A botanical garden is a place where a variety of plants, especially conifers, ferns, and other flowering plants are grown and displayed for a show as well as for education purposes. However, in today’s world, most of the botanical gardens are concerned with exhibiting ornamental plants that are eye appealing and taxonomic order. India is a host of numerous botanical gardens, most of which have been created to preserve the endangered species and develop seeds to replenish the reducing forests. Check out the best botanical gardens here.
20 Largest Botanical Gardens in India with Pictures:
With the rapid urbanization, the concrete jungles are taking the place of natural forests. Such jungles can be perilous questioning the very existence of humans and hence comes the role of Botanical gardens in India.
1. Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden:
Spread over an area of 432 acres, the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden is the largest of its kind in the Northeastern region of India. Though the zoo was opened in 1957, the botanical garden was added to it only in the year 1982, which was further expanded in the year 2020 by adding 45 hectares of the Hengrabari Reserve Forest to it. The total area covered by the botanical garden is 82 hectares and comprises of a unique diversity of flora and fauna preserved in it.
- City: Guwahati
- State: Assam
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- The nearest airport is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport which is at a distance of 25km from the main city and well connected to the other cities of India. It is perhaps the most convenient way of reaching Guwahati.
- Guwahati railway station is within the city.
2. Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan:
Also known as the Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological Garden, The Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan is located in the Patna city of Bihar. In the year 1969, the park was first established as a botanical garden and houses more than 300 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees. It also features a nursery for medicinal plants, a fern house, an orchid house, a glass house, and a rose garden.
- City: Patna
- State: Bihar
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- You can take a flight to Patna from all the major airports of the country.
- There are regular trains that run from major cities of the country and reaches Patna. You can choose one of the many railway stations namely Danapur (DNR), Patna Junction (PNBE), Rajendra Nagar Bihar (RJPB), Patna Saheb (PNC), Pothahi (PFT), Phulwari Sharif (PWS), Banka Ghat (BKG), Gulzarbagh (GZH), Punarakh (PHK) to ply down.
3. Hyderabad Botanical Garden:
Hyderabad botanical garden is the botanical garden located in the Kondapur district, HITEC City of Hyderabad. Situated near the HITEC city this garden is 16km away from the Hyderabad railway station. The aim is to develop and preserve the germ plasm and to educate the people, all the modern facilities have been installed in this garden. Spread over an area of 274 acres, the garden is divided into 19 sectors. As of now, only the first phase is open to the public and contains five sectors. These sectors include medicinal plants, fruit trees, timber trees, ornamental plants, aquatic plants, bamboos and much more. You will also be able to find a variety of plants such as yellow and purple cosmos, red Brasilia, blue salvia, etc.
- City: Hyderabad
- State: Telangana
- Best Time to Visit: October to February
How to Reach:
- By air, the Hyderabad International Airport is connected to all the major cities of the world. However, the airport is located in the outskirts of the city and will take an hour to reach.
- The Hyderabad Railway Station, on the other hand, is just 16km from the garden and easy to reach. All the major cities are connected to Hyderabad via train.
4. NTR Garden, Hyderabad:
Spread across an area of 36 acres, the NTR Garden is a small urban park open for public. It is located adjacent to the Hussain Sagar Lake of Hyderabad. The Government of Hyderabad wanted to develop this area for the beautification and development of the Hussain Sagar Lake. However, the construction had to be stopped after a stay order had been brought by two NPO’s stating that no commercial activity should be carried out around the lake and it should be kept for recreational purpose only. This garden currently has a variety of plants, a visitor train, a waterfall, and a few restaurants.
- City: Hyderabad
- State: Telangana
- Best Time to Visit: October to February
How to Reach:
- By air, the Hyderabad International Airport is connected to all the major cities of the world. However, the airport is located at the outskirts and will take hours time to reach from the airport.
- The Hyderabad Railway Station, on the other hand, is just 16km from the garden and easy to reach. All the major cities are connected to Hyderabad via train.
5. Government Botanical Gardens, Ooty:
Located in Udhagamandalam near Ooty in Tamil Nadu, the Government Botanical Gardens are one of the best botanical gardens in India. It is spread over an area of 55 hectares. Lying on the lower slope of the Doddabetta peak, this garden has a terraced layout. The garden today has a collection of more than 1000 exotic, as well as indigenous species of plants, shrubs, herbs, ferns, trees and bonsai plants. In the center of the garden is its center of attraction – a fossilized tree trunk which is estimated to be over 20 million years old. The garden has several lawns that feature numerous plants, ponds with lilies, a variety of medicinal plants, a bed of flowers and ferns, etc. For convenience, the garden has been divided into six sections namely – Lower Garden, Italian Garden, New Garden, Conservatory, Nurseries and Fountain Terrace.
