

4. Atri zone (अत्रि, Atri)

The fifth mandala of the Rigveda is attributed to Atri and his descendants. His wife Anasuya is celebrated in the tradition as a model of devotion, and the couple are described as the parents of Dattatreya, Chandra (the Moon) and the sage Durvasa. In the Ramayana, Rama and Sita visit their ashram in Chitrakoot.

What to look for: Depictions of Atri with Anasuya and the Dattatreya story.

5. Vasishtha zone (वसिष्ठ, Vasiṣṭha)

Vasishtha is the seer of the seventh mandala of the Rigveda and the royal priest (kulaguru) of the Ikshvaku dynasty, making him the guru of Rama in the Ramayana. His wife Arundhati is honoured as a symbol of marital fidelity, and the stars Mizar and Alcor in the Big Dipper are traditionally called Vasishtha and Arundhati. The famous story of his wish-granting cow (Kamadhenu or her calf Nandini) leads into his long rivalry with Vishvamitra.

What to look for: The guru-disciple theme with young Rama, and the wish-fulfilling cow.

6. Vishvamitra zone (विश्वामित्र, Viśvāmitra)

Vishvamitra was born a king (Kaushika) and, according to the epics, became a brahmarshi through intense tapas after his conflict with Vasishtha. He is the seer of the third mandala of the Rigveda, which contains the Gayatri mantra (Rigveda 3.62.10), probably the best-known Vedic verse. In the Ramayana he takes young Rama and Lakshmana to protect his sacrifice and teaches them divine weapons.

What to look for: The Gayatri mantra, often inscribed or quoted in displays about him.

7. Agastya zone (अगस्त्य, Agastya)

Hymns 1.165 to 1.191 of the Rigveda are attributed to Agastya, and hymn 1.179 is a dialogue between him and his wife Lopamudra about asceticism and household life. In later legends he crosses the Vindhya mountains to the south, and Tamil tradition reveres him as Agathiyar, credited with the first Tamil grammar. The Canopus star is called Agastya in Indian astronomy.

What to look for: The Vindhya legend and his link with South India, which shows how widely these sages are honoured across the country.

Summary table: the seven rishis at a glance

Zone	Hindi / Sanskrit	Best-known association	Rigveda link
Kashyap	कश्यप / Kaśyapa	Progenitor of Devas and Asuras (Puranas)	Some hymns in Mandala 9
Bharadwaj	भरद्वाज / Bharadvāja	Ashram at Prayag; Ayurveda tradition	Mandala 6
Gautam	गौतम / Gautama	Husband of Ahalya	Hymns in Mandala 1; Mandala 4 (Gautama family)
Atri	अत्रि / Atri	Anasuya; father of Dattatreya	Mandala 5
Vasishtha	वसिष्ठ / Vasiṣṭha	Guru of Rama; Arundhati	Mandala 7
Vishvamitra	विश्वामित्र / Viśvāmitra	King turned brahmarshi; Gayatri mantra	Mandala 3
Agastya	अगस्त्य / Agastya	Lopamudra; Vindhya legend; Tamil tradition	Hymns 1.165–1.191

These associations come from the scriptures and traditional narratives. The stories are presented here as beliefs and literature, not as historical claims.

How the zones connect with the rest of the park

The rishi zones are not isolated exhibits. The same pathways also carry murals and verses from the four Vedas, and the planting across the park emphasises trees and herbs mentioned in Sanskrit texts. If you read up on the four Vedas before your visit, you will find it easier to connect a rishi to the hymns he is linked with. The evening laser and sound show also draws on the same stories, so walking the zones first makes the show more meaningful.

For timings, entry fee and directions, see our full Ved Van Park Noida visitor guide.

Tips for exploring the rishi zones

• Start before sunset. Panels and fine sculpture details are hard to read after dark; begin your walk at least an hour before the laser show.
• Photograph the text panels. You can read them later and look up anything that interests you.
• Turn it into a game for children. Ask them to find all seven names, then match each sage to one story from this guide.
• Do not expect a museum. This is an open park; information is brief. Use it as a starting point for further reading.
• Stick to the paths. Planted beds around the statues are part of the park’s Vedic-plant collection.
• Cross-check claims you hear. Guides and visitors sometimes repeat popular myths; the table above gives sources you can follow up.

Where to read more

For primary texts, the Rigveda hymns attributed to these sages are available in many translations. The Saptarishi overview on Wikipedia summarises how the lists differ across the Brahmanas, Upanishads and Puranas, with references to the original texts. For anything about the park itself, including changes to displays, the Noida Authority is the body that built and manages it.

The seven zones turn a simple evening walk into a short introduction to the sages at the root of Vedic literature. Spend a few minutes at each, match the names to the stories above, and the laser show that follows will make far more sense.