The 480 species of flowers, shrubs and trees at the National Kandawgyi Gardens are lovingly maintained and beautifully designed.
After spending a few hot and dusty days in Mandalay, strolling around the National Kandawgyi Gardens in Pyin Oo Lwin provides a pleasant change of pace (as well as climate). The hill station, originally known as Maymyo is just 42 kilometres from Mandalay and was founded during British colonial rule in 1896. The gardens themselves were founded unofficially in 1915, with formal recognition granted almost a decade later in 1924. The 35-acre gardens were modelled on London’s Kew Botanical Gardens, which boasts the world’s largest collection of living plants but covers just a quarter of the size of the National Kandawgyi Gardens.
The 480 species of flowers, shrubs and trees at the National Kandawgyi Gardens are lovingly maintained and beautifully designed. Due to the cool but temperate climate of Pyin Oo Lwin, the gardens are a riot of contrasting colors all year round, with sweeping rows of identical specimens set alongside tall pine trees. The lawns are immaculate and the lake itself has several footbridges that provide excellent photo opportunities of the surrounding trees and flowers. There is also a small gilded pagoda, a butterfly museum comprising a staggering 30,000 butterflies collected over the past century, a 1,000-foot-long swamp footbridge (leading to an enclosure containing the unusual Takin species, which weighs 700 pounds and panoramic views of the perfectly manicured surroundings. The admission fee is about $5 and includes admission to a large swimming pool, which is also popular with local visitors. A walk-in aviary includes 23 species of birds, which are mostly native to Southeast Asia. The orchid garden contains more than 300 species, some of which are extremely rare and are found in the area surrounding Putao in northern Myanmar’s Kachin State, which is a budding area for eco-tourism. There’s also a small souvenir shop, a coffee shop, a large collection of petrified wood, and two-million-year-old fossils.
As cycling isn’t permitted in the gardens, allow at least two to three hours for exploring. The gardens have two entrances, which are both located on the eastern side of Kandawgyi Lake – entering the entrance farther to the south will reduce some of the walking distance and thus maximize your time. The eastern gate has been constructed using volcanic rock from Mount Popa (located close to the ancient temples of Bagan) and incorporates astrological themes, which are wildly popular in Myanmar culture.
The gardens are owned by the Htoo Foundation and in addition to featuring individual curiosities such as the takin, it’s easy to see why they attract a steady stream of visitors each day: Their serenity and beauty is in a class all of their own.
Source: SWIFT – Asian Wings Airways
