The Main Botanical Garden of Kazakhstan
The Main Botanical Garden of Kazakhstan, located in Almaty, is a unique destination that offers not only a picturesque landscape for leisurely strolls but also serves as a significant institute for botany and phytointroduction. Established in 1932 on 108 hectares of land (now reduced to 103.6 hectares), the garden serves as a sanctuary for rare and endangered plant species.
The institute has expanded over the years and now operates four botanical gardens throughout Kazakhstan, including Almaty, Astana, Zhezkazgan, and Ili.
The Botanical Garden is divided into several sections, including exposition, public, scientific, and administrative zones. However, only the first two sections are open to visitors. The exposition section showcases a diverse collection of plants and flowers from various regions, while the public zone offers a serene environment for relaxation and recreation.
What to see in the Botanical Garden?
The Main Botanical Garden boasts a diverse collection of plants from around the world, including Kazakhstan, East Asia, Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, Crimea, the Far East, and North America, all of which thrive in the exposition zone. There is an array of distinct gardens, including a lilac garden, a conifers garden, a rock garden, and collections of tropical/subtropical, climbing, medicinal, flower-decorative, and wild fruit plants. Visitors can also explore the public area, which includes entrance pavilions, a dry fountain, beautiful ponds, meadows for events and celebrations, and cafes.
The Main Botanical Garden offers an impressive range of flora, from bamboos and lilacs to coniferous forests and a rose garden, as well as palm trees and oak forests, chestnut and birch groves. Visitors can also see bananas, cacti, hundreds of varieties of peonies, asters, tulips, and aquatic tropical plants. The rock garden houses 13 of the rarest species of wild tulips, offering visitors a unique opportunity to see these stunning flowers up close. Kazakhstan is recognized as the official homeland of the tulips, from where they spread throughout the world.
The Japanese Garden is an excellent addition to the exposition area, featuring a wide variety of plants from the Land of the Rising Sun. The garden, with its stone lanterns, pagoda arbors, and curved bridges, offers visitors a glimpse into the unique culture and spirit of Japan. These traditional gardens are designed for contemplation, with a careful balance of elements that seem randomly scattered but are harmoniously combined.-large.jpeg)
Every path in the garden leads to a fabulous place, such as the Weymouth pines, known as the «3 sisters,» since they all sprouted from the same seed. The garden is also home to a Scythian mound from the Early Iron Age, adding historical depth to the natural beauty.
The garden has three entrances: South, North, and West, each designed with a unique theme. The Northern pavilion is an all-glass structure with a metal rectangular roof, while the Western pavilion is made of brick with unusual gates. The Southern entrance is constructed of tall and narrow metal columns resting against a lattice roof, creating a sense of weightlessness.
How to get there?
Location: Kazakhstan, Almaty, between Timiryazev, Zharokov, and Al-Farabi streets
The Northern (Central) entrance to the garden is located on Timiryazev St. You can get there by buses #18, 30, 32, 45, 70, 79, 123, 124, 205 and trolleybuses #9 and 11.
The Western entrance is situated on Zharokov St. where you can get by buses #19, 56, and 113. Get off at the «Utepov St.» bus stop.
Buses #38, 63, 86, and 127 will take you to the South entrance, which overlooks Al-Farabi Ave.
Working hours:
Daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Other tourist attractions near the Botanical Garden:
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
- Dostyk Park
- Khamit Yergaliyev Embankment
- Esentai Mall
- Nur-Mubarak Mosque
- Sunkar International Ski Jumping Complex
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