It is located in at Bedugul village, Baturiti district, Tabanan Regency, 1240 meters above the sea level .It is about 62 km from Denpasar and can be reached by motorcycle as the roads are fairly goodBali Botanical garden is unique in Bali as a place for botanical research, survey, conservation, recreation and education. It provides a place where you can relax in beautiful and peaceful surrounding while learning about the function of plants in the daily lives of Balinese as well as some interesting rainforest plantation and birdlife.
Within Bali Botanical Garden you can see many places of interests such as;
1. Orchid Park
2. Traditional Balinese House
3. Fern Park
4. Ceremonial Plants Collection
5. Medical Plants Collection
6. Tree Collection
7. Rose Park
8. Cactus
9. Hindu Temples
About Bali Botanical Garden
Bali Botanical Garden is officially known as Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali. Eka Karya refers to this being the first Indonesia Botanic Garden which has been established following Indonesian independence and thus the first to have been established entirely by Indonesians.
History
In 1958 senior Balinese officials requested the department now called the centre for Biological Research and Development within the Indonesian institute of sciences, to consider establishing a botanic garden with the dual roles of research institute and Recreation Park. Then the Director, Prof. Dr. Kusnoto Setiodiwiryo, selected a location covering 50 ha of reforested land held by the Bali Governments in the Balinese central highlands. On 15 July 1959 Bali Botanical Garden was officially established on the slopes of Tapak Hill, Candikuning village at an altitude 0f 1250 – 1400 meters above the sea level.
Bali Botanical Garden was originally established as collection of species of conifers (non-flowering seed plants, or Gymnosperms) from through the world, and as a place for recreation. It was also equipped for scientific, cultural and technical activities.
Development stopped around 1965 because of the insecurity of the period. It was not until 1970 that the garden began to be gradually rehabilitated. On 30 April 1976 the restoration was completed and as part of this area was increased to 129.2 Ha and the function broadened from primarily a collection of conifer to include ex-situ conservation of plants from high altitude seasonally wet-dry areas in eastern Indonesia.
In 1998, the Botanical garden covered an area of 154,5 Ha, and contained about 16.000 plant collection , consisting of over 1500 species from over 320 genera and 155 families.
Some of the specialist collection includes; orchids, ceremonial plants, medicinal plants, cactus, ferns, bamboos and trees. The four main functions of Bali Botanic garden are; exploration, inventory and research; conservation; recreation; and education. The institution offers a number of scientific services and facilities in support of plant research and conservation, including herbarium, library, glasshouses, nursery and plant registration database.
Exploration, Inventory and Research
Exploration, Inventory and Research conducted by staff are concentrated in the high altitude mountain forests of eastern Indonesia. While on expedition, seeds, seedling and cuttings are also collected for propagation and planting within the garden.
Herbarium and database of collections and their habitat also collected as long as exploration.
Conservation
Conservation of rare and important species involves the establishment and propagation of plants within the garden. Conservation collections of rare species include a palm which is only found in several small populations in Bali (Pinanga arinasaensis); a lady’s slipper orchid (Paphiopedillum javanicum) which is highly prized by orchid collectors and very rare in the wild in Java and Bali, and species of tree-fern which has become rare and endangered by over collecting.
Conservation of traditional knowledge of plant uses is conducted through surveys and interviews in local communities and by making special collection of plants used in medicines, ceremonies, household artifacts, musical instruments, tools and building.
Recreations
Recreation is perhaps the most popular function of Bali Botanical Garden, each year about 200.000 people visit the garden, of which 5-10% are from overseas. Recreation facilities include landscaped picnic areas, seats and paved walkways. Visitors can enjoy beautiful landscaping, spectacular natural views of forested mountains and Lake Beratan, clean air and spacious peaceful surroundings. “Bali treetop Adventure Park “which is located 200 meters from the main gate on the left side. “For your family fun at Bali Treetop Adventure Park the visitors could enjoy 5 Circuits from Tree to tree, 65 challenges for all level and ages, from 2 to 20 high in the trees 12 flying-Fox up to 160 m long.
Education
Visitor education is an important function as Bali Botanical Garden is an ideal place for raising awareness and understanding of the natural environment, ecology and of the central role of plants in Balinese culture. The garden is also a great place for bird-watching.
