The Bogor Botanical Gardens

The Bogor Botanical gardens is the oldest and most well-known of the four of The Indonesian Botanical Gardens.The Gardens located in the middle of Bogor town, truly the heart of this city and adjoins the Istana Bogor (Presidential Palace).  It covers more than 80 hectares and contents an impressive collection of various plants and incredible trees from all over Indonesia. Many trees have grown into incredible height, some with a root system reaching high over ground creating a true feeling of walking around in the rain forest.

Scissor Pond at Bogor Botanical Garden

The gardens founded 1817 were very old yet very well maintained and beautiful. The many ancient trees, canopies of vines and flowers and sheer abundance of exotic tropical plants gave you a sense of sanctuary. With all the water features and landscaping adding to the scenic stroll throughout the grounds, it was hard not to want to take a picture of everything you saw. The bamboo garden was wonderful, here and there you would find benches to sit down and contemplate the beauty of the garden.

Presidential Palace at Bogor Botanical Gardens

It is a pleasure to be able to walk among such mature trees which are marked with the Latin name. Try checking out the park sites and facilities: JJ Smith and Lady Raffles Memorial, Scissor Pond, Bat habitat tree, Teisjmann Park, Dutch Cemetery,  Canary avenue, Hanging Bridge, Surya Lembayung Bridge, Orchid House Exhibition, Sudjana Kassan Park, Treub laboratory, Herbarium & Seed Musesum and Tissue Cultural laboratory.

Dutch Cemetery at Bogor Botanical Gardens

Today the gardens contain more than 15,000 species of trees and plants. There are 400 types of exceptional palms along lawns and avenues.The Gardens are a refuge for more than 50 different varieties of birds and for groups of bats roosting high in the trees. The orchid houses contain some 3,000 varieties.  Over the 180 years, it contributed to many major science, agriculture, conservation and environmental education.

the rare flower of Rafflesia Patma

At the beginning of year 2014, the rare flower of Rafflesia Patma is blooming at Bogor Botanical Garden. It was the 7th flowers since 2010.  It is one of the three national flowers in Indonesia, the other two being the white jasmine and moon orchid. It was officially recognized as a national "rare flower" (Indonesian: puspa langka)

Tips:

• Check the herb garden, palms, bamboo collection, Mexican garden, water garden and ginger collection. In fact, almost every square inch is interesting.  Try the open garden car for a sightseeing everywhere inside this park.
• You can rent a bicycle inside and tour the park as you wish
• There is Zoology museum inside the park. It is included at your entry ticket. This museum is very old and tired. Check its collection of the giant blue whale bones. It is very amazing big.
• The other interesting place is the Dutch cemetery. You can see the antique massive tomb that built from the late 1800. So old!
• Don't forget to bring an umbrella as the weather is quite unpredictable. Bogor is one of the wettest cities with highest rainfall in Java. The rainy city is other name of this town.
• Thanks to roads throughout the Garden that allow cars to drive through. But in case you are visiting for the first time, please keep in mind: this place is really big. Be sure to bring plenty of water if you don't plan on bringing your car into the gardens.
• Visit the famous hanging red bridge, the back view of the Bogor Presidential Palace and see the beauty of the tall & strong trees planted from 1800s
• If you plan to go to the gardens from Jakarta, start your trip early, at about 9am at the latest. This is to ensure you miss the horrendous traffic jams.
• There is a great cafe located on a hill with a lovely panoramic view overlooking part of the gardens.
• Don't forget your sunscreen and  mosquito repellant.
• Go early, bring your picnic basket and prepare to spend at least half a day in the park - it was well worth the long trip from the city.
• The gardens are an absolute paradise but the lack of proper maintenance leaves the manmade things a bit "tired".

Zoology museum

The others Indonesian Botanical Gardens worth to see are:

• Cibodas Botanical Gardens (Bergtuin te Cibodas, Hortus  and Cibodas laboratory) at West Java, covering  at 120 Ha with high at 1400 meter sea level.  It founded by Teysman  in 1866, many collections of tropic as well sub tropic plants can be found here.
• Purwodadi  Botanical Gardens  (Hortus Purwodadi)  at East Java founded by Van Sloten in 1941. It covers 85 Ha at high 250 meter of sea level. It also collects many tropical plants.
• Eka Karya Botanical Gardens at  Bedugul , Bali island founded by Prof. Ir. Kusnoto Setyodiwiryo in 1959. It covers 159,4 Ha at high 1400 meter sea level. It collects dry climate plants and tropical plants as well.

The price of admission:
Admission Rp. 14.000, - / person.
Special tickets Foreign Tourists Rp. 25.000, - / person.
Roving Vehicle Wheels 4 Rp. 30.000, -.
Parking Vehicles 2 Wheels Rp. 5.000, -.
Bicycles Tickets Roving Rp. 5.000, -.

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