Botanical Garden - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 14 km from Kolkata Railway Station, Botanical Garden is a public garden located in Shibpur locality of Kolkata. Situated on the western bank of Hooghly River, it is one of the well-maintained gardens in Kolkata and among the most scenic places to visit in Kolkata.

Officially known as Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, the Botanical Garden was established in the year 1787 at the proposal of Colonel Alexander Kyd by the then Governor-General Lord Cornwallis. The design of the unique and amazing landscape of the garden was initiated by Sir George King in 1872. It was also called the East India Company's Garden or the 'Company Bagan' during that time. After India's Independence, it was renamed as 'Indian Botanic Garden' in the year 1950. The garden came under the management of the Botanical Survey of India in 1963.

Spanning over an area of 273 acres, it is reckoned as one of the most beautiful landscaped gardens with undulating land topography and amazing artificial lakes. The garden contains around 12,000 living perennial plants and thousands of dried out plants collected from across the globe. The star attraction of the Botanical Garden is the 250 years old colossal and widespread banyan tree, famously called 'Great Banyan Tree'. Spread over 450 meters in circumference, it has the largest spread in India and the second largest canopy in the world. The garden also nurtures myriad of amazing orchids and multicolored flowers. There is also a boating facility in one of its lakes and a library in the garden, which treasures a number of valuable books on botany.

Timings: 10 AM - 7 PM

Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Indians, Rs. 100 for Foreigners & Rs. 20 for Camera