The Penang Botanical Garden, affectionately known as the Waterfall Garden, held a special place in my heart during my secondary school days. After class, I would often cycle there, and I was greeted by a vast, meticulously maintained park. What stood out in my memory was the hidden Water Lily Pond, a feature I believe many, like me, didn't fully comprehend as part of a botanical garden. It wasn't until my later years, when my interest in nature deepened, that I grasped the significance of labeling this place as a Botanical Garden.

Regrettably, during my recent visits to the Penang Botanical Garden, I couldn't help but notice that the focus on plants seemed less prominent, and the collection of rare plants appeared to be dwindling. This led me to ponder whether it might be more fitting to continue using the colloquial name, "Waterfall Garden," for this park.

Let me clarify that I do not intend to diminish the initial vision and execution of the Penang Botanical Garden. It began with a well-conceived concept and has, to this day, remained a highly regarded recreational destination. I'd like to draw a comparison to other natural parks established during the British colonial era. Take, for instance, the Taiping Lake Garden, celebrated for its innovative transformation of old mining lakes into a themed attraction. Similarly, the Matang Mangrove Forest Park is renowned for its focus on conservation, while FRIM in Selangor is famous for its contributions to the field of botany. In fact, they have even created the Kepong Botanical Garden to separate recreational activities from forest research. Lastly, we cannot overlook the exemplary management and extensive promotion of the Botanical Garden in Singapore.

All this leads me to wonder: why isn't the Penang Botanical Garden more highly rated and recognized on the international stage? It possesses numerous attributes that should make it a standout destination, such as its undulating terrain, natural waterfalls, and proximity to pristine forests. The Penang Botanical Garden remains in excellent condition, and I am confident that we can take it to even greater heights than it currently enjoys.

As usual I have collected quite q number of pictures from the past era of Botanical Garden Click on this link to open my picture page on Penang's old Botanical Garden