Nature, the All-Powerful Force

One of the principal themes in the land of Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom is the power of nature. This is especially evident along the Maharajah Jungle Trek, where ancient ruins of Anandapur's royal past have been overtaken by plant and animal life.

The pleasure gardens on the grounds of the former Royal Hunting Palace are crumbling now. A few fountains remain, and the citrus trees once planted by the rajah continue to flourish. Most of the rest, however, is but a shadow of its former glory, now reclaimed by the jungle.

This reclamation is nearly complete at the palace ballroom. Once a grand structure with ornate columns, tiled floors and a spectacular central fountain, the ballroom's domed ceiling gave way ages ago, leaving it open to the elements. Now, trees grow from cracks in the floor and the space has become a haven for species of exotic birds.

The rajahs and people of Anandapur eventually learned their lesson. Rather than trying to control or destroy, they now coexist peacefully with the natural world around them.