Pondicherry Botanical Garden

George (Georges Guerrard) Samuel Perrottet (1793 – January 3, 1870) was a Swiss-born, French botanist and horticulturalist who was a native of Vully, canton Vaud

G.S. Perrottet is the founder of Botanical Garden at Pondicherry in India. The Botanical Gardens were laid out in 1826 in the ornate French style, with pruned trees, beautiful flower beds and gravel lined paths and fountains.

G.S. Perrottet and his associates introduced many exotic plants from all over the world, many of which thrived. With over 1500 species of plants, this could actually qualify as one of the best botanical gardens in South India.

G.S Perrottet memorial in Botanical Garden

G.S Perrottet (Founder of  this Garden)

To know more about him visit G.S. Perrottet and http://plants.jstor.org/person/bm000006449

The gardens also have a musical fountain which is active over the weekends, with two shows in the evening. Check for timings and the frequency of the shows as they may change depending on the season.

An Aquarium is present in the entrance of the Botanical Garden. It consists of colourful fishes from across the world. Entry fee of Rs. 2 is collected and Rs.10 is collected for taking photos.

Botanical Garden has a Toy Train to have a joyful ride around the garden, you can have a glance of the whole garden.

Toy Train in Botanical Garden

To have a ride in Toy Train, Rs. 10 for Adult and Rs.5 for Children.

The Hollywood film Life of Pi's starting scenes were taken in Botanical garden at Pondicherry.

Botanical Garden Entrance as seen in Life of Pi

Thane Cyclone made several trees which are more than 150 years old to be uprooted. Several trees felt down and the garden lost many of its exotic species of trees.According to a survey, due to the devastation of Thane cyclone, as many as 300 trees (some were more than 150 years old) were uprooted.

Cyclone Thane came at the end of 2011 and left the garden by uprooting many old huge trees. 

officials planting trees

The Officials maintaining the garden took good effort to plant many trees and in 2014 the garden is looking good now.

You can surely give time a break in Botanical Garden. I recently visited this place so i recommend it.