The Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden is perfectly beautiful and its wave-like elevation only adds to its natural attraction. For those who enjoy being surrounded by fauna, this garden is Sikkim’s story of “the garden of Eden”.
The Parks and Gardens unit of the Sikkimese Forest Department has done a great job of ensuring that all the trees, flowering plants, and shrubs remain untouched. Time stops to exist as you follow the structured path around the garden, examining the exotic flower species and simply relaxing in the natural luster of the place. The garden is said to have more than 50 different types of tree species that include dense temperate clusters of giant oaks. The main reason for its varied collection of flowers is because of the garden’s unique variations in altitude that ranges from 5900 ft to over 7000 ft.
What to see
Taking up a major part of the Yumthang Valley, this botanical garden has a peaceful 17-acre lake within its premises. As one passes massive fiddlehead ferns, silver firs, and looming oaks, a sense of wonder at nature’s elegance begins to set in. You can even hire a paddle boat for an hour and hover on the calm waters of the lake.
The glass conservatory houses also have several rare orchids and rhododendron varieties. As you walk past man-made waterfalls, that up the artistic value of the garden, make sure you spare more than a glance for the melange of flora.
It comes as no surprise that Yumthang is called Sikkim’s “valley of flowers”. If you are traveling to Sikkim with someone whom you would like to introduce to the world of floriculture, all you need is to bring them to this botanical garden.
When to reach
If you want to explore the beauty of this garden, the best time to visit is during spring and summer when the flowers are blossoming. Anytime between March and late-May is a good plan.
For those who want to experience the trees and flowers glimmering in the sunshine, an October visit should be on the plan.
As the temperatures drop from November to mid-December, you will get to observe the garden preparing itself for the approaching winter.
The park is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Like all botanical gardens, to enjoy the natural serenity, one should land up as early as possible. Two hours spent walking along the designated footpath is more than enough to explore this sprawling botanical garden.
How to reach
If you’re visiting the Rumtek Monastery, the Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical garden is a 5-minute walk from the gompa.
From Gangtok you can either board a shared cab or book a jeep to bring you to the botanical garden that is 23 km away. The shortest route is via the NH10 and Ranipool-Rumtek-Sang Road.
There is a nominal entry fee of Rs 10.
