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Did you know that you can see 3,500 species of cacti all in one place? From small potted cacti to large cactus trees, you can find every imaginable species of cactus at the Cactus Garden, Panchkula.
If you live in or around Delhi or plan to take a trip there soon, you must add this place to your bucket list. Book a taxi from Delhi to Chandigarh and visit the largest Succulent Botanical Garden and Research Centre in Asia today!
Road Trip
Now you may be wondering about the easiest way to reach this beautiful place. Just pack your bags and take a road trip from Delhi to Chandigarh. It will take almost four hours to reach your destination. Road trips are a joy ride, but more so when you know the exciting stops and destination you’re headed to. On your way, make a stop at Murthal. It has a long list of dhabas, the most famous one being Amrik Sukhdev. Try their mouth-watering delicacies, and then continue your trip with a happy stomach.Â
The Cactus Garden is open all days of the week, from seven in the morning to six in the evening, so you have the liberty to visit it based on your schedule. If you are busy, you might want to consider a weekend getaway to enjoy your trip distraction-free. Leave on a Friday night and be back by Sunday.
Entry fee: Rs. 10 for adults and Rs. 5 for children
Refuge to Seek Solace
The garden covers 7 acres of land laden with endangered species of cacti. It is a heaven for nature lovers. There are over 250 species of genus mammillaria, and over 150 species are naturalized outdoor cacti. It houses Echinocactus grusonii and Bursera of Mexican origin. Other than these, it has Fouquieria splendens from Arizona, Carnegiea gigantea, pachypodium, and adenia venenata that belong to the Passifloraceae family, Yemen.
Cacti that are long extinct from other places are kept and preserved here. It is an exotic place that you must visit to escape from your daily grind and seek some much-needed solace. The place is green and rocky simultaneously. At the center of the garden is a pond, like an oasis in a desert, that multiplies the beauty of the place.Â
Some cacti are as round as coconuts, and some have long spindly branches. You might find some of them budding flowers at the tip. Flowers on cacti are not the most common sight, making it even more fascinating to see them in real life. Some of the cacti are almost 10 to 11 feet in height. Cereus forbesii spiralis is a cactus with spiral growth, and it almost looks like a piece of art.
You will expand your botanical knowledge immensely with just a single visit to this place. But before you go there, here’s a fun fact for you! Did you know that cacti can store huge amounts of water in a short period and, therefore, they don’t need a lot of watering? Their stomata only open at night, and they have waxy surfaces, which helps them preserve the water longer.Â
Along with these, you will encounter varied bonsai styles and collections of aloes, gastritis, and haworthias. If you visit in March, you will be able to attend the cactus show that is organized annually in March.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your bags, book Delhi outstation cabs, and start your road trip to this exotic home of endangered cacti.
