Indian Botanical Gardens

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The Indian Botanical Gardens, Howrah are situated in Shibpur, Howrah near Kolkata. They are commonly known as the Calcutta Botanical Garden, and previously as "The Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta" ^[1]. The gardens exhibit a wide variety of rare plants and a total collection of over 12,000 specimens spread over 109 hectares.

The best-known landmark of the garden is The Great Banyan, an enormous banyan tree (Ficus bengalhensis) that is reckoned to be the largest tree in the world, at more than 330 metres in circumference. They are also famous for their enormous collections of orchids, bamboos, palms, and plants of the screw pine genus (Pandanus).

The gardens were founded in 1787 by Colonel Robert Kyd, an army officer of the British East India Company, primarily for the purpose of identifying new plants of commercial value, such as teak, and growing spices for trade^[2].

A major change in policy, however, was introduced by the botanist William Roxburgh after he became superintendent of the garden in 1793. Roxburgh brought in plants from all over India and developed an extensive herbarium. This collection of dried plant specimens eventually became the Central National Herbarium of the Botanical Survey of India, which comprises 2,500,000 items.

Over the years attractive display gardens for the public have been developed and many kinds of plants have been cultivated for scientific observation. During the 1970s the garden initiated a program to introduce improved food plants and other varieties of economic benefit to the people of India.

Indian Botanical Gardens can be reached by taking a ferry service from Bichali Ghat, in Metiabruz, the most convenient way of getting to this place for residents of Kolkata.