Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is a 500-acre (2.0 km2) botanical garden and tourist attraction at kilometer 163 on Sukhumvit Road in Chonburi Province, Thailand.Your visit to Pattaya is not complete without a day trip to the sprawling Nong Nooch Tropical garden, just 20 minutes away from the city. This stunning garden landscapes at Nongnooch Village is one of the largest botanical gardens in Southeast Asia. Nong Nooch stands for beauty, and that is what oozes out of every part of the park. The plants and the surroundings are very well maintained.Pisit and Nongnooch Tansacha purchased the 600-acre plot of land in 1954 with the intentions of developing the land as a fruit plantation. However, the owners instead decided to plant tropical flowers and plants as a wildlife conservation project. The garden opened to the public in 1980, and management was transferred to Pisit and Nongnooch’s son Kampon Tansacha in 2001. The garden currently fills 500 out of the 600 acres.The garden is divided into the following categories:•    French Garden•    European Garden•    Stonehenge Garden•    Cactus & Succulent Garden•    Variegated Plants•    Ant Tower•    Butterfly Hill•    Orchid & Bromeliad Display Garden•    Flower valleyThe garden focuses on Southeast Asian, Tropical American and Central Africa species of Cycads, but a collection of almost every species can also been seen here. In connection with Conservation agencies the gardens cycad collections serves as an important ex situ conservation site for this endangered and ancient plant group. On-going and continuing research at the garden concerning taxonomy and horticultural use has increased the knowledge about this plant group worldwide. Apart from the beautifully manicured gardens and lush green landscapes the park comes alive with cultural and elephant shows. The traditional dancers in their dazzling silk attires dance to the most melodious of songs and keep the guests enraptured. Few rounds of Thai boxing and elephant warfare add variety to the show. Elephant show follows, in an open field and the well trained animals keep you entertained with their skills in basket ball, bowling, soccer, dart shooting. Even there is foot massage for the brave few who volunteer to lie under the playful jumbos. A variety of shows three times a day at the Thai Cultural Center feature martial arts, indigenous sports, hill tribe music and dance, a Thai wedding ceremony, a Buddhist ordination ceremony, and performances by trained elephants. Two man-made lakes and more than 500 acres of exquisitely manicured gardens, including gardens dedicated to bonsai, cactus, palms and bromeliads, and a hothouse for orchids and ferns, make this one of the most attractive tourist resorts in the province. At the small zoo you can have your picture taken with a baby tiger, elephant, chimpanzee or parrot, and there is also a small exhibition of Thai antiques. Visitors have a choice of restaurants where traditional Thai food, including special recipes from northeastern Thailand, as well as Chinese, Korean and western dishes can be enjoyed. A shopping mall sells souvenirs and handicrafts from all over the kingdom. Half day tours leave from Pattaya every day. Accommodations can be arranged in traditional Thai style teak houses, in cottages or in small lakeside villas with access to a private swimming pool.