Georgia. Beautiful Batumi Botanical Garden

Black Sea shore and Batumi Botanical Garden
(Image: Julia Lugovska)

There is absolutely no doubt that Georgia is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and Batumi Botanical Garden only proves it.

One of the biggest botanical gardens of the former Soviet Union, Batumi Botanical Garden spread on 109 hectares area along the Black Sea shore, nearly 9 km to the north of Batumi. One should head to Makhinjauri and then reach the place called Mtsvane Kontskhi, what means “Green Cape”, to appear in the beautiful world of Batumi Botanical Garden.

Batumi Botanical Garden was started in the second part of the 19^th century by Russian notorious botanist Andrey Krasnov, brother of General Pyotr Krasnov. Andrey Krasnov was the one who brought the first species of trees and plants including the tropical trees and flowers to the Southern Caucasian region of Adjara, and the Botanical Garden was born.

Andrey Krasnov worked with two skilled and talented assistants at the beginning. One of them was French d’Alphonse and another one was Georgian Yason Gordeziani.

Bamboo Forest in Batumi Botanical Garden
(Image: Julia Lugovska)

Japanese fish (Image: Julia Lugovska)

The garden grew fast and developed itself, and it was officially opened in November 1912. Unfortunately, its founder Andrey Krasnov died in the same year, and his grave and little monument are located in Batumi Botanical Garden.

Batumi Botanical Garden (Image: Julia Lugovska)

Under the Soviet Union times this garden developed rapidly and turned into one of the most interesting attractions of Adjara, with the opening of a principal institution for study of Caucasian maritime subtropical cultures.

Fountain in Batumi Botanical Garden (Image: Julia Lugovska)

Today, Batumi Botanical Garden consists of nine floristic sections, representing Caucasian humid subtropics, East Asia, Mediterranean, New Zeeland, South America, Mexico, Australia and Himalayas. For me personally, one of the greatest and most impressive places in Batumi Botanical Garden is a great forest of Australian eucalyptus. There’s absolutely stunning atmosphere there among those trees that cute Australian koala love so much. You breathe peacefully and free there, and if you caught cold or have any respiratory problems, it’s for sure the place you must visit.

Rich and beautiful nature in Batumi Botanical Garden (Image: Julia Lugovska)

Bamboo forest is also impressive, it makes you forget that you are actually in Caucasus, not somewhere far away in South-Eastern Asia.

Batumi Botanical Garden is operated currently by Georgian Academy of Sciences and has several independent research institutes. Youth volunteers in Batumi Botanical Garden in summer, getting better knowledge of the trees and flowers and enjoying the great atmosphere.

Cute flowers (Image: Julia Lugovska)

Batumi Botanical Garden also offers interesting research and education programs for the students and scientists.

Despite the great popularity among the tourists and locals as well Batumi Botanical Garden remains peaceful and silent place, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature and have some rest after exploring vibrant city of Batumi and roaming in the neighboring Gonio and Makhinjauri.

Batumi Botanical Garden is open 08:00-21:00. Admission fee is 6 Lari, children under 10 can visit Batumi Botanical Garden for free.

All the information you need can be found on Batumi Botanical Garden website which is really awesome.

Batumi Botanical Garden (Image: Julia Lugovska)

If you want to get to Batumi Botanical Garden, you can use services of local taxi drivers or try to be like a local Georgian and use Batumi public transportation. Get microbus route 31 or 150 from Tbilisi Square or Parnavaz Mepe Street in Batumi or get the bus route 10. Two ways trip by bus costs only 1 Lari.