The Angkor Botanic Garden, located along Sihanouk Blvd towards the Angkor Wat, will be officially inaugurated on May 19, said the APSARA National Authority in a news release on May. 10.

H.E. Yit Chandaroat, Deputy Director-General of APSARA National Authority and in charge of organising this garden project, said that the Angkor Botanical Garden, originally named the Angkor Spice Garden, was established in 2005 when it was only about 2 hectares in size. From 2018, he continued, this garden has been undergoing upgrades and expanded to more than 15 hectares under the support and initiative of H.E. Chea Sophara, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction in order to make the park more attractive and greater potential for the benefit of the people and tourism.

According to H.E. Mr. Yit Chandaroat, the Angkor Botanical Garden is divided into 5 different large gardens. First, the spice garden and herb garden, which gathers a variety of medicinal plants that Khmer ancestors or people believe to treat various diseases, including plants used as spices for cooking. Second, the flower and grass garden which is a collection of seasonal flowers and grass. Third, the palm gardens including palm trees, palm oil, etc. Fourth, the Khmer garden which collects many kinds of fruit plants, including small-scale rice fields as well as Khmer-style designs. And fifth, the Angkor Forest and Wildlife garden, a large part of the Angkor Forest, which is home to a number of luxury trees, wildlife, and livestock to attract tourists.

After the inauguration ceremony, previously planned for May 9, the garden, decorated with more than 500 species of plants and flowers and tens of thousands of trees and organised into small hills, waterfalls, and other attractive designs, will be open to the public free of charge for one month, he said, adding that after that, the admission fee will be taken but at the most reasonable price so that the tourists can visit and feel proud to contribute to the maintenance of this place in the future.

In the future, he pointed out, Angkor Botanical Garden is planned to expand to the south of Angkor Wat, which can cover more than 130 hectares.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press