Doesn’t the name Water Garden sound like a tranquil oasis? Indeed, it is. Let’s uncover the story of this serene location within the Penang Botanic Gardens.
The Penang Botanic Gardens are also known as the Waterfall Gardens. This nickname comes from the cascading waterfall nearby. The Water Garden is part of this bigger attraction. The Penang Botanic Garden is a public park nestled in a valley along Jalan Kebun Bunga. It sits about five kilometers from Georgetown.
In 1884 the British established the gardens. Charles Curtis of the Gardens and Forests Department Straits Settlements supervised the setup. The area was once an old quarry site. Today, the Penang Botanic Gardens are divided into twelve sections. These include the Formal Garden and the Lily Pond. There is also the Perdana Plant House and the Tropical Rainforest Jungle Track. Other sections are the Fern House, Fern Rockery, Aroid Walkaway, and Cactus House. You can also find an Orchidarium, Horticulture Centre, Nursery, and Quarry Recreational Park.
Curtis transformed the old granite quarry site. He made himself responsible for the layout of the Botanic Gardens. In its early days the gardens focused on cultivating commercial plants. It also inspected crops and advised the planting community. Later, the Agriculture and Forestry Departments took over the work with economic crops and forestry.
The Penang Botanic Gardens has key objectives. These objectives include conservation programs. They also aim to provide a clean safe and conducive public recreation environment. Education is another key goal. The gardens want to raise public awareness of nature and gardening. The gardens continue to conduct research. They develop and implement botanical and ecological research programs nationally and internationally.
The gardens boast a diverse array of flora. One notable tree is the cannonball tree. Look for the large buttress roots of the sengkuang tree. The pinang palm is another important plant. It lent its name to the island of Penang. Also, the black lily grows here with its unique purplish black flowers.
The Penang Botanic Gardens are home to diverse fauna. You might spot long tailed macaques and dusky leaf monkeys. Black giant squirrels are common. Many insects and butterflies also live here. Bird watchers and photographers frequent the gardens.
The path around the Lily Pond provides access to a tropical rainforest. The walk from the Lower Circular Road passes palm and bamboo clusters along the Waterfall River. The best time to see the flowering trees is during the dry season. February to April is when the Thai bungor, Javanese cassia, and rosy trumpet trees are in full bloom.
From the Lily Pond path, you can climb to the site of Charles Curtis’s former house. Only a few bricks remain. Hiking paths lead from the Botanic Gardens to Penang Hill and Mount Olivia. Mount Olivia was the site of Raffles’ home and was named after his wife, Olivia.
The waterfall and reservoir are private property. However, you can visit them by arrangement with the Penang Water Authority. The Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens organizes monthly visits to the waterfall.
In 1804, the first water treatment plant in Malaysia was set up here. It supplied the needs of 10000 people in Penang. In 1805, an aqueduct was built to channel water from the fall to a reservoir near the port. Early sailors described the water as sweet. It was filtered through the aged rocks of Penang Hill.
The Penang Botanic Gardens are a unique natural heritage. It is the only garden of its kind in Malaysia. It serves as a green lung for metropolitan Penang. The garden is a popular spot for recreation. Activities include jogging walking jungle trekking tai chi and aerobics.
The lush greenery and tranquil setting of the Water Garden make it a relaxing place. It is a must visit destination on Penang Island. It welcomes visitors from 6am to 8pm. Take a moment to appreciate the serene beauty of the Water Garden.