National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens
In its own language: ကန်တော်ကြီး အမျိုးသား ရုက္ခဗေဒ ဥယျာဉ်
A large botanical garden in the hill town of Pyin U Lwin, Myanmar
National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens is a 177-hectare garden in Pyin U Lwin, Myanmar, set at 1000 metres above sea level. Visitors find rolling lawns, collections of native and foreign plants, and museums, with a major flower festival held each December.
- Covers 177 hectares in Myanmar's Pyin U Lwin
- Home to over 500 native tree species and 300 native orchids
- Annual flower festival held every December
- Features three museums: fossils, petrified wood, and butterflies
- Endangered animals like Eld's deer are kept on site
What is National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens?
National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens covers 177 hectares in Pyin U Lwin, a hill town in Myanmar. The garden features rolling lawns, an Alpine landscape, and a wide range of trees, bamboos, crotons, roses, lilies, and orchids. There are also protected forest areas and displays of both native and foreign plant species. Visitors can explore three museums: one for fossils, one for petrified wood, and a butterfly museum with species from Asia and beyond. The gardens also keep some endangered animals, such as Eld's deer and Burmese star tortoise.
The history of National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens
The gardens were established in 1915 by Alex Roger, a Forest Officer, with help from Lady Cuffe. They were originally modelled after England's Kew Gardens and started on 30 acres. Official recognition came in 1917, and the site became a Government Botanical Reserve in 1924. It was declared a protected forest area in 1942. The name changed to Kandawgyi National Gardens in 2000. The gardens have been used to promote ecotourism and plant conservation in Myanmar.
What there is to see
The gardens are managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. They include areas for native and foreign trees, bamboo, crotons, roses, lilies, and medicinal plants. Orchids are a special focus, with conservation work in partnership with international groups. The museums display fossils, petrified wood, and butterflies. The grounds are open all year for visitors to walk, view flowers, and learn about plants and animals.
When to go
The gardens are open year-round, but the main event is the annual flower festival in December, when millions of flowers are on display. The site is popular with tourists and locals for its scenery and plant collections. The museums and animal enclosures add to the experience. The gardens also serve as a centre for plant conservation and education.
Parts and collections
The plant collections include 514 native tree species, 74 foreign tree species, 75 bamboo species, 75 croton species, 25 rose species, 6 land lily species, and about 300 native orchid species. The butterfly museum features species from Nepal, Taiwan, South America, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The gardens have expanded in size over time, reaching their current area in 2000.
Why National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens matters
National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens is a major site for ecotourism and plant conservation in Myanmar. The annual flower festival, held each December since 2006, draws many visitors and showcases both local and foreign flowers. The gardens have worked with international groups to protect native orchids. The site is also a place for education, with museums and displays on plants, fossils, and butterflies.
The flowers of National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens
Questions people ask about National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens
Where is the National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens located?
The gardens are in Pyin U Lwin, a hill town in Myanmar, about 69 km from Mandalay. They sit at an elevation of 1000 metres and cover 177 hectares.
What can visitors see at the gardens?
Visitors can explore rolling lawns, collections of native and foreign trees, bamboos, crotons, roses, lilies, and orchids. There are also three museums and enclosures for endangered animals.
When is the best time to visit the gardens?
The gardens are open all year, but the main flower festival takes place in December, when millions of flowers are on display.
What is special about the plant collections?
The gardens have over 500 native tree species, 300 native orchid species, and many types of bamboo, crotons, roses, and lilies. They also conserve medicinal plants and work with international groups on orchid conservation.
Are there any cultural or special events held at the gardens?
Yes, the annual flower festival in December is a major event, featuring displays of millions of flowers from both local and foreign species.
Good reading and sources
- National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "National Kandawgyi 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.
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