Kodaikanal, 'Switzerland of the East', Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu

The next major place of tourist attraction of Kodaikanal is the Bryant Park. It is a botanical park situated on the Eastern side of the lake. It layout was planned, landscaped and stocked by a British Forest officer after whom it was named. Cut flowers are exported from here. In the month of May, the annual horticultural show in held here.

Bryant Park is a botanical garden where you can get a wide knowledge on Horticulture and the various flora here are a feast to our eyes.

It is a mass of flowering plants on one side, the central region being open grasslands, the rear side is elevated and ends near the Coaker's walk entrance.

Very beautiful pine and eucalyptus trees could be seen here. One of the eucalyptus trees, 250 feet high and 10 feet wide is over 150 years old. The gardens of the park are very well laid out and delicately maintained. Many varieties of orchids have been kept in the Orchid House. It is noted for flowers, hybrids and rafts. Varieties of flowers can be seen in a glasshouse.

The practical utility of this park is, in every May a horticultural show is conducted by the department of Horticulture. A very huge gathering exists for this exhibition. On that occasion enormous vegetables and flowers from neighbouring villages compete for the prizes. They exhibit flowers, vegetables, fruits and other products. It serves as a practical centre for education on Ornamental Horticulture and as a demonstration centre. The various methods of training, pruning, budding, grafting, potting seed collection etc, are taught to the students of Horticulture as well as to the visitors.