Carved Tree Stump ~ Photo by Claude Rozay.
The Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden is located 30 minutes north of Chiang Mai, along the windy road to Samoeng.
The Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden (QSBG) in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand was opened in 1993 and is maintained under the auspices of the Botanical Garden Organization (BGO) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Originally named the Mae Sa Botanic Garden, it was renamed for Sirikit, Queen of Thailand in 1994.
The 6,500 rai site is home to 12 greenhouses, Thailand’s biggest glasshouse complex. It displays plants and flowers year round. It was the first botanical garden of international standard in Thailand and focuses on maintaining biodiversity and promoting environmental conservation.
The Garden is set in a valley surrounded by rainforest and there is a whole range of different areas to visit. Visitors can walk around the flower gardens, banana path or enter one of the many different greenhouses – Savanna House, Orchid House or the Carnivorous Plant House. Another highlight of the gardens is a 400 metre canopy walkway which is suspended over the jungle canopy and gives an enlightening perspective of nature from high up in the air.
There is the option to take your motorbike (30 Baht) or car (50 Baht) into Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden if you don’t feel like walking around the area. The entire gardens are huge and you will need transportation if you want to see it all in one day. Don’t worry of you don’t have your own car or motorbike because they have a shuttle bus to use which has stops at each section.
Entrance to the Botanical Garden costs 50 Baht per person and you get a free map to help you get around. Outside the Botanical Garden is a coffee shop, gift shop and parking area if you prefer to walk rather than drive around the gardens. You should plan at least 3 hours to visit Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens but you could spend the whole day here there is so much to see.
Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens Opening Hours: 8:30 – 16:30 Location: 100 moo 9, mae ram Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180 Tel: +66 (0)53 841 000
Reference http://www.chiangmai.bangkok.com/attractions/queen-sirikit-botanical-gardens.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001
Tree Weaver 