Bogor Botanical Gardens, Java
- Details
Scientific fields: Botany, Zoology
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Summary description:
Bogor, in western Java, is one of the rainiest places in Asia, experiencing more than 300 thunderstorms a year. That is why, in the mid-18th century, Java’s Dutch rulers chose it as the site for an extensive area of gardens. In the early 19th century, the locality was developed into one of the most important botanical gardens in the world, used to classify, investigate and develop plants and seeds from other parts of the Indonesian archipelago. Today the gardens, which retain a reputation as a major cenrtre for botanical research, cover more than 80 hectares in the centre of Bogor and contain more than 15,000 species of trees and plants interspersed between lawns, streams and lotus ponds. A highlight is the orchid house containing some 3,000 varieties of orchid. Situated at one corner of the gardens is an excellent zoological museum, containing thousands of stuffed or otherwise preserved specimens of Indonesian wildlife.
Location:
The gardens are situated in the centre of Bogor, a city 60 km south of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, in western Java.
Getting there:
The most straightforward means of reaching Bogor is by Ekspress train (about 15,000 Rp or $1.50 return) from Jakarta, followed by a 2 km walk from Bogor train station to the gardens. Alternatively, buses run to Bogor from Jakarta, Bandung and a number of other large cities in Java, or the city can be reached by car or private taxi. Road travel in Java can, however, be frustratingly slow due to heavy traffic congestion.
Background:
Conversion of the original 18th century gardens into botanical gardens is partially accredited to Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who, between 1811-1816, was British Governor General of the East Indies. But adoption of the gardens for more scientific use is primarily ascribed to the German-born Dutch botanist, Professor Caspar George Reinwardt, who was Director from 1817 to 1822.
Today, parts of the gardens are carefully manicured, others resemble wild jungle save for the tags detailing where every tree and plant comes from. Educational boards and signs, written in English as well as Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) are dispersed throughout the gardens, including the orchid house and zoological museum. Lucky visitors may be able to spot a blooming giant arum (Amorphophallus titanum), the world's tallest inflorescence (flower cluster), which can reach an astounding 2.5 m (8 ft) in diameter and smells like rotting meat.
Opening hours and charges:
The gardens are open daily to visitors from 8 am to 5 pm, but can get crowded on Sundays. The entry fee is Rp 9,500 (about $1 US) per person. Visiting in the morning or early afternoon is advised – most of Bogor’s thunderstorms start during the late afternoon or evening. There is a good café situated on a terrace on the eastern side of the gardens.
Website: http://www.bogor.indo.net.id/kri/a.htm
Related sites (partial list at present):
Kew Gardens, London, England