- City: Coimbatore
- State: Tamil Nadu
- Best Time to Visit: October to June.
How to Reach:
- By Air, the Coimbatore Airport is the nearest which is approximately 88km away.
- By train, the nearest railhead is Mettupalayam which is 40km away.
- Ooty is well connected with the other cities of Tamil Nadu by bus.
6. Chandigarh Botanical Garden:
Chandigarh is a beautiful city located on the foothills of Shivaliks. It is a city that is blessed with a climate that is suitable to accommodate a huge variety of flora. Hence in order to conserve the exotic flora of endangered species from different climatic zones, the Chandigarh administration established the botanical garden in an area of 176 acres near the village called Sarangpur. This garden is connected to the Patiala-ki-Rao forest reserve through a causeway. Inaugurated in January 2020 this garden has been divided into 15 Botanical sections and contains a variety of more than 75 medicinal trees, 55 medicinal shrubs, and 55 medicinal herbs. The garden was established with an intention to promote research and education and also conserve and spread awareness about the floral heritage; this place is one of the most visited places by the Ayurveda students.
- City: Chandigarh
- State: Chandigarh
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- The Chandigarh airport connects Chandigarh with major cities of India
- Regular trains running between New Delhi and Chandigarh
- The NH 1 connects Chandigarh with Delhi, and it takes 4-5 hours to reach by road.
7. Botanical Garden Waghai:
Waghai is a small town in the Dang District of southern Gujarat. It is at a distance of 32km north from the district headquarter of Ahwa and 52km south of the famous hill station Saputara. The Botanical Garden of Waghai is one of the most famous attractions here. This large botanical garden Spread over an area of 24 hectares and features more than 1400 varieties of plants from all over the nation. An amateur nature lover can stroll around the beautiful walkways lined with different varieties of trees and marvel around the different varieties of bamboo. The garden has been divided into 12 Botanical sections namely Arid Zone Plot, Bamboo Plot, Cacti and Succulent Plot, Dangs Plot, Dry Deciduous Plot, Evergreen Plot, Medicinal Plot, Moist Deciduous Plot, Orchid Plot, PragVad, Scrub and Thorn Plot, Taxonomy Plot.
- City: Waghai
- State: Gujarat
- Best Time to Visit: All around the year
How to Reach:
- The nearest airport to Waghai is Mumbai Airport which is 277km away.
- Waghai is well connected to Mumbai, Gujarat, and Ahmedabad via train.
- By road one can reach Waghai in 4-5 hours from Mumbai
8. Madhavaram Botanical Garden, Chennai:
The Madhavaram Botanical Garden is a new botanical garden set up in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. This garden is the second such garden in Chennai after the Semmozhi Ponga. Spread over an area of 20.21acres this garden is the most extensive botanical garden in the city. The garden has been divided into six major sections – Fruits, medicinal plants, cactus, indoor plants, ornamental plants and one for protected cultivation. The bridge built will give a view of the birds visiting the lake. The garden will have 400 species of plants including 200 species of ornamental plants. It will also have a glass house, play area for children, fountains and many cascades. It is also planned that the garden would contain an open-air theatre of 150 people and a nursery outlet to purchase the plants.
- City: Chennai
- State: Tamil Nadu
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- The capital city of Tamil Nadu is Chennai and very well connected to the other cities of India via air, rail, and route.
- You can take any mode of transport as per your convenience to reach Chennai
9. The Garca Branca Ayurvedic Botanical Garden, Loutolim:
The Garca Branca Ayurvedic Botanical Garden is located in Loutolim in Goa. With an in-house Garca Branca Bed and Breakfast resort, this place is a bliss for nature lovers and offers one of the most exquisite experiences of holidaying in Goa. It sees visitors from across the world. The history of Garca Branca is traced back to the 19thcentury. It is the ancestral home of the Mascarenhas, who were avid naturalists and helped in managing the local waterfowl population along with the wetlands. The Garca Branca Ayurvedic Botanical Garden takes pride in preserving the authentic Goan heritage, which is fast disappearing.
- City: Loutolim
- State: Goa
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- The Dabolim Airport of Goa is 25km from Loutolim and takes around half an hour to reach.
- The nearest railway station is Madgaon station which is 12km away.
- Take a cab or hire a vehicle to reach Loutolim
10. Cubbon Park, Bangalore:
The Cubbon Park or Sri Chamarajendra Park is located in the heart of Bengaluru city. Founded in 1870 with an area of 100 acres, the Park today covers an area of 300 acres. It features a rich heritage of abundant flora and fauna planted in the area. With more than 6000 plants, the botanical park features some exotic and indigenous species of about 68 genera and 96 species. Amongst the ornamental and flowering exotic trees that are lined around the park, the Cubbon Park boosts featuring the Grevillea Robusta, the first oak trees that were introduced in Bangalore from Australia along with the Delonix and Gulmohar trees the widely cultivated tropical ornamental trees across the world.
