The best place to relax in Penang may well be the Botanic Gardens.

More popularly known as the Waterfall Gardens, this beautiful area was created by the British in 1884.

Visitors who have seen its splendour will be amazed to hear that it was once a granite quarry.

The gardens lie in a deep valley, surrounded by hills covered in jungle and evergreen tropical rainforests, with a stream running through the grounds.

While being full of beautiful and rare flora, the gardens curators are perhaps most proud of the 200-odd species of orchids, known as the gems of the jungle these enchanting flowers come in all sorts of shapes and colours.

Facilities at the gardens include recreational and picnic areas, toilets, wheelchair access walkways, a bandstand, gazebos, jogging tracks, jungle trails, resting lawns and a plant nursery.

Group tours are available by prior arrangement.

Penang Botanic Gardens are open from 05:00 until 20:00 every day of the year and admission is free.

The Plan Information Kiosk is open from 08:00 until 16:30 on working weekdays.


08/08/2008