Government Botanical Gardens,
Ooty, Nilgiris
Government Botanical Gardens is
a government botanical garden located in picturesque
Nilgiris Hills in Ooty Town in Ooty Taluk of Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. It ascends the slopes of the
hill at an elevation of 2250–2500 metres above Mean Sea Level. It is maintained
by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department.
History
The Government Botanical Garden,
Ooty was established in 1848. Its architect was William Graham McIvor. The Marquis of Tweedale prepared the
initial layout during the late 1840s. The gardens were established by a
subscription of Rs 3 per month amongst the European residents for the purpose
of supplying vegetables at a reasonable cost. During the time, Ooty was under the
British control, considerable cultivation of vegetables for the market was
carried on by the European settlers and others.
Captain Molyneux of the 2nd
European Regiment managed the vegetable cultivation. The subscribers received
vegetables free of cost. But this arrangement did not work out and in early
1847, a fund was raised by means of donations and subscriptions with a view to
forming a horticultural society and a public
garden. There were very few horticulturists at
that time.
Seeds and saplings were not
available locally but were available in nearby jungles. It was proposed to
establish a public garden. For this purpose, a wood was selected between
Lushington Hall (the Present Hebron School) and General Sewell’s
Property (the present Raj
Bhavan). Shortly after the formation of the society, the committee
requested state aid for providing a scientific and practical gardener and funds
to meet his salary.
This suggestion was accepted and
Mr. W.G. McIvor from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew was
sent to Ooty by the East India Company. He arrived in March 1848, converted the
upper portion, which was a forest, and the lower portion, which was a swamp,
into a beautiful garden. He submitted a report at the end of 1848 to the East
India Company in London. He took ten years to complete the layout of the
Garden.
Climate
The garden enjoys a temperate
climate, with an average rainfall of 140 cm, the most of which is received
during south-west monsoon, with frosty nights from November to February. The
maximum and minimum temperatures are 28 °C and 0 °C respectively.
The Gardens
The Gardens, divided into
several sections, cover an area of around 55 hectares, and lie on the lower
slopes of Doddabetta peak. The garden has a terraced
layout. The Gardens have around a thousand species,
both exotic and indigenous
plants, shrubs, ferns, trees, herbal and bonsai
plants. In the centre of the Gardens lie a fossilized tree
trunk estimated to be 20 million years old.
The Gardens consist of several
lawns with flowering plants, ponds with lilies, beds of flowers and ferns laid
out in an Italian style, several plots of flowering plants, a variety of
medicinal plants. The present Botanical Gardens are divided into 6 sections
namely Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace
and Nurseries.
Lower
Garden:
The lower garden comprises the
entrance and the lower lawns. The entrance of the garden leads into an
extensive lush green lawn of Kikiyu grass (Pennisetum Clandestinum) which is
known for its springy vigour. A fern house with 127 species of ferns is
situated on the left along the road leading to Raj
Bhavan amidst another expanse of lawns and historic gatehouses.
The prime attractions in this section are the carpet-bet design of the map of
the Indian Union laid out with selective plants and the fossil trunk of 20
million years old, erected on a pedestal.
Tree species of botanical
interest such as Hymnosporum flavum, Cordylline australlis, Cedrus
deodara, Cupressus funebrils, Araucaria bidwillii, Cupressus
macrocarpa, Cryptomeria japonica, Eucalyptus maculate,
Eucalyptus citriodora, Salix
babylonica, Salix heterophylla, Podocarpus taxifolia,
Dracena lanuginosa, Pinus patula, Rhododendron arboreum, Quercus
Montana, Quercus cerris, Quercus Serrata, Quercus
grilffithi, Quercus illex, Magnolia grandiflora etc., can be
seen alongside the lawn.
New
Garden:
The New garden developed
recently, comprises the area between the front garden and the crescent-shaped
pond at the bandstand. This section consists of: A rose garden with three
hundred varieties of hybrid
tea roses, Floribunda and Polyanthas rose
varieties, Large number of flower beds designed to match the slopes and contour
of this area, Carpet-bed emblems of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the
Government of India and Natural ponds with aquatic
plants. Important tree species such as Taxodium mucronatum, Pieris ovalifolia, Juniperus virginiana, Eucalyptus
eugenoides, Pinus wallichiana, Photinia lindleyana,
Pinus canaariensils, Ginkgo biloba, Araucaria cunninghammi and Cupressus lawsoniana are planted all
over the section.
Italian
Garden:
This garden was first laid out
by Italian prisoners of World War I, who were shifted to Ooty. They were placed
under the control of the Military station in Ooty. Asters, ageratum, balsam, begonia, petunia,
pansy, phlox, cosmos, zinnia and
perennial flowers like salvia, delphinium, larkspur,
and dahlia are
the main attraction in this garden. The informal landscape of the garden from
the entrance, merge into the formal fashioned beds laid out in an Italian
pattern, surrounding the centrally situated octagonal bandstand.
This part of the garden looks
attractive with several varieties of colourful annuals. In the foreground, is a
crescent-shaped lily pond for growing several varieties of aquatic plant
species. The tree species grown in this part of the garden are Prunus
cerasoides, Saurauja nepaulensis, Grevillea hilliana, Aesculus
punduana, Pinus sabineana, Cupressus torulosa, Syncarpia glomulifera, Pinus
roxburghii, Albizzia julibrissin etc.
Conservatory:
The public conservatory was
constructed in 1912 with the objective of grouping various flowering plants.
