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The extensive Botanical Gardens, on the west bank of the Hoogly river, strech forever 1 km
along the river and occupy 109 hectares. The gardens were originally founded in 1786 and
administered by Colonel Kyd. It was from these gardens that the tea now grown in Assam
and Darjeeling was first developed.
Trees of the rarest kinds, from Nepal, Brazil, Penang, Java
and Sumatra can be found here. There are towering Mahogany trees, an
avenue of Cuban Palms and an Orchid House. Mango and Tamarind trees
shade the grassy lawns. But the main attraction of the garden is the
200 year old Banyan Tree, claimed to have the second largest
canopy in the world. It is the world's largest, having a circumference
of 330m.
The Palm House in the centre of gardens is also well worth a visit.The gardens are
over the Howrah Bridge, 19Km by bus from Chowringhee.
The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset, and
although they tend to be very crowded on Sunday, on other days they are peaceful and
make a pleasant escape from the hassles and crowd of Calcutta.
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