How to Visit the Penang Botanical Gardens
- 1). Arrive at Penang Botanic Gardens either by taxi or car. The gardens are located at the end of Jalan Kebun Bunga road. Parking is free in the main parking lot and the gardens are open daily from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Admission is also free.
- 2). Walk to the main gate to enter the park. The gate is at the back end of the parking lot on the right. There will be hawkers outside of the gates selling refreshments and snacks.
- 3). Once you enter the park, you can either go to the right or left side to view the different gardens. Sign up for a tour of the gardens to get you acquainted with the grounds at the trolley service that is located right inside the gates.
- 4). Walk to the right of the entrance to reach the formal gardens. These gardens are set up as a traditional formal garden with a Malaysian flair.
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Orchids are easy to grow in Malaysia because of the warm tropical climate.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Continue past the formal gardens to the orchid shop. Here you can purchase a wide range of orchids, cacti, and tropical plants at reasonable prices. The owner speaks good English and can tell you how to care for each plant. - 6). Past the orchid shop is the garden store which sells refreshments and also souvenirs to the public. Beware of purchasing food inside the gardens though because the local monkeys can get aggressive when they see food items.
- 1). Walk past the store and you will see a path leading to the plant area filled with potted plants. This area is for exhibitions. People can rent these plants to use as displays. They are not available for purchase.
- 2). Cross over the small stream and you will see the public toilets. There is a small fee to use the facilities if you need them.
- 3). Next you will come up to an open area that has a small stream running through it and a white band stand. This is a good place to let the kids run around while you sit and watch from one of the many benches. Check out the large mangosteen tree in the center of the tree. Mangosteens are a local fruit of Malaysia and are available throughout the summer.
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The lily pond is a quiet place to sit and relax.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Continue up the hill toward the back of the gardens. You will pass the entrance to the jungle track and also the path leading to the lily pond. - 5). Spend some time looking at the plants in the Perdana Plant House. You will find a large selection of tropical plants within this display, including many that live in the nearby jungles.
- 6). Decide whether to circle back towards the entrance of the gardens or take the branch that leads to the fern rookery and spice gardens. This circle road will cover the western section of the gardens.
- 7). Follow the road back toward the garden's entrance and stop to see the Aroid walkway, a section of the garden that was improved and restructured, with over 100 species of Aroid plants was originally planted. Aroid plants are from the Araceae family and include plants such as Philodendrons and Calla Lillies.
- 8). Check out the Quarry Recreational Park before returning to the entrance of the gardens. This area will eventually house a variety of playgrounds designed for people of all ages.
- 9). Finish your visit at the entrance of the park. Grab some cold drinks or ice cream on your way out of the gardens to cool down from the hot tropical climate in Penang.
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