- City: Bangalore
- State: Karnataka
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- The capital city of Karnataka is Bangalore and is well connected to other cities of India through air, rail, and road.
- One may choose any mode of transport to reach Bangalore comfortably.
11. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden:
The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden is the oldest botanical garden in India situated in the Shibpur district of Howrah near Kolkata. Commonly known as the Calcutta Botanical Garden and spread over an area of 109 hectares it is also the largest botanical garden in India. This garden features a collection of over 12,000 species of plants including a wide variety of rare and endangered species. One of the major attractions of the AJCBIB Garden is The Great Banyan Tree. With a circumference of over 330 meters, this tree has been reckoned as the most massive tree in the world. Besides, it also features an enormous collection of orchids, pine trees, palms, and bamboos. Animals such as jackal, Indian Mongoose, and Indian Fox can likewise be spotted in the garden. Established in 1786, it is the first botanical garden in India.
- City: Howrah
- State: Kolkata
- Best Time to Visit: November to February
How to Reach:
- The Kolkata airport is the nearest airport which is some 15kms from Howrah
- The train is the most convenient way to reach Howrah as all the major cities are connected to Howrah through train
- One can even take a bus to reach Howrah from Kolkata.
12. Jijamata Udyaan, Mumbai:
Originally known as the Victoria’s Garden, the Jijamata Udyaan, located near Byculla in Mumbai and spread in an area of 50 acres is the oldest public garden in Mumbai. In 1835, the British administration had granted a plot in Sewri to the agro horticulture society. However, it was later acquired and converted into a European burial ground, and in its place, new land was offered in an area which is now Byculla where the new garden was constructed, and the plants from Sewri Garden were transferred here. This garden also houses the Kala Ghoda and David Sasson Clock tower, the 2 important monuments in Mumbai.
- City: Mumbai
- State: Maharashtra
- Best Time to Visit: Anytime throughout the year
How to Reach:
- Mumbai is one of the best-connected city in India.
- By air, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is connected to all the major cities of India and the world.
- By rail also you can connect to all the major cities of India.
13. Pilikula Botanical Garden:
The Pilikula botanical garden is a multipurpose tourist attraction which is situated in the Vamanjoor locality in Karnataka. This place has been developed to offer scenic beauty and peace to its visitors. The place has a huge lake which is encircled by a garden. The Pilikula Arboretum (Botanical Garden) has been developed by planting more than 60,000 seeds belonging to 236 varieties of flowering plants belonging to 60 families. These varieties include not only the endangered species but also the ones that were considered as extinct. Of the 35 hectares of land in which the Pilikula Nisarg Dham has been developed 6 acres have been kept exclusively for medicinal plants with more than 460 varieties planted. Many Ayurvedic students across the country visit the place for research. The garden also features 9 aquatic ponds that showcase lotus and water lilies.
- City: Mangalore
- State: Karnataka
- Best Time to Visit: November to April
How to Reach:
- There are no direct flight or trains available for Vamanjoor.
- The nearest airport and station to reach Vamanjoor is Mangalore.
- Regular buses ply from different cities of Karnataka that connect to Vamanjoor.
- You may take a cab or bus to reach Vamanjoor from Mangalore station or airport.
14. Regional Museum of Natural History, Mysore:
The regional museum with Natural History is a project undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and forest of Government of India. It is located on the banks of Karanji Lake with Chamunda hills as a backdrop, this picturesque location was inaugurated in 1995 and is today a landmark location. The botanical garden on this land features local plants and trees along with varieties of medicinal plants used in the Ayurvedic medicines. With an interpretative trail section in the garden, this garden happens to be the ‘First Museum Garden for the visually impaired.’ The Sunken footbridge gives fantastic experience of walking in water and seeing the numerous aquatic plants and fishes.
- City: Mysore
- State: Karnataka
- Best Time to Visit: October to February
How to Reach:
- The nearest airport to Mysore is the Bangalore International Airport which is some 170km away.
- So either you take a bus from Bangalore airport or travel by train as all the major cities are connected by train.
15. Lloyd’s Botanical Garden:
The Lloyd’s Botanical Garden or the Darjeeling Botanical garden is a botanical garden spread in an area of 40 acres of land and situated in Darjeeling in the State of West Bengal. The garden is situated in the open slope just below the Eden Sanatorium. This beautiful place is a favourite spot of recreation and a paradise for the students and researchers in Botany. It is renowned institution that provides plants and seeds with temperate and sub-temperate specimens of the Himalayas to different parts of the world. The Lloyd’s Botanical garden preserves the various species of bamboo, oak, Arisaema, magnolia, wild geranium and other forest native plants of the Darjeeling Himalayan region.
