A garden from 1884
One of the oldest colonial botanic gardens.
Dr htgoon — CC0 · CK Tan — CC BY 3.0 · Richard N Horne — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Balon Greyjoy — CC0
One of the oldest botanic gardens the British built in their colonies, laid out in 1884 on an old quarry site under Charles Curtis, its first superintendent. Penangites call it the Waterfall Gardens after a waterfall that cascades nearby, and it is part of the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve listed by UNESCO. The gardens are broad and green at the foot of the hills, with giant tropical trees, houses of ferns, cacti and orchids, streams and little bridges, and walking and jogging paths loved by locals in the mornings and evenings. Plenty of monkeys live here, among them gentle dusky leaf monkeys and macaques. Entry is free, and the gardens open daily from very early, around five, until about eight in the evening. The popular hiking trail up to Penang Hill starts here, for anyone who likes a challenge. The best time is early morning, when it is cooler and quiet. Do not feed the monkeys or carry food openly in your hand, as the macaques are bold and snatch bags. Bring water and comfortable shoes.
One of the oldest colonial botanic gardens.
Part of the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve.
The start of the hike up Penang Hill.
Jalan Air Terjun (Waterfall Road), about 6 km west of George Town
Yes, a well-known trail runs from the gardens to the top, taking a few hours and needing good fitness and plenty of water. If you would rather not walk, the Penang Hill funicular is the easy way.