Introduction
The botanical gardens in India are one of the most scenic places to visit. Many cities have these beautiful gardens that feature flora and fauna from all over the world. The best part is that they’re open to the public, so you can enjoy them for free! Here are some of our favorite botanical gardens in India:
Botanical Garden in Kolkata
A botanical garden is a place where plants are grown for scientific study and education.
In Kolkata, the oldest botanical garden in India is located at the northern end of the Maidan. It was established in 1814 by Governor-General Lord Hastings and has been maintained by The Calcutta Botanical Garden Society since 1857. The garden now covers an area of around 100 acres (40 ha). The rich collection of over 10,000 species includes tropical flora as well as plants from other parts of India, South East Asia and North America. There are also several beautiful gardens within this space that provide a variety of settings for relaxation or more active recreation such as walking or jogging along paths through flowers and trees.
Lalbagh, Bangalore
Lalbagh is the oldest botanical garden in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by the British in 1760s, when Bangalore was known as Bengaluru. The garden has been expanded over time to include one of Asia’s largest water bodies and a collection of over 8,000 plants.
The Lalbagh Botanical Garden also has some interesting sculptures:
- A statue of Saint Vibhishana (with an elephant head) which was gifted to Lalbagh by King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva of Nepal.
- A statue of Mysore Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III – this statue was made out of wood and installed at the entrance gate by his son Chamarajendra Wodeyar X during his coronation ceremony on 27th February 1868.
Sri Chamarajendra Botanical Gardens in Mysore City
Sri Chamarajendra Botanical Gardens is located in Mysore City and it is one of the largest botanical gardens in India. It has a wide range of plants and trees, some of which are native to India and others that were brought from other countries.
The park also has several statues including an elephant statue, a lion statue, and a tortoise statue. There are also statues depicting Lord Rama’s life story as well as his marriage to Sita. The park serves delicious snacks such as coffee, tea, ice cream etc., which makes the visit more enjoyable.
The entry fee for this park is Rs 30 per head while children below 12 years old can enter free of cost!
Sunder Nursery, Delhi
Sunder Nursery is a botanical garden in Delhi, India. It is a famous tourist spot and park in Delhi. It was established in 1959 as a nursery for forest trees and shrubs by the Directorate of Forests, Government of India. The garden contains more than 1000 species of rare and exotic plants that are collected from all over the world. The main objective behind establishment of this nursery was to supply superior quality planting materials to meet needs of the public sector agencies like railways, irrigation projects etc., as well as government organizations like National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Indian Council Of Forestry Research And Education (ICFRE), Forest Research Institute (FRI) etc., which has helped them in setting up their own nurseries for producing high quality planting material.[1]
Government Botanical Gardens in Ooty, Tamil Nadu
The Government Botanical Gardens in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India are a must-see for plant lovers who come to this beautiful hill station.
The gardens are open to the public and have been since 1855. The gardens have an impressive collection of orchids and other flora, as well as a large rose garden that blooms throughout the year. You can learn about the local flora and fauna by reading the information boards along your walk through the gardens or take a guided tour with one of their friendly staff members.
Brindavan Gardens, Mysuru
Brindavan Gardens is a botanical garden located in Mysuru, Karnataka, India. It was established in 1884 and covers an area of 140 acres (57 ha). The garden has a rich collection of floral species and rare trees, some of which were planted by the Maharaja of Mysore.[1] There are also numerous sculptures from the British era dotted throughout the premises. Brindavan Gardens houses one of India’s oldest museums—the Chamundi Museum—which exhibits artefacts related to art and culture from all over South India.
The garden has been recognised as an important centre for conserving native flora by being included in the list maintained by Botanical Survey of India (BSI).[2][3]
These are some of the best botanical gardens in India.
The following are some of the best botanical gardens in India.
- Rock Garden, Chandigarh
- Botanical Garden and Park, Pune
- Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Conclusion
These are some of the best botanical gardens in India.