- City: Darjeeling
- State: West Bengal
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- By air, the nearest airport is Bagdogra airport which is 95 km away
- The nearest railway station is Jalpaiguri Railway Station which is 65 km from the central city.
16. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Trivandrum:
The Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute is an institute established by the Government of Kerala in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram in the year 1979. The institute undertakes research in various fields of botany which was the primary reason behind the development of this garden. While initially it was designed to document the native plant wealth, the bio technologists also added the plants of commercial importance and mass multiplies them for cultivation and distribution to the public. The garden features a vast variety of flora with some of the exclusive types.
- City: Thiruvananthapuram
- State: Kerala
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala and is well connected to other cities of Kerala as well as the country through air, rail, and route.
- One can safely choose any mode of transport.
17. Malabar Botanical Garden, Kozhikode:
The MBGIPS is an institute by the Government of Kerala established to conserve and to research on the aquatic plant diversity, lower group plants and endangered plants of the Malabar Region. It is situated adjacent to Pokkunnu in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. It is spread over an area of 40 acres and by virtue of naturally possessing the vast morass land, it automatically becomes ideal for conservation and research of aquatic as well as wetland plants. The garden has been further divided into the following divisions namely – Apushpi (non-flowering plants), medicinal garden, star forest, butterfly garden, aquagenic and Sarovar.
- City: Kozhikode
- State: Kerala
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- Kozhikode is well connected to all the major cities via a flight.
- Regular trains connect Kozhikode to all the major cities.
- There are regular buses from major cities of the country that connect to Kozhikode.
18. Empress Garden, Pune:
The Empress Botanical Gardens is located near the Pune Race Course at Wanawadi. Spread over an area of 39 acres this sprawling garden is home to many rare species of flora and is a perfect escape from the concrete structures into a serenity. The garden offers a wide-open lawn for children to play cricket and football. The annual flower show, Buds N’ Bloom is a major attraction of the Empress Garden. It features a wide variety of exquisite flowers.
- City: Pune
- State: Maharashtra
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- The Pune International airport is well connected to other major cities.
- It is also well connected to other cities via the rail route.
- After reaching Pune, take a rickshaw to drive you to the Empress Garden
19. Odisha State Botanical Garden, Nandankanan, Bhubaneshwar:
The Odisha State Botanical Garden can be said to be the heaven on earth spanning over an area of 75 hectares. This state botanical garden is a sylvan setting in the most deciduous forest of the Nandankanan Sanctuary. Hemmed between the two wetlands, the botanical garden was established in 1963 under the management of the state Horticulture Department. Later in 2020, the administration was handed over to Nandankanan. It is one of the pioneering nature education center of the State and promises to provide a memorable experience to its green enthusiasts. The Botanical Garden is divided into 24 satellite gardens and parks mixed with natural vegetation and meadows namely Glass House, Cacti House, Bonsai, Philodendron House, Dry Garden, Green House, Butterfly Park, Rosarium, Orchid House, Medicinal Garden, Japanese Garden, Mughal Garden, Evolution Garden, Heritage Garden, Palm Garden, Landscape Garden, Bougainvillea Garden, Arboretum, Hibiscus Garden, Carnivorous Plant Garden, Children’s Park, Buddha Park and Artif
icial Zoo.
- City: Bhubaneshwar
- State: Odisha
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
How to Reach:
- Bhubaneshwar is the capital city of the largest state in India, is well connected to the other cities through air, rail, and route. Any mode of transport can be thus chosen.
20. Auroville Botanical Garden, Auroville:
As a response to the disappearing Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest of the Coromandel Coast and with a view of conserving the genetic diversity in the plant kingdom, the Auroville Botanical Garden was established in the year August 2000 on an old cashew land of 50 acres. 500 trees were planted in the arboretum that spreads over 25 acres, and more than 5500 specimens were planted in the 10-acre conservation forest. The TDEF plant nursery which has been created is capable of producing 50000 seedlings annually, a huge step towards the regeneration of the disappearing forests.
- City: Auroville
- State: Tamil Nadu
- Best Time to Visit: November to March
How to Reach:
- The Chennai airport is the nearest airport to Auroville which is 135km away.
- You can take a train or bus from Chennai and get down at Auroville junction
The aforesaid botanical gardens in India and are like a paradise for the nature lovers and even if you are not, visit them once to get enchanted by the magic and majesty of nature. These botanical gardens are the need of the day to preserve the endangered species of plants and also to revitalize and rejuvenate the mother Earth.
