Bogor Botanical Gardens, Bogor: what to see and when to go

Bogor Botanical Gardens is a large botanical garden in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, established in 1817. Spanning 87 hectares, it holds nearly 14,000 types of plants and trees, and is known for its lush tropical collections, research centers, and historic features including ponds, monuments, and themed gardens.

Share on WhatsApp

Founded in 1817, it is Southeast Asia’s oldest botanical garden
Covers 87 hectares and holds nearly 14,000 plant types
Home to themed gardens, ponds, and historic monuments
Hosts research centers and plant conservation events

What is Bogor Botanical Gardens?

Visitors to Bogor Botanical Gardens find a vast green space filled with tropical trees, flowering plants, and themed sections. The grounds feature ponds, bridges, lawns, and avenues lined with palms and canna lilies. There are special areas such as the Araceae Garden, orchid houses, a medicinal plant section, and monuments. The gardens are also home to many bird species and bats, making it a lively place for nature watchers.

The history of Bogor Botanical Gardens

The site began as a private garden and mansion in the 18th century, later redesigned by British and Dutch colonial leaders. Officially founded in 1817 by Caspar Georg Carl Reinwardt, the garden was set up to collect and study plants from across the Indonesian archipelago. Over the years, it expanded under several botanists, becoming a center for plant research and the introduction of crops like oil palm and cinchona. The gardens have played a key role in the region’s botanical history.

What there is to see

The garden covers 87 hectares, with main facilities and visitor services near the southern entrance. The grounds include themed gardens, ponds, lawns, and avenues. Special features include the Araceae Garden, Teijsmann Garden, Astrid Avenue, and a medicinal plant section. Collections are arranged by plant family or use, and there are glasshouses for orchids and guesthouses for visitors.

Olieverfschilderij. Op de achtergrond het paleis van de Gouverneur-Generaal.. De Plantentuin te Buitenzorg. Photo: Max Fleischer 1861-1930 (Schilder)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Olieverfschilderij. Een tafereel uit de plantentuin te Buitenzorg. Photo: Max Fleischer 1861-1930 (Schilder)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Bogor Botanical Gardens serves as a research hub for agriculture and horticulture, and is open to the public for recreation and education. It hosts scientific events, workshops, and plant conservation activities. The gardens are a popular destination for locals and tourists, offering a place to learn about tropical plants and enjoy the outdoors.

Parts and collections

Branches of the garden were later established in Cibodas, Purwodadi, and Bali, each focusing on different plant groups or climates. Within Bogor, themed areas include the Araceae Garden, Teijsmann Garden, Astrid Avenue with canna lilies, and a medicinal plant section. The orchidarium and herbarium are also notable features.

Why Bogor Botanical Gardens matters

Bogor Botanical Gardens is recognized as the oldest of its kind in Southeast Asia. It has historical ties to colonial and Indonesian leaders, and monuments within the grounds honor figures like Reinwardt and Olivia Raffles. The garden has influenced plant research and agriculture in Indonesia, and remains a symbol of botanical heritage.

Plan a visit

🇮🇩 Bogor · All yearBogor Botanical GardensIndonesia's oldest botanical garden, with giant trees, an orchid house and the occasional titan arum.

Questions people ask about Bogor Botanical Gardens

Where is Bogor Botanical Gardens located?

The gardens are in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, about 60 kilometers south of central Jakarta, and sit next to the presidential palace.

What can visitors see at the gardens?

Visitors can explore tropical plant collections, themed gardens, ponds, monuments, orchid houses, and lawns lined with palms and canna lilies. The gardens also attract many birds and bats.

When was the garden established?

Bogor Botanical Gardens was officially founded in 1817 by Caspar Georg Carl Reinwardt, making it the oldest botanical garden in Southeast Asia.

What is the historical significance of the gardens?

The gardens have played a major role in plant research, crop introduction, and botanical studies in Indonesia. They are linked to colonial history and have influenced agriculture and science in the region.

Are there other gardens related to Bogor Botanical Gardens?

Yes, branches were later opened in Cibodas, Purwodadi, and Bali, each with its own focus on different plant types or climates.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bogor Botanical Gardens", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sim's Park, Coonoor: Thangaraj Kumaravel, CC BY 2.0, source

Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute: No machine-readable author provided. Shyamal assumed (based on copyrig, CC BY 2.5, source

Baldha Garden: Muntasir du, Public domain, source

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Cibodas Botanical Garden: Sakurai Midori, CC BY 2.5, source

Jasmine: HelenOnline, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Purwodadi Botanical Garden: Pinerineks, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Bali Botanic Garden: No machine-readable author provided. Hullie assumed (based on copyrigh, Public domain, source

Bogor Botanical Gardens: Talaborn, Public domain, source

Bogor Botanical Gardens