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THE search for green space in the midst of Asia’s large cities can sometimes seem a challenge.
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore
Pic: Matt Carney
If you’re craving some green space in the midst of Singapore’s bustling metropolis, look no further than the 183 acres of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This haven from the outside world contains a rainforest, gardens, orchids, wild monkeys and grasslands and is only five minutes from the bustling Orchard Road. The gardens were founded in 1859, and are World Heritage-listed. They’re also considered the most visited botanical gardens in the world.
Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Chonburi Province, Thailand
Pic: Wikimedia Commons
The 500-acre Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden on Sukhumvit Road near Pattaya is an incredible site with gardens full of trees, waterfalls, fruits and flowers. Gardens are themed around hearts, Europe, the desert rose and animals with hedges, fountains, floating gardens and more; the attention to detail is incredible. There is also an array of facilities such as massages, elephant shows, restaurants, a zoo, swimming pool, and Thai rental houses. The gardens opened to the public in 1980.
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Kolkata, India
Pic: Wikimedia Commons
Located in the heart of the City of Joy, amidst confronting scenes of humanity, urban density and even poverty, the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden are a very welcome green respite. The official website describes it as an “ethereal ambiance (that) is ideal for fun, fiesta and frolics”. The 109-hectare gardens are the oldest in India and hold over 12,000 specimens of plants, some of which are very rare. The gardens also have a serpentine lake for boating and collections of orchids, bamboos and palms but are really most famous for its enormous banyan tree that measures a whopping 330 metres in circumference. The tree is the park attraction and draws millions of visitors each year and it’s definitely a sight to behold – its prop roots cover an area of 1.5 hectares and look like a miniature forest.
Ryoanji, Kyoto, Japan
Pic: Wikimedia Commons
The Ryoanji rock garden is the most famous rock garden in Japan and included in this list because of its popularity and unique cultural heritage. Visitors pour into this zen garden to sit, kneel, meditate and contemplate in the dry rock setting surrounded by apple blossom and other trees in the gardens and estate beyond. The rock garden was reputedly made in 1499 when this type of Zen landscaping was popular. It contains 15 rocks amidst a sweep of polished river rocks that are raked into linear patterns. Also on the estate are ponds, a water garden, and a tea house.
Summer Palace, Beijing, China
Pic: Wikimedia Commons
The Imperial Garden palace of the Chinese capital is a magnificent ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces, located smack within the urban center. If you’re desperate to escape the Beijing hustle and bustle, this is the place to come to, but it’s probably best not to visit on the weekend when all of Beijing seems to have the same idea. A designated World Heritage site, the Summer Palace is definitely a masterpiece and worthy of part of any Beijing itinerary. Pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges dot the lake shores providing a good interplay of natural beauty and landscape. Part of the experience of getting there is arriving by boat – they depart from YuYuanTan Park, also a beautiful place to catch cherry blossoms in the springtime.
Source: travelwireasia.com