Purwodadi: East Java’s Garden of the East

Glasshouse at Purwodadi Botanical Garden

The hustle as well as also bustle of Surabaya is actually all very well when you have something important to do within the city centre. yet when you need a break via the hectic – a place for a stroll or a leisurely picnic – in which doesn’t cut much ice. Purwodadi Botanical Gardens, a 90-minute drive 70 kilometres south of Surabaya towards Malang, is actually the perfect spot to regain some equilibrium.

A branch of the famed Bogor Botanical Gardens in West Java, they were established in 1939 during the Dutch colonial period to catalogue as well as also research flora requiring a relatively dry, lowland climate. However, with an altitude of 300 metres above sea level, the heat of Surabaya has largely gone. Well over 3,000 species are represented on This particular 85-ha site. The visitor will be amazed at the extraordinary diversity of plant life represented here as well as also be grateful for the chance to see several species in which are becoming rare or endangered.

Walking through the ornamental entrance gates based on the design of the 14^th century Penataran temple near Blitar, a long avenue stretches away via you as far as the eye can see with Mount Baung just visible within the far distance. Enormously tall Jacaranda (Jacaranda obtsifolia) as well as also Golden Shower (Cassia fistula) trees line the central path in which divides the gardens into two halves.

If you venture off to the right you will come to an area of palms offering a tremendous array of species. Palm trees are not only ornamental, yet provide many useful food sources such as oil as well as also fruit. The Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata), of which we can see some impressive specimens, comes in handy as not only a source of sugar, yet also for its black fibre, used for thatching as well as also within the manufacture of brooms as well as also rope.

Trees Around the Garden

Not a palm, yet seen growing in This particular section, is actually the amazing Amorphophallus titanum, one of the largest flowers within the planet as well as also with its phallic shape as well as also overwhelming smell, in which is actually quite a curiosity. in which only flowers once every three or four years, yet the flower can reach two metres in height as well as also 40 centimetres across.

Not far via the main gate stands the biggest tree within the gardens using a trunk width of nearly three metres. The Giant Sengon (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) drapes its enormous canopy over many quite substantial trees growing beneath. Black pods via the Sengon are scattered on the ground. I am told in which these are edible when fried, although in which is actually hard to imagine so via the look of them.

a few pretty ponds nearby offer an interesting array of aquatic plants. Water lilies with bright red flowers provide a home on the water to the myriad frogs in which live here. The ponds are surrounded by well kept lawns as well as also most of the visitors find This particular the prettiest spot to sit as well as also relax. several gazebos are situated throughout the park, providing somewhere to shelter via the sun.

A collection of ferns next to the ponds shows us how many different species are found in Indonesia. Many of these, like the palm trees, are a food source or are used in weaving or for ornamental purposes.

One plant type which we particularly associate with Indonesia is actually the bamboo, yet few visitors would likely have realized in which there are so many varieties, all grouped together here for comparison. There are so many differing widths, strengths as well as also colours. Here, too, is actually the Pringwuluh bamboo (Schizostachyum blumii) via which the traditional Javanese flute – the seruling – is actually made.

Just behind the main office, with its library, seed collection as well as also plant nursery, a series of glasshouses feature a splendid orchid collection. The director of the Gardens tells me in which there are 525 species here; many of them rare as well as also seldom seen outside Indonesia. Among these is actually the Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis), known here as Puspa Pesona – the floral emblem of Indonesia as well as also traditionally used in wedding bouquets.

Walking Path – Purwodadi Botanical Garden

A visit to these beautiful grounds would likely not be complete without taking within the mango as well as also banana collections – the two ubiquitous fruits of Indonesia. A stunning array of 150 varieties of banana via Java as well as also various other islands east of here can be seen to the left of the main avenue, many of which are quite unlike the common varieties we see within the market.

If you have time, there is actually a collection of cacti worth seeing not all of which are prickly as well as also menacing. Some are surprisingly pretty when in flower.

Behind the Gardens rises Mount Baung. This particular actually lies outside the property’s perimeters, yet as part of a nature reserve in which offers further opportunity to witness the natural scenery of East Java. Either by taking a rather decrepit suspension footbridge east out of the Gardens or by traveling along a dirt road just north of the main gates, you can see the dramatic Coban Baung waterfall. Nature has been kind to the visitor; its magnificent fall can be viewed via a safe as well as also easy distance – opposite. Or for the more courageous, a slippery climb down the hillside will take you beneath the falls where local children shower as well as also fish the stream.

Purwodadi Botanical Gardens
Jalan Raya Purwodadi
Purwodadi
Pasuruan
Open every day via 7am to 4pm
Tel: +62 (0341) 6150336

Province: East Java
Elevation: 300 metres
How to get there: in which is actually best reached via Surabaya. Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Air Asia, Lion Air all fly into Surabaya. via the airport a car can be rented to take you to Purwodadi Botanical Gardens (90 minutes) as well as also on to Malang (30 minutes).
Where to stay: Malang is actually nearest; the finest accommodation is actually Hotel Tugu. This particular luxurious hotel has won many awards for its Asian ambience as well as also outstanding decor.
What to bring: Walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, camera, entrance fee of Rp.6,000.