The Indonesian island of Bali is located in Southeast Asia and belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands group. From the south, the island is washed by the Indian Ocean, from the north - by the Pacific. Area 5780 sq. km, the population is more than four million people. The climate on the island is equatorial-monsoon, there are two seasons: the wet season lasts from November to March, dry - from June to October. The average annual air temperature is 26 ° C. The island is very green, there are evergreen forests, tropical deciduous, mountainous and savannah forests.
A wonderful climate, well-groomed beaches, an abundance of exotic plants make this paradise of the planet a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Hospitable and benevolent local residents have created all the conditions for guests to have a great rest, improve their health, inspect natural and man-made monuments. One of the most visited places is the Eka-Kariya botanical garden.
What to see
The Eka-Kariya botanical garden is located in the central high-mountainous part of the island, on the southern shore of Lake Bratan. Occupies an area of 157 hectares. The official opening took place in 1959. In Eka-Kariya, there is a center for the study and conservation of plants, whose employees are engaged in serious scientific work. They are engaged in selection, take care of the preservation of the existing fund, grow plants listed in the Red Book.
Visitors have the opportunity not only to admire the flora, but also to learn a lot of interesting things. The guides will tell you about the traditions of using plants in the household, ceremonies and traditional oriental medicine, since many of them have healing properties. There are greenhouses, nurseries and greenhouses, a rich scientific library and unique herbariums.
It is impossible to list all the plants that grow here, because there are 1,500 species of them. Only 650 trees, among them there are many conifers, palms, rare black and balsa trees. And also more than 100 species of cacti, many of which are very rare. Ferns are a special pride, as well as the subject of concern of the botanical garden workers. Unfortunately, most of them are endangered species. Eka Kariya is home to 400 species of orchids, the collection of plants with magnificent flowers is one of the most complete in the world. And when the time comes for the flowering of rhododendrons and roses, the sight and smell are divine.
There are about five hundred species of birds in the park, they are collected from all over the country and get along well in the park, delighting visitors with extraordinary singing. You can also meet animals, but they are not dangerous, and some are accustomed to humans and are happy to communicate with tourists. The botanical garden delights visitors not only with huge century-old trees, bright flowers and ancient ferns. It's clean and comfortable here. Well-groomed paths are laid not only in the center of the territory, but along them you can get to the most remote corners.
The architecture of small forms is striking in its beauty - these are fountains, pools, lotus ponds, picturesque waterfalls and bridges. Visitors are greeted by stone sculptures of gods, dragons, fabulous animals and some unknown creatures. There are benches at every step, gazebos and cozy pavilions have been built, where you can relax in peace and quiet, or hide from the rain.
Entertainment
People come to the botanical park not only to admire nature, but to have a good rest and have fun, go in for sports. In the Bali Treetop Adventure Park, classes will be found by people of any physical fitness: both strong athletic youth and the elderly and children from 4 years old.
Here visitors have enough adrenaline. At a height of 2 to 20 meters, ropes, ladders are stretched between the trees, obstacles are made - you can jump from a bungee, walk along a wobbly rope bridge or use the "flying fox" attraction, where you have to slide down a slope in a special suspension 150 m, ride a cable car ... A total of six route options are offered, which last 2.5 hours.
How to get there
The garden is located at an altitude of 1450 m, so there is usually no sweltering heat here, the temperature is 18 ° C-25 ° C, which makes visiting the garden comfortable at any time of the year. It is located 60 km from the large city of Denpasar in the Bedugul region. The nearest village is Kandikuning. The territory is open daily from 8.00 to 18.00. Some greenhouses close earlier - at 16.00. The cost of the entrance ticket is 18,000 rupees, another 6,000 rupees must be paid for traveling by car to the park.
There is public transport to Eka Kariya, but it does not have a clear timetable, it is better to come with a tour by tourist bus, rented car or taxi. There is a cafe on the territory of the garden, and if you want to stay in this wonderful place for a few days, an inexpensive hotel is open for visitors. A unique botanical garden, a place filled with tranquility, where you can rest your soul. It is filled with the scent of exotic plants and the singing of birds of paradise. Arriving on the island of Bali, it is worth visiting it - the impressions will last a lifetime.
