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If you find yourself in Chiang Mai
with nothing to do, you could do worse than visit Thailand's first international-style botanic garden.
Founded in 1993, the Queen Sirikit
Botanic Garden sits on 6,500 rai of land in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Mae Rim. Part of the area is as high as 1,200
metres above sea level.
Guided tours of the garden are provided
but getting there can be quite difficult because of traffic. Along the scenic Chiang Mai-Samoeng route, a host of tourist
spots line up including resorts, an elephant tour centre, waterfalls, a monkey training school and even a death defying bungy
jumping site.
Embraced by mountains, the garden contains a vast array of
biological diversity. A stream flows in the middle of the garden, making the site perfect spot for a natural escape and flora
education.
We were welcomed on the tour and guided around the garden
by Patavee Sangchai, the deputy chief of the gardens Business Development Office.
Three circular routes lead visitors to
different species of plants. The first takes in the waterfall, rock garden and Thai orchids nursery. The second goes to the
Arboretum and the third, called Walayachat is home to the creepers.
If you are not in a rush, the walk can introduce you
to the magical world of plants and trees and also provide a relaxing and pleasant walk.
I started from the Glasshouse Complex, which contains
plants and trees found in the rainforest. Water sprays are regularly provided to keep humidity at 85 % and simulate the natural
habitat of the plants.
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I walked by the Laboratory Centre and Natural Science Museum and proceeded
to the Herbarium, which keeps Thailands rare plants. The area is well categorised and visitors are provided easy-to-read and
informative signs on such plants as the Queen Sirikit Cattleya, Euang Mon Khai (dendrobium thrysiflorum), Kanphai (afgekia
sericea), Euang Praengsifun Phra-in (dendrobium secundum) and Thong Phundul (decaschistia parviflora). On the Walayachat
route, I came face to face with over 200 varieties of creepers. The routes are cool, easy to walk and are made more exciting
with wandering birds.
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Mrs. Patavee said the garden is usually frequented
by student groups on weekdays and tourists on weekends. Now that the garden is more popular, there is often not enough staff
to cater to the many tour groups.
On the grass beside the Arboretum, visitors can
admire the banana trees and the palm trees of different shapes, including bon (caladium bicolour),ratchaphruek (cassia fistula)
and mountain pine trees.
Visitors should be sure to take in the Mae Sa Noi
Waterfall, the Rock Garden and the Thai Orchids Nursery. The orchid house contains a wide variety of common and rare orchids.
Exhausted visitors can refresh themselves by splashing their faces with water from the waterfall.
As I left the garden in the late afternoon, the
sun reduced most of the building to a shadow against the towering mountains.
The air is cooler and the garden appears to be
quieter. Away from the madding crowd and urban developments, the garden looks idyllic and isolated as the last light paints
an orange-hue over the mountain and insects buzz into the night.
Gomase Theenanon / Story and photographs
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