Government Botanical Garden

The Government Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in Ooty, India, covering roughly 22 hectares arranged in several terraced levels. The beds are organized by plant type, with sections for roses, ferns, medicinal plants, and introduced trees from other continents.

The garden was founded in 1847 under the Marquis of Tweedale with help from gardener McIvor, who collected native and exotic species. During the First World War, Italian prisoners of war laid out part of the grounds in the style of their homeland.

The name dates back to British colonial times when the grounds were laid out for European settlers. Today you often see wedding couples taking photographs among the flower beds while families picnic on the lawns and walk up the terraces.

Access from the town center is on foot or by rickshaw, with the main entrance near the bus stop. Paths are mostly level, though upper terraces require steps, so the lower part is also suitable for wheelchairs.

A pavilion holds a fossilized tree trunk roughly 20 million years old and sourced from the region. The garden also displays an araucaria tree whose densely growing branches prevent monkeys and other animals from climbing up.

Location: Ooty

GPS coordinates: 11.41875,76.71104

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:23