Botanic Garden, Lucknow

The Botanic Garden was originally laid out in around 1800 AD as the royal Sikandar Bagh garden complex by the Nawabs of Oudh. It was later integrated into National Botanical Research Institute and is now one of India’s oldest and most prestigious botanical institutions covering approximately 25 hectares.

For the curious traveler, this garden is more than just greenery-it’s a living museum. With over 5,000 taxa (including more than 200 cultivars each of bougainvillea, gladiolus, rose, canna, chrysanthemums) and themed plant houses such as a cactus & succulent house, cycad house, palm house, fern house, moss house, orchidarium and conservatory, it offers a richly curated botanical journey. A unique “Touch and Smell Garden” equipped with Braille signage ensures accessibility for visitors with visual impairments.

The garden performs a range of critical functions-ex situ conservation, botanical research, education, and public display of plant diversity. Recognized as a Living National Repository under the National Biodiversity Authority and a Lead Botanic Garden by India’s Ministry of Environment, it plays an essential role in conserving threatened flora and supporting plant-based research and outreach across India.

Seasonal flower shows, especially the annual rose exhibitions, are notable community events that celebrate floral diversity and horticultural craftsmanship.