Colourful annuals and perennials like Cineraria, Schizanthus, Calceolaria, Balsam, Cyclamen, Gloxinia, Tuberous
begonia, Coleus, Geranium, Chrysanthemum, Primulas,
Tydea, Achemenes etc., find a place in this conservatory. The bog garden lies
towards the east of this conservatory and forms an adjunct to provide a good
site for marsh loving plants such as the Weeping willow, Hedychium,
Arum, Hydrangea etc.
Nurseries:
The nurseries which are about
300 feet above the lower lawns, consist of eight glass-houses and a series of
terraces for introduction and breeding of exotic plants. The glass-houses are
utilized for growing Begonias, Ferns, Cacti, Succulents, Orchids and Bulbous plants
for providing a continuous supply of potted plants to be grouped periodically
in the conservatories. The terraces are utilized for growing plants for cut
flowers, seed and also for trial purposes.
Fossil
Tree Trunk:
The fossil tree trunk displayed
in the garden is from 20 million years old. Trees carried by rivers and
deposited in inland lakes were transformed with replacement of the woody matter
by silica give rise to fossil tree trunks. The fossil tree was presented by the
Geological Survey of India, from the National Fossil Park, Tiruvakkarai, Villupuram
District, Tamil Nadu.
Toda
Mund:
The Garden is also famous for
the Toda hill called the Toda Mund. This place gives the visitors an insight
into the lives of the original tribes of Ooty called the Todas.
Arboretum:
Arboretum is defined as living
collections of trees and other woody plants. The area of the arboretum is 1.58
ha. which was established during the year 1992 and maintained by Department of
Horticulture with Hill Area Development Programme funds and it is situated near
the lake, Ooty. It was established with an aim of conserving native and
indigenous trees. The micro watershed area leading to Ooty lake was neglected
and the feeder line feeding water to Ooty was contaminated with urban waste and
agricultural chemicals. The area is the natural habitats of both indigenous and
migratory birds. to conserve flora and fauna of the Nilgiri, the area was
developed into the Arboretum.
During the year 2005-2006, it
was rehabilitated by the funds provided by the Hill Area Development Programme
to the tune of 12.50 lakhs by providing permanent fencing, food path and other
infrastructure facilities. Various indigenous and exotic tree species of are
grown in arboretum and conserved. About 80 trees have been planted in the arboretum.
The different type of tree species planted in arboretum are Alnus
nepalensis, Calistemon lanceolatus, Cupressus macrocarpa, Eugenia apiculata,
Hypericum hookerianum, Podocarpus elongata, Populus deltoids, Quercus
macrocarpa Salix babylonica, Taxodium mucronatum, Prunus pissardii etc.
In order to add some more
species to the Arboretum the following tree species were also
planted. Celtis tetrandra, Dillenia pentagyna, Elaeocarpres ferrugineus
Elaeocarpres oblongus, Evodia lunuankenda, Glochidion neilgherrense, Ligustrum
perrotetti, Litsaea ligustrina, Litsaea wightiana, Meliosma arnotiana Meliosma
wightii, Michelia champaca, Michelia nilagirica, Pygeum gardneri, Syzygium
amothanum, Syzygium montanum, Alnus nepalensis, Viburnum erubescens Podocarpus
wallichianus, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Rapanea wightiana, Ternstroemia japonica,
Microtropis microcarpa, Psychotria conjesta Photinea notoniana Cedrela toona
Symplocos cochinchinensis, Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Platanus orientalis, Jacaranda
mimosaefolia, Magnolia grandiflora etc.
The Flower Show
The first Flower Show was
organised in the year 1896 by the Chairman of Nilgiris Agri-Horticultural
Society, Mr. J.H. Tremenhere, the then Collector of Nilgiris. The
Government has taken over the flower show from the Nilgiris Agri-horticultural
society in 1980 by forming a committee called the Nilgiris Flower and Fruit
Show Committee. The flower show attracts about 150,000 tourists each year from
all over the world.
The flower show is held for two
days. The inauguration of the show is held on the first day and on the
second day, prizes are distributed to winners of various competitions held in
connection with flower show. About 250 exhibitors participate in different
categories on the day of flower show. Several government departments and
voluntary agencies also display their activities for the benefits of the flower
lovers and tourists.
More than 50 varieties of potted
plants, 150 varieties of cut flowers, various kinds of tropical and temperate
vegetables and tropical and temperate fruits are exhibited by the competitors.
The Floral decorations, Indian and Japanese
flower arrangements, Vegetable
carving, Flower Rangoli, Bonsai etc.,
are the major attractions during the show days. The exclusive cut flower stalls
from large private and public gardens are also an attraction during the show
days. 59 rolling cups, 250 cups and cash prizes are awarded to the best
competitors and exhibitors.
A garden competition is also
held involving Estate Gardens, Private Cottage Gardens, Public Gardens and
various other categories of gardens, to create greater awareness among flower
growers. On an average, about 200 gardens compete in the event. Garden
competition is held prior to the flower show and best gardens are awarded
prizes and cups.
Timings
·
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
·
Sat-Sun: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Fees
·
Rs 40/- per Person (Adults)
·
Rs 20/- (Children from 5-10 yrs)
·
No fees (Children below 5 yrs)
·
Still Camera Rs 50/-
·
Video Camera Rs 100/-
Visitors
Every year about 20 lakhs
tourists including Foreigners visit the garden. Besides this Botany and Foreign
students from India & abroad visit the garden for updating their knowledge.
Connectivity
Government Botanical Gardens is located at about 3 Kms from Ooty, 3 Kms from Ooty Bus
Stand, 3 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 19 Kms from Coonoor, 28 Kms from Kotagiri,
50 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 84 Kms from Coimbatore and 87 Kms
from Coimbatore Airport. Private Taxis are available from Ooty, Kotagiri and
Coonoor to reach this place.
Location
