Bedugul is a cool mountain area in Bali. Bedugul located about two hours drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport. Bedugul has many beautiful tourism objects and facilities; even you will see beautiful sights along your journey to this location. Trekking is a must activity that you should do along botanic garden. The Eka Karya Botanical Garden (the only botanical garden in Bali) located in Bedugul area.
Bali Botanic Garden – story
In 1958 senior Balinese officials requested the Department now called the Centre for Biological Research within the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, to consider establishing a botanic garden with the dual roles of research institute and recreation park. On 15 July 1959 Bali Botanic Garden was officially established on the slopes of Tapak Hill, Candi kuning village an altitude of 1250-1400 m. Bali Botanic Garden then named as Kebun Raya “Eka Karya” Bali. Eka Karya refer to this being the first Indonesian Botanic Garden to have been established following Indonesian independence and thus the first to have been established entirely by Indonesian.
Bali Botanic Garden was originally established as a collection of species of conifer (non-flowering seed plants, or Gymnosperms) from throughout the world, and as a place for recreation. It was also equipped for scientific, cultural and technical activities.
Development stopped around 1965 because of insecurity of periods. Nearly on 1970, the garden began to be gradually rehabilitated. On 30 April 1975 the restoration was completed and as part of this area was increased to 129.2 Ha. The functions broadened from primarily a collection of conifers to include ex-situ conservation of plants from high altitude of eastern Indonesia.
As at 1998, the Bali Botanic Garden covered an area of 154.5 Ha, and in 2001 the area was increased again to become 157.5 Ha. Some of the special collections include: orchids, ceremonial plants, medicinal plants, cactus, ferns, aquatic plants and trees.
The four main functions of Bali Botanic Garden are: exploration, inventory and research; conservation; recreation; and education. The institution offers a number of scientific services and facilities in support of plant research and conservation, including herbarium, seed bank, library, glasshouses, nursery, and plant database.