Gardens have always been a symbol of peace, beauty, and nature’s bounty. They are places where one can find solace, inspiration, and a connection to the earth. Today, we’ll embark on a journey to explore some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Have you visited any of these gardens? Let’s start!
1. Villa d’Este, Tivoli, Italy
Located in the town of Tivoli, Italy, Villa d’Este is a grand estate dating back to the 16th century. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the villa is renowned for its gardens, which are among the most ornate and lavish globally. The garden is famous for its intricate water features, including 51 fountains, 398 spouts, 364 water jets, 64 waterfalls, and 220 basins.
Astonishingly, the entire system operates without any pumps or electronic devices, relying solely on gravity. Covering an area of around four and a half hectares, the garden is a prime example of Renaissance design, with perfectly manicured hedges, open spaces, and a plethora of flowers blooming in every season.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens from 8:30 AM to 7:45 PM.
Address: Piazza Trento, 5, 00019 Tivoli RM, Italy.
2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
Established in 1759 in southwest London, the Kew Gardens were designed to collect and study plant species from around the world. Today, it boasts the world’s largest collection of species, housing 27,000 different types of plants. Additionally, it preserves over eight and a half million plant and fungal specimens and houses a vast botanical library.
The garden’s layout is adorned with historical buildings and vibrant floral displays. Among its nine main plant houses, the most iconic structure is the Temperate House, the world’s largest surviving Victorian-era greenhouse. With over 300 acres to explore, Kew Gardens attracts more than 1.3 million visitors annually.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens at 10:00 AM and closes between 4:15 PM to 7:30 PM.
Address: Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3AE, United Kingdom.
3. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Chonburi, Thailand
Originally purchased as an 800-acre fruit plantation in 1954, the land in the Chonburi province of Thailand was transformed into a wildlife conservation project. After 26 years of development, the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden opened to the public.
Now spanning 500 acres, it has become one of Thailand’s top attractions. The garden is divided into nine sections, each dedicated to different plant species and themes.
Visiting Timing: Opens daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Address: 34/1 Tambon Na Chom Thian, Amphoe Sattahip, Chang Wat Chon Buri 20250, Thailand.
4. The Butchart Gardens, British Columbia, Canada
The Butchart Gardens, a National Historical Site of Canada, is one of the world’s largest and most popular botanical gardens, attracting over a million visitors annually. Originally the site of limestone excavation, the Butchart family transformed a quarry into a sunken garden, which opened to the public in 1926.
The gardens now feature a vast collection of roses, ornamental birds, sculptures, and even an electric boat for tours. With a focus on education, a children’s pavilion was introduced in 2009. The gardens also host fireworks displays, concerts, and even an ice rink during winter.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens at 9:00 AM and closes between 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Address: 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8, Canada.
5. Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands
Often referred to as the “Garden of Europe”, Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens. Located in Lisse, Netherlands, over 7 million bulbs are planted across 79 acres annually. While famous for its tulips, the garden also showcases hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, and more.
The bulbs are donated by 100 growers from across the country, and 40 gardeners plant them each fall. Open for just eight weeks between March and May, Keukenhof ensures perfect blooms throughout this period. With around 1.5 million annual visitors, it’s the most visited place in the Netherlands during its open season.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM.
Address: Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse, Netherlands.
6. Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Located in New Plymouth, on New Zealand’s North Island, Pukekura Park is a designated Garden of National Significance. Spanning 128 acres, the park is maintained by just ten full-time gardeners. Established in 1876, the park houses thousands of plant species.
The fernery and display houses are particularly popular, offering a stable environment for both indoor and outdoor plants from around the world. With the nearby mountain range in the backdrop, the park is divided into zones like the Rhododendron Dell and the Curiosity Walk. Some plants in the park are over 100 years old, making it a unique destination to witness mature specimens outside their native jungles.
Visiting Timing: Open daily during daylight hours.
Address: Fillis Street, New Plymouth 4310, New Zealand.
7. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, previously known as Siraj Bagh, is the largest tulip garden in Asia. Located in Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir, it offers a breathtaking view of the Dal Lake and the Zabarwan Range.
The garden is spread over 30 hectares and is a spectacle of vibrant colors when the tulips are in full bloom. Every year, during April, the garden hosts the Tulip Festival, attracting tourists from all over the world to witness the beauty of countless tulip varieties.
Visiting Timing: Varies by day. Generally opens from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Address: Jammu and Kashmir, Cheshma Shahi Road, Rainawari, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190001
8. Mughal Gardens, New Delhi
The Mughal Gardens are situated on the premises of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Residence) in New Delhi. Inspired by the Mughal gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the Persian gardens of Persia, and the gardens around the Taj Mahal, they are a blend of the formal Mughal style with British garden designs.
The gardens are home to a vast variety of flowers, shrubs, and trees, including numerous rose varieties, making it a vibrant spectacle, especially during the annual Udyanotsav in February-March when the gardens are open to the public.
Visiting Timing: Address: Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rajpath, India Gate, New Delhi, Delhi 110004
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9. Jardin Majorelle, Marrakesh, Morocco
Established over four decades by French artist Jacques Majorelle, the Jardin Majorelle spans two and a half acres in Marrakesh, Morocco. The garden, known for its vibrant blue buildings, serves as a museum dedicated to various artists and artistic styles.
Particularly renowned for its unique plant collection, especially cacti, and large sculptures, it attracts over 700,000 visitors annually. After Majorelle’s passing, the garden was restored and reopened to the public by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in the 1980s.
Visiting Timing: Opens daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Address: Rue Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco.
10. Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
Sanssouci Palace, once the residence of King Frederick the Great of Prussia, is surrounded by Sanssouci Park, a prime example of Baroque garden design.
The park boasts a vast network of fountains, thousands of fruit trees, and several structures, including a picture gallery, temples, a church, and Roman baths. The gardens also feature a moat feeding a pond surrounded by trees and shrubs.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Address: Maulbeerallee, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
11. Gardens of Versailles, Paris, France
Adjacent to the iconic Palace of Versailles, the Gardens of Versailles span nearly 2,000 acres. Designed in the French formal garden style, the landscape includes manicured lawns, symmetrical plant beds, sculptures, waterways, and fountains.
The gardens house 200,000 trees, 210,000 flowers replanted annually, 620 water jets, and 10 miles of piping. Recognized for their historical significance, the gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens at 9:00 AM and closes between 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
Address: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France.
12. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Beyond the famous beaches and the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro is home to the stunning Jardim Botânico. Founded in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal, the garden was initially meant for acclimatizing plant species for cultivation in South America.
Today, it nurtures over 6,500 plant and tree species across 130 acres, including 900 palm varieties. The entrance road, stretching 2,460 feet, is lined with 130 palm trees, all descendants of a single tree. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere in 1992, only 40% of the park is cultivated, with the remainder being natural Atlantic forest extending to the nearby Corcovado mountain.
Visiting Timing: Opens daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Address: Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008 – Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22460-000, Brazil.
13. Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona
Situated in Papago Park, Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Gardens is unique, focusing on plants from hot and arid environments. Established in 1937, it spans 140 acres and houses over 50,000 specimens.
The garden is divided into the Australian, Baja, and South American collections. It boasts a vast collection of cacti and agave species. Managed by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society, the garden’s mission is to research and educate about desert plants.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens at 8:00 AM and closes around 8:00 PM.
Address: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA.
14. Claude Monet’s Gardens, Giverny, France
The gardens of the famous French Impressionist artist, Claude Monet, are a living testament to his love for nature. Located in Giverny, France, Monet transformed the land to create perfect scenes for his paintings. The garden features a Japanese bridge over a lily pond, surrounded by wisterias and azaleas.
After Monet’s passing, the garden underwent restoration and was opened to the public in 1980. Today, visitors can explore the gardens, Monet’s former home, and his studio, which now serves as a gift shop.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens at 9:30 AM and closes between 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
Address: 84 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France.
15. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Brooklyn, New York
Located within Mount Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens cover 52 acres and attract almost a million visitors annually. Established in 1910, the garden features over 14,000 taxa of plants across eight specialty gardens.
Highlights include the collection of over 200 cherry trees, the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden, the Cranford Rose Garden, the Shakespeare Garden, the Water Garden, and the Children’s Garden. The garden also plays a crucial role in research and conservation, housing a herbarium with over 300,000 preserved specimens.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally opens at 8:00 AM and closes between 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.
Address: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225, USA.
16. SSR Botanical Garden, Mauritius
Also known as the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, this 91-acre site near Port Louis in Mauritius is the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere. Established in 1770, it boasts a vast collection of tropical species, including a pond filled with giant water lilies, spices, ebonies, baobabs, sugarcane, and over 85 palm tree species from various parts of the world.
The garden has played a pivotal role in the country’s health, especially during the 1866 malaria epidemic when eucalyptus trees were grown to dry out marshes, the breeding grounds for disease-spreading mosquitoes. In 1988, the garden was renamed in honor of Mauritius’ first prime minister.
Visiting Timing: Opens daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Address: A10, Pamplemousses, Mauritius.
17. Kenrokuen, Kanazawa, Japan
Regarded as one of the three great gardens of Japan, Kenrokuen is a historic private garden in Kanazawa. Developed between the 1620s and 1840s, it stands as a testament to Japanese horticultural design. As a strolling garden, visitors are encouraged to walk through and experience changing vistas and scenes. The garden is home to approximately 8,750 trees and over 183 plant species.
Notable features include Japan’s oldest fountain, a tea house built in 1774, the Flying Geese Bridge made of 11 red stones, and a two-legged stone lantern by a pond. Designed to showcase the beauty of all seasons, Kenrokuen is the most visited garden in Japan and is celebrated for its meticulous design.
Visiting Timing: Varies by season. Generally open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Address: 1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0936, Japan.
18. Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore
Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, located in Bangalore, is one of the most famous botanical gardens in India. Commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and completed by his son Tipu Sultan, it spans 240 acres and houses a diverse collection of over 1,000 species of flora.
The garden features a glasshouse, which hosts an annual flower show, a lake, and the Lalbagh Rock, one of the oldest rock formations on Earth.
Visiting Timing:
Address: Mavalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004
In conclusion, gardens are more than just a collection of plants and trees. They are a reflection of the culture, history, and aspirations of the people who create and nurture them. These gardens, spread across different continents, offer a unique blend of nature, art, and history. They stand as green oases, providing solace and inspiration to millions of visitors each year. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a history buff, or someone looking for a peaceful retreat, these gardens promise a mesmerizing experience.
If you’re interested in exploring more gardens or have any other questions, feel free to ask!
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