MadhulikaL4
★★★★4.0Wrote on 1 Jul 2022
A must-do for a plant lover
These beautiful gardens showcase the flora of Nainital and around, spread out across a mountainside and encompassing a range of different smaller gardens. You buy tickets at the entrance (Rs 50 per adult, children go free) and just beyond, the path leading up to a building takes you to the auditorium (where local song and dance performances are held). Next door to the auditorium is a small insect museum and seed display; the range of insects, especially butterflies and moths, here is very impressive, with interesting trivia on different pollinators, camouflage, poisonous butterflies, common butterflies of Kumaon, etc. Further along, various paths take you, along well-labelled plants, shrubs, and trees (also lots of beautiful flowering plants) to other parts of the garden. One of the first is the tiny Butterfly Park, where an attendant pointed out to us a Common Windmill (a large and striking black, red and white butterfly that is very common in the gardens); she also showed us a cocoon and a caterpillar. There is the Fernery and Orchidarium (an enclosed garden with high humidity, lots of moss and ferns, and three types of orchids that were then in bloom), which lies beyond a section of Medicinal Plants. Off to one side, there are the Domes, three interconnected hemispherical green houses in which grow cacti and succulents: these are very varied, and what with some beautifully coloured and shaped succulents, flowering cacti, etc, even appealing to those who may not usually find desert plants attractive. Right at the top of the gardens is a Viewpoint, offering a view of the mountains and part of the gardens. All in all, a lovely and very satisfying place to visit for a plant lover.
PMV_13
★★★★4.0Wrote on 6 May 2022
A must see place.
Himalayan Botanical Garden. It is located around 8 Kilometers from Nainital. One can always combine with other attractions in the same direction as Wood Land WaterFall, Khurpatal Viewpoint etc. The entry fee is ₹ 50/- There is one descriptive board which gives the history and how the Himalayan Botanical Garden came about. It was started on 27 factors of barren, thorny erosion land in 2005. After seeing the accompanying photos one is filled with admiration for the Forest authorities of the Nainital Forest Divison for doing such a wonderful job in converting that barren land into such a wonderful Himalayan Botanical Garden. The botanical garden has a large collection of rare, endangered plant species. It also houses rare exotic varieties of many plants, cacti, and medicinal and variety of orchid plants. Looking at the variety and beauty of the plants and flowers one is filled with wonder and admiration for the beauty of nature. There is a section where a collection of large varieties of butterflies, moths and insects are displayed along with little information about them. Very educative and enjoyable looking at all those beautiful, colourful butterflies and moths. Going around this beautiful and amazing place fills you with admiration and wonder. For lovers of nature, plants, butterflies, moths this is a must-see place